What Russam does

Russam is a UK-headquartered specialist executive search and interim management firm founded in 1982 by Charles Russam. The company places senior interim executives, C-suite permanent hires, and non-executive board directors into organizations across seven primary verticals: Financial Services, Private Equity and Investment Advisory, Technology/Digital/AI, Charities and Not-for-Profit, Public Sector, Healthcare, and Manufacturing and Industrial. Russam's core service is interim management — matching experienced executives to defined-duration change, transformation, restructuring, or crisis mandates — supplemented by retained executive search and a board practice, and bridged by its I>P (Interim to Permanent) conversion product. The firm also operates Trustees Unlimited, a sub-brand focused on charity and nonprofit board appointments, and co-founded the WIL Group, a 15-firm international network providing 37 offices and access to talent in 80+ countries.

Russam monetizes through professional services fees: interim placement fees and day-rate commissions, retained executive search fees structured in stages, and a 2% monthly commission on inside-IR35 PAYE contractor introductions. Pricing is quote-based and project-specific, varying by seniority, sector, and assignment duration. The company does not develop proprietary technology products and operates as a digital-first professional services firm, leveraging cloud-based systems for candidate matching, client engagement, and operational delivery. The GTM motion is consultant-led and relationship-driven, with sector-specialist consultants engaging directly with enterprise and public sector clients through events, networking, referrals, and thought leadership content.

Russam maintains a team of approximately 17 named professionals, is certified as a B Corporation (March 2023), and is led by joint Managing Directors Jason Atkinson and Ian Joseph OBE alongside Founder Charles Russam. The firm has been profitable and privately held throughout its history with no external institutional investment, and serves an enterprise client base that includes FCDO Services, Santander, HSBC, Vodafone, E.ON, Serco, Odeon, and the Department for Education.

Name

Russam

Legal name

Russam

Website

https://russam.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Russam is a UK-based executive search and interim management firm founded in 1982 that places senior interim executives, C-suite leaders, and non-executive directors across financial services, public sector, charity, and technology sectors. It operates a 38,000-candidate database and global reach via the WIL Group network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Recruitment and Interim Management

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Confidential/Replacement & Succession Search (BPACAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Permanent Placement (Multi-Industry) (BPACAFAA), Administrative, Clerical & Office Support Direct Hire (BPACAFAF)

Keywords

• Interim management
• Executive search
• Board recruitment
• Senior talent placement
• Interim to permanent

Headquarters

HQ city

Luton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Interim Management Recruitment: Placement of senior interim executives into organizations for defined periods to address specific business challenges, restructuring, transformation, or project needs. Revenue generated through placement fees and ongoing day rate commissions.
2. Executive Search: Retained search for permanent C-suite and senior executive positions. Revenue generated through retained search fees typically structured in stages.
3. Board Practice: Placement of non-executive directors and board-level appointments for organizations seeking governance leadership.
4. IR35 Compliance Services: Advisory and contracting services for off-payroll worker arrangements. 2% commission per month for PAYE contractor introductions under inside IR35 arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Russam is a UK-based specialist recruitment firm that places senior interim executives and permanent executive/board-level talent into organisations facing change, transformation, restructuring, or leadership gaps. Its core offerings are Interim Management and Executive Search, complemented by Board Practices and an I>P (Interim to Permanent) trial-to-hire conversion service. The firm operates through sector-focused consultants and leverages a database of 38,000+ registered interim professionals.

Product overview

Russam is a specialist executive search and interim management firm offering a portfolio of talent solutions. Its core services comprise Interim Management (senior interim executives), I>P (Interim to Permanent conversion), Executive Search (permanent executive placements), and Board Practices (board-level appointments). These are delivered alongside solution areas including Business & Digital Transformation, Crisis Management, Restructure & Turnaround, International Business, Strategic Appointments, Special Projects, Total Project Delivery, Gap Management, and Rapid Growth. Russam also operates complementary programs such as Step on Board and the Beyond Suffrage trustee development initiative in partnership with WIL Group (the co-founders of which Russam is a member).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Trustees Unlimited: A brand and partnership of Russam, providing executive search services particularly for charity and not-for-profit board appointments.

Products and services

• Interim Management Placement of experienced senior interim executives into organisations facing change, transformation, restructuring, or specialist skills gaps. Engagements draw on 38,000+ registered interim professionals and global coverage through 37 international WIL Group offices.
• I>P (Interim to Permanent) Try-before-you-buy model that allows organisations to assess an interim executive in role before converting the engagement to a permanent hire without an additional placement fee.
• Executive Search Retained search identifying and placing permanent C-suite, senior executive, and board-level talent across multiple sectors including Financial Services, Technology, Healthcare, and Not-for-Profit.
• Board Practice Specialised advisory and recruitment for board-level appointments, governance consulting, and non-executive director placement, including chair and trustee roles.
• Business & Digital Transformation Solutions Deployment of interim executives and consultants to lead technology, digital, and business transformation initiatives for client organisations.
• Crisis Management Solutions Rapid deployment of turnaround and crisis management interim executives for organisations facing acute operational or financial challenges.
• Restructure & Turnaround Solutions Senior interim talent with experience in financial restructuring, operational turnaround, and business recovery situations.
• Gap Management Solutions Temporary leadership coverage for organisational gaps during permanent hiring processes or transitional periods.
• International Business Solutions Global talent solutions leveraging the WIL Group network of 37 international offices across 15 member firms to deliver cross-border interim placements.
• Rapid Growth Solutions Scaling of leadership teams and organisational capacity through interim executives to support fast-growing organisations.
• Special Projects Solutions

Quantifiable outcome

• Interim managers available immediately versus 6+ months for permanent senior hires
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WIL GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRussam is a co-founder of the WIL Group, a global network of executive search and interim management firms with 37 international offices across 15 member firms. This partnership enables Russam to place interims worldwide and provides access to talent pools and expertise across multiple countries and sectors.
• Trustees UnlimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated brand operating under the Russam umbrella, specializing in trustee and board-level placements for charities and not-for-profit organizations. Melissa Baxter leads both Russam and Trustees Unlimited executive search operations.
• Step on Board ProgrammeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLorna McCusker has played a key role in delivering the Step on Board Programme, facilitating introductions of over 250 senior directors from companies like Google, Barclays, Mishcon de Reya, and EY to board positions. Ian Joseph is co-founder of the programme.
• Age Friendly Employer ProgrammeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRussam has pledged commitment to the Age Friendly employer programme, a nationwide initiative designed for employers acknowledging the significance and value of older workers.
• Girl DreamerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmpowerment platform for millennial and gen z women of colour. Russam promotes trustee vacancies to Girl Dreamer's networks and supports members considering board positions.
• Beyond SuffrageminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial recruitment partner for trustee development programme launched by Social Practice ENT, aiming to improve racial diversity in the charity sector by creating an organic pipeline of young women from ethnic minority backgrounds for charity boards.
• New Philanthropy Capital (NPC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding and commissioning thought leadership on diversity, equality, and inclusion through the 'Walking the Talk' initiative led by NPC.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with a major executive search and talent acquisition business. Competes with Russam in senior search and talent advisory, with significantly broader service breadth and scale.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a dedicated interim placement practice. A larger incumbent operating in the same senior search and interim space as Russam, with broader geographic and functional coverage.
• Hays: UK-headquartered global recruitment and workforce solutions firm with executive search and interim capability. Larger-scale incumbent operating in adjacent talent segments, including senior interim and search services.
• Robert Half: Global staffing and talent solutions firm with a permanent placement and interim practice. Overlaps with Russam on senior interim and direct-hire placements, particularly in financial services and technology.
• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a strong board and CEO practice. Comparable to Russam in serving senior leadership and board-level mandates, with a global rather than UK boutique footprint.
• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search and board advisory firm with deep UK and international practice. Overlaps with Russam on board practice and C-suite retained search, particularly in financial services and PE.

Direct peers

• Savannah Group: UK-based executive search and interim management firm serving PE-backed and high-growth businesses. Competes directly with Russam on PE-sector interim and senior executive mandates in the UK.
• Odgers Berndtson: UK-headquartered global executive search firm with a strong board and C-suite practice across financial services, public sector, and PE. Directly comparable to Russam's executive search and board practices in the UK mid-market and enterprise segment.
• Practicus: UK specialist interim management provider placing senior interims into transformation, turnaround, and change roles. Directly competes with Russam's core interim management service, particularly across public sector and financial services clients.
• Berwick Partners: UK executive search boutique focused on senior leadership and board appointments across the public and private sectors. Comparable to Russam on retained executive search scope, geography, and client profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RussamTweets
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/russam

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Russam