“This was an unusual assignment as we were relocating our corporate office and needed to recruit an entire Group finance and treasury team. We were not looking so much for cultural fit but developing a whole new culture! We wanted to build on the emerging success of National Express, as we rebuilt the business, its finances and its performance. We discussed our vision for the team, a new organisational structure made up of a diverse talent pool that would complement each other and drive the business forward. The timescale for the assignment was short, given the impending relocation and to allow the incumbent team to leave once they had secured new roles. We challenged Odgers to provide first class candidates within weeks, rather than months, and assured them we would meet candidates promptly, being flexible on packages available in order to get the best talent. We had weekly status calls to discuss the progress of each role, often at antisocial hours to fit in with our other commitments. Marcus Beale's candidate briefing reports were accurate and considered. He gave us real choice for each role - as pressure grew to identify candidates for key roles, Odgers did not let its high standards drop. Lucy Brennan's enthusiasm was infectious and her obvious delight at finding a strong candidate made her a pleasure to work with - she cared about this assignment as much as we did. As we offered candidates positions, Marcus and Lucy were insightful and effective in closing offers to acceptance. As we complete our first financial year end with our new team, we feel well placed to meet the challenges ahead. Odgers helped us deliver our vision for finance and create a team to face the future with confidence.”