Heavyweight appointment on back of further growth for Directorbank

Directorbank has appointed Ian Menzies as a director to head up its London office and build the executive search side of the company.

His appointment comes on the back of Directorbankís first six-month results since completing the management buy-out last year. Sales are up 30 per cent with particular growth from the finance director division, led by John Pearce, and a significant increase in placements into private equity backed investments.

A qualified accountant, Ian Menzies has over 20 years experience in the European equity market as an investor, founder director, fund raiser and executive search professional. His career includes managing investments for 3i, building a private equity practice for Whitehead Mann GKR and creating a search practice for Walker Hamill, where he found senior people for private equity firms and their clients.

Elizabeth Jackson, chief executive of Directorbank, said: ìWe were delighted at the calibre of candidates who were interested in this position ñ and I believe it is a considerable coup to have attracted Ian. Management buy-outs tend to be a great distraction to a business, so to achieve our tremendous growth in the last six months shows just how strong Directorbank is.î

Ian Menzies said: ìPrivate equity firms seem to have an insatiable appetite to invest in ever larger businesses ñ witness the recent interest in Britvic, Countrywide and Sainsburyís. Although the financing of these transactions is usually clever and innovative, ultimately the new owners rely heavily on seasoned managers to deliver the new strategy and the resultant operational implications.

ìDirectorbank has an outstanding reputation and I believe there is still considerable room for growth.î

Directorbank has made two other recent appointments. Sally Moulsdale, an experienced recruiter particularly of non-executive directors, has joined the London office to promote and develop Directorbankís fast-growing corporate practice. James Searby has ten yearsí search experience in London and Yorkshire and has joined the Leeds office.