About Cesium
Securing the leaders who shape luxury and consumer brands.
Founded in 2010, Cesium supports clients across the luxury and consumer sectors by identifying and securing game-changing talent.
As a headhunting business, we pride ourselves on sourcing the best possible talent for a given mandate, as opposed to those actively seeking a career change. In our experience, world-class leaders are not typically applying to job advertisements; they are busy running successful businesses and driving growth.
We have an unrivalled network of contacts and have delivered on over 99% of the mandates we have searched.
Trusted by leading luxury and consumer brands
Founded
Mandate delivery rate
Countries and counting
Core networks
Who We Are
Who We Are
Cesium is a headhunting firm built around a simple belief: world-class leaders are rarely found in the applicant pool. They're running businesses and driving growth. So rather than wait for talent to come to us, we go and find the very best person for every mandate — drawing on an unrivalled network and a track record of delivering on over 99% of the searches we take on.
How We Add Value
How We Add Value
As a client-centric business, we strive to build genuine long-term business partnerships and be the 'go-to' partner for all people projects globally, whether that involves executive search projects, coaching, leadership development, or outplacement.
We humbly believe that our people-centric board advisory offering provides a sounding board for our network to solve complex people challenges and gain a meaningful competitive advantage. Delivered through a competent and engaged leadership team that outthinks, rather than outspends, its competitive set.
Our Search Process
How We Work
Discovery
We immerse ourselves in your business, culture and the precise shape of the mandate, mapping exactly what success looks like.
Research & Mapping
Our in-house researchers build a comprehensive map of the market, identifying the leaders who fit — including those not actively looking.
Engage & Assess
We approach, engage and rigorously assess candidates against role, capability and cultural fit.
Secure & Support
We manage offer, onboarding and beyond, supporting a smooth transition and lasting success.
Beyond Executive Search
Beyond Executive Search
Executive search sits at our core, but clients regularly call on us for people-focused consulting:
Executive Outplacement
Leadership Development Programmes
Psychometric Assessment
Employee Engagement Surveys
Compensation & Benefits Analysis
Organisational Development & Design
Board Advisory
Want case studies and testimonials? Let's talk.
Get in TouchWhere We Search
Where We Search
We focus exclusively on leadership roles — C-Suite, Directors and Department Heads — across six disciplines.
C-Suite & Board
All disciplines at C-Suite and Director level, including Non-Executive appointments.
Commercial
Sales across all channels, plus Brand & Trade Marketing, Category and Insights.
Finance
Generalists, Controllers, FP&A, Tax and Treasury.
Supply Chain & Operations
Logistics, Demand/Supply Planning, Production, Technical and Quality.
Human Resources
Generalists plus TA, L&D, C&B and DE&I.
Digital & E-Commerce
Commercial and technical e-commerce talent.
Industries
Sectors We Know Inside Out
Food & Beverage
Brand owners and distributors across beers, wines, spirits, functional, plant-based and caffeinated products, plus FMCG.
Fashion & Luxury
Retailers and brands from haute couture to apparel and eyewear, plus iconic luxury names — boat builders, watchmakers, hotel groups, home furnishings.
Health & Beauty
Fragrances, cosmetics, skincare and the wider wellness sector.
Private Equity & Venture Capital
Advisory/NED, operational and executive hires, pre-deal due diligence and post-deal scale-up and turnaround.
Global Reach
Global Reach
Headquartered in Europe, our reach is genuinely global — with projects delivered in 45 countries and counting, and our deepest networks across EMEA and the Americas. Our in-house research covers every key European language, and our longstanding global researcher relationships, particularly across APAC and CEE, let us run local-language searches wherever a mandate takes us.
Our Story
How We Got Here — and Where We're Going
What began in 2010 has grown into a trusted global search partner for the luxury and consumer world. We've stayed true to one goal: connecting ambitious businesses with the leaders who transform them. Today we're investing in our team, our research capability and our networks, so we can keep delivering the calibre of talent our clients have come to expect — for the next decade and beyond.
The People
Meet the Team
Paul Haslam
Founder & MD
Paul Haslam is a graduate in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Hull and a 2015 alumnus of Goldman Sachs' 10KSB entrepreneur programme. With over two decades' experience spanning start-ups to PE-backed multinationals, he has established and managed headhunting and coaching businesses across the UK, UAE, South Africa, Spain and Portugal. Since founding Cesium in 2010, Paul and his team deliver C-level executive search, bespoke leadership development programmes, and one-to-one coaching, partnering with some of the drinks industry's most iconic brands.
Patricija Ozola
Research and Project Manager
As Research and Project Manager at Cesium, Patricija Ozola brings her expertise in talent acquisition and project management to find the right people for our clients. Patricija identifies and attracts senior talent across the beverage industry, understanding each client's business, culture and requirements. She leads our marketing activities across all channels and global trade show participation. She plays a key role in project management, ensuring effective support throughout each search process. Her drive, energy and detailed approach, always with clear communication, keep candidates and clients informed at every stage, helping maintain the high delivery rates that Cesium has built its reputation on.
Angelica Asis
Talent Researcher and Database Manager
Angelica Asis is a dedicated Talent Researcher with a strong focus on identifying and engaging high-caliber candidates for strategic roles. With a strong foundation in psychology, she brings a unique perspective to the research process. She combines a keen understanding of market trends to deliver insights-driven talent mapping and sourcing strategies.
Our Values
What We Stand For
We partner only with like-minded clients — entrepreneurial, people-focused businesses on a journey of growth or change. And we hold ourselves to the same standards we look for, measured against five values.
Deliver at Pace
We move quickly without compromising on rigour or quality of insight.
Take Ownership & Make It Happen
We own outcomes end-to-end and find a way through complexity.
Speak From a Position of Knowledge
Deep market expertise underpins every conversation and recommendation.
Give Back & Support
We invest in our network, our candidates and the communities we operate in.
Act With Integrity
Discretion, honesty and trust are non-negotiable in everything we do.