Odgers Interim, the UK’s leading interim management recruiter, has strengthened its specialist sector practices by hiring two new consultants, Narinder Uppal and James Harley-Booth. Narinder joins the education practice as a consultant and will be based out of the Leeds office, while James has been appointed as a consultant within Odgers Interim’s technology team.
Narinder’s appointment comes as Odgers Interim responds to increasing interest from schools and colleges for short-term interim executives to help implement new strategies and change management programmes.
She joins from the Chartered Management Institute where she was a Chartered Fellow and Director of Customer Engagement and led the organisation’s relationship with education and training providers.
Narinder began her career in education as assistant head of faculty at Calderdale College, Halifax, where she was responsible for the school’s business and professional programme. In 2002, Narinder joined The Chartered Institute of Marketing as deputy director of education networks to develop its membership & education network in the UK and abroad.
Sarah Shaw, partner and head of education at Odgers Interim, said: “We have witnessed a growing appetite for interim executives within the education sector, which is under constant pressure to meet tight budgets, comply with ever-changing regulatory demands and evolve their offering to meet the needs of students. Interims present a real opportunity for further education providers to access senior executives with impressive credentials in managing change and delivering on major strategies and initiatives.
James will focus on the placement of senior level interim executives in the digital media, hardware and software technology and in the niche market of online gaming.
James brings over 10 years’ experience to the role and joins from Marble Hill Partners where he was a director within its Covent Garden office and specialised in placing interim executives within private equity-backed businesses. James started his career at Calibre One Interim in 2004, before becoming head of private equity at Interim Partners.
Grant Speed, managing director, Odgers Interim, said: “Technology is such a fast moving industry and is dominated by small, entrepreneurial businesses, which are hungry to expand rapidly, break into new markets and develop new products and services at an alarming rate. As such, these firms are increasingly looking to hire interim executives to access specialist knowledge that will help them meet their growth ambitions.”