F1 Recruitment
F1 Recruitment is a London-based executive search firm placing senior marketing, communications and sports marketing leaders (CMO, CCO, Board level) for enterprise clients. It operates the f1 Search sub-brand, Back2Businessship returner programme, and EDI/Inclusion services under B-Corp certification.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What F1 Recruitment does
F1 Recruitment Limited is a London-based specialist executive search and recruitment consultancy founded in 2004 by Amanda Fone, focused on placing senior leadership talent (CMO, CCO, Communications Director, Sports Marketing Director and Board-level roles) across marketing, public relations, corporate affairs and sports marketing. The firm operates with 11-50 employees, serving enterprise clients in sectors including Consumer Brands, Financial Services and FinTech, Sport and Entertainment, Energy and Renewables, Technology/Telco, and communications consultancies, with named customers that include Samsung, Sony, RedBull, Whitbread, Virgin, Harrods, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, Chelsea FC, the RFU and Moneysupermarket.com. Its product portfolio is structured around the f1 Search executive division for C-suite mandates, a broader Talent Solutions service for mid-to-senior placements across agency and client-side, a 13-year Back2Businessship returner bootcamp, and EDI/Inclusion advisory services delivered under a B-Corp certified framework, which the firm states is unique among UK marketing and PR recruitment companies. Revenue is generated through professional-services retainers and placement fees on permanent and contract/freelance mandates, with a hybrid consultative GTM concentrated on senior decision-makers via direct executive search. The firm joined the PartnerWise Collective in June 2024 to extend SMT and Board-level global reach and is scheduled to rebrand as PartnerWise Talent Solutions (PWT) effective 1 December 2025, operating thereafter within that collective's broader talent-solutions structure.
F1 Recruitment firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- F1 Recruitment
- Legal name
- f1 Recruitment Limited
- Website
- https://f1recruitment.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- F1 Recruitment is a London-based executive search firm placing senior marketing, communications and sports marketing leaders (CMO, CCO, Board level) for enterprise clients. It operates the f1 Search sub-brand, Back2Businessship returner programme, and EDI/Inclusion services under B-Corp certification.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
F1 Recruitment industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Executive Search & Recruitment Services
- NAICS
- Executive Search Services (561312)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Media, Entertainment & Sports Leadership Search (BPACAAAH)
Keywords
Where F1 Recruitment is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
F1 Recruitment business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Executive Recruitment Services: Permanent and contract/freelance placement services for senior marketing, communications and sports marketing roles from entry-level to board level CMO appointments
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
F1 Recruitment product offering
Product offeringCore offering
F1 Recruitment is a specialist executive search and recruitment consultancy placing senior leadership talent in Marketing, Communications, Corporate Affairs, Sponsorship, and Sports Marketing roles. Operating since 2004, the firm serves both agency-side and client-side appointments at SMT and Board level, working with leading global businesses across consumer brands, financial services, sport and entertainment, energy and renewables, technology, and strategic communications consultancies.
Product overview
F1 Recruitment operates as a specialist recruitment consultancy offering a portfolio of talent solutions. The core offering consists of f1 Search for executive-level chief marketing and communications roles, alongside the main Talent Solutions service for mid-to-senior level positions in Marketing, Communications, Corporate Affairs, Sponsorship, and Sports Marketing. The portfolio includes specialized programs such as Back2Businessship (career returner bootcamp) and EDI/Inclusion services, all delivered through the PartnerWise Collective framework following their June 2024 partnership.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- f1 Search: Executive search division focused on finding world class Chief Marketing Officers and Chief Communications Directors for leading businesses
Products and services
- f1 Search
Companies that use F1 Recruitment
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
F1 Recruitment technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
F1 Recruitment partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- HavascoreHeadline sponsor of the Back2Business 2025 programme, hosting events at Havas Kings Cross venue. Havas Media Network UK CEO Paddy Affleck provided welcome speech at Day 4 event.
- VCCPminorPartner in the Back2Business 2025 bootcamp programme supporting career returners in marketing and communications.
- SSEminorPartner in the Back2Business 2025 programme supporting career returners in marketing and communications.
- RDGminorPartner in the Back2Business 2025 programme supporting career returners in marketing and communications.
- CIPRminorPartner in the Back2Business 2025 programme. The Chartered Institute of Public Relations supports returner talent initiatives.
- PartnerWise CollectivecoreIn June 2024, f1 Recruitment joined the PartnerWise Collective to further increase global reach at SMT and Board level. From December 1, 2025, f1 recruitment will become PartnerWise Talent Solutions (PWT).
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
F1 Recruitment competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- EMR Recruitment: London-based specialist marketing, digital, and communications recruitment firm. Highly comparable to f1 Recruitment in vertical focus, candidate seniority, and London-centric customer base.
- Salt Recruitment: UK-headquartered specialist recruiter in marketing, digital, creative, and technology roles. Closely comparable to f1 in domain, customer type (agency and client-side), and consultancy-style executive search.
- The Work Crowd: UK platform and consultancy placing marketing, communications, and content professionals. Comparable to f1 in target roles, freelance/contract capability, and senior-level search focus.
- Aspire: Specialist UK recruitment consultancy covering marketing, digital, communications, and sales roles. Comparable to f1 in vertical specialization, UK base, and mid-to-senior placement focus.
- Reuben Sinclair: London-based recruitment firm focused on PR, communications, marketing, and digital roles. Directly comparable to f1's communications and marketing leadership mandate.
- Carter Murray: UK executive search firm within the Robertson Sumner group placing senior marketing, communications, and sales talent. Comparable to f1 in senior-level marketing and communications focus.
- Leighton Taylor: London specialist recruiter in PR, communications, and marketing roles. Directly comparable to f1 in vertical and seniority focus, particularly within agency and in-house communications leadership.
Broad incumbents
- Michael Page: Global publicly listed recruitment group with established marketing, communications, and digital practices. Competes with f1 on senior marketing and communications mandates from a much broader, multi-vertical platform.
- Robert Walters: Global recruitment group with a dedicated marketing, communications, and digital practice. Overlaps with f1 on senior marketing and communications searches across multiple sectors.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm with a dedicated marketing, sales, and communications officer practice. Competes with f1 at the very senior (CMO/CCO) end of the same search mandates.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
F1 Recruitment social profiles
Digital presenceF1 Recruitment compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
F1 Recruitment financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
F1 Recruitment leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
F1 Recruitment funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
F1 Recruitment M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about F1 Recruitment
What does F1 Recruitment do?
F1 Recruitment is a specialist executive search and recruitment consultancy placing senior leadership talent in Marketing, Communications, Corporate Affairs, Sponsorship, and Sports Marketing roles. Operating since 2004, the firm serves both agency-side and client-side appointments at SMT and Board level, working with leading global businesses across consumer brands, financial services, sport and entertainment, energy and renewables, technology, and strategic communications consultancies.
Is F1 Recruitment a public or private company?
F1 Recruitment is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was F1 Recruitment founded?
F1 Recruitment was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is F1 Recruitment based?
F1 Recruitment is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does F1 Recruitment make money?
One revenue line is on record: executive Recruitment Services.
Who are F1 Recruitment's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are EMR Recruitment, Salt Recruitment, The Work Crowd, Aspire, Reuben Sinclair, Carter Murray and Leighton Taylor. Broad incumbents are Michael Page, Robert Walters and Heidrick & Struggles.
Does F1 Recruitment have an API?
No public API is recorded for F1 Recruitment.
What industry is F1 Recruitment in?
F1 Recruitment's product category is Executive Search & Recruitment Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAH, Media, Entertainment & Sports Leadership Search. Its NAICS code is 561312 and its SIC code is 7361.