What 1st Executive does

1st Executive Ltd is a specialist recruitment consultancy founded in 2003 by James Tucker and Gary Noble, focused exclusively on procurement, supply chain, commercial strategy, risk management, complex contract management, quantity surveying, and sustainability roles. Headquartered in Send, Surrey, the firm employs approximately 25 staff and reported £13 million in annual turnover for the financial year ending 31 December 2024. It self-describes as Europe's largest specialist recruiter in its niche, serving FTSE 100 enterprises and major UK public sector departments across the UK, EU, and US markets.

The firm generates revenue through three primary streams: permanent placement fees (transaction-based), interim/contract management (managed services with margin on contractor day rates ranging from £300 to £1,000+ per day), and management consultancy solutions delivered alongside recruitment. Distribution is relationship-led, secured through preferred supplier list (PSL) appointments, managed service provider (MSP) arrangements, and public sector frameworks (notably MSTAR). Named clients include BP (PSL since 2005), GSK (top-two supplier since 2011), Adidas, Avon, CRH, Revlon, HSBC, Nike, Novartis, Inmarsat, BT, the Home Office, and 23 of 30 London boroughs.

Operationally, 1st Executive operates without a proprietary technology platform, relying instead on its 22-year-old candidate network, domain expertise, and senior consultant relationships. The firm maintains four industry accreditations (REC, APSCo, FCSA, Cyber Essentials Plus), publishes recurring thought leadership through the CPO Insight Series and an annual Salary & Market Guide, and is incubating a Graduate Academy pipeline. A sub-brand, 1st-Consultancy, extends the offering into Statement of Work managed services and advisory engagements.

Name

1st Executive

Legal name

1st Executive Ltd

Website

https://1st-executive.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

1st Executive is a specialist UK-headquartered recruitment consultancy placing senior procurement, supply chain, commercial, risk, and sustainability professionals into enterprise and public sector clients across the UK, EU, and US markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search and Specialist Recruitment Services (Procurement & Supply Chain)

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interim Executive & Fractional Leadership Placement (BPACAAAJ), Executive & Leadership Direct Hire (BPACAFAB)

Keywords

• Procurement recruitment
• Executive search
• Supply chain staffing
• Interim management
• Permanent placement

Headquarters

HQ city

Send

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Permanent Placement Recruitment: Fee-based recruitment placing permanent candidates into procurement and supply chain roles. Fees typically charged to client organizations upon successful placement.
2. Interim/Contract Management: Supply of interim procurement professionals to client organizations. Revenue generated through margin on contractor day rates, working through MSP arrangements in some cases.
3. Management Consultancy Solutions: Delivers consulting engagements alongside recruitment services for procurement transformation and advisory work.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

1st Executive is a specialist recruitment consultancy placing procurement, supply chain, commercial strategy, risk management, complex contract management, QS, and sustainability professionals. Services span permanent executive search and contingency recruitment, interim management, managed service SoW solutions, and advisory consulting for enterprise and public sector buyers across the UK, EU, and US.

Product overview

1st Executive operates as a specialist procurement and supply chain recruitment consultancy offering a integrated suite of services including executive search, contingency recruitment, and interim management for permanent and contract positions. The firm delivers these services alongside management consultancy solutions covering commercial strategy, programme risk management, complex contract management, and quantity surveying. The company also provides market intelligence through its CPO Insight Series and salary benchmarking resources. The service architecture combines talent acquisition capabilities with advisory services, supported by a network of trusted associates for specialized expertise delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 1st-Consultancy: Managed Service & SoW consultancy services offering executive search, contingency recruitment, and interim management solutions.

Products and services

• Executive Search Specialist recruitment service focused on identifying and placing senior-level procurement and supply chain professionals through targeted candidate sourcing and rigorous assessment processes, intended for enterprise and public sector buyers seeking C-suite and senior leaders.
• Contingency Recruitment Performance-based recruitment service where fees are charged only upon successful placement of a candidate, covering permanent procurement and supply chain roles for enterprise and public sector clients.
• Interim Management Specialist provision of temporary senior procurement and supply chain professionals to client organisations to fill immediate skill gaps, lead transformation projects, or cover extended absences; delivered via the firm's interim practice including MSP arrangements.
• Managed Service - SoWs Statement of Work-based managed service solution for procurement consultancy engagements, providing structured project delivery with defined outcomes; delivered under the 1st-Consultancy sub-brand.
• Management Consultancy Solutions Advisory services spanning commercial strategy, programme risk management, complex contract management, quantity surveying, and sustainability within procurement functions, provided alongside recruitment services.
• Graduate Academy Structured training programme for graduates entering the recruitment profession, providing career development pathways within procurement recruitment; alumni include Director Richard Shelley who joined via the Academy in 2006.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 senior professionals personally appointed by Joint Managing Director James Tucker
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• PageGroup (Michael Page): Global listed recruitment firm with procurement and supply chain coverage alongside many other disciplines. Comparable in permanent/interim placement model and enterprise client base, though not vertical-specialist.
• Hays plc: FTSE-listed global recruitment group with a dedicated procurement and supply chain practice. A broad incumbent that overlaps with 1st Executive on enterprise and public sector mandates but competes as part of a much wider portfolio.
• Robert Walters plc: Global professional recruiter with a procurement, supply chain, and operations practice serving UK and international clients. Overlaps with 1st Executive in senior permanent and interim mandates but operates as a multi-vertical generalist.
• Korn Ferry: Global organisational consulting firm with a substantial executive search and procurement/officer search practice. Overlaps with 1st Executive on senior procurement mandates and enterprise clients but competes as part of a much broader talent and consulting portfolio.
• Odgers Berndtson: Global executive search firm with a dedicated procurement, supply chain, and operations practice. Comparable in C-suite search positioning and FTSE 100 client base to 1st Executive, but operates as a generalist executive search house.
• Alexander Mann Solutions: UK-headquartered RPO and MSP provider with a strong procurement and HR contingent workforce offering. Comparable in the MSP/SoW channel and large-enterprise public sector relationships 1st Executive accesses.

Direct peers

• Bramwith Consulting: UK-based specialist recruitment consultancy focused exclusively on procurement, supply chain, and related functions. Directly comparable in niche focus, candidate pool, and service mix to 1st Executive.
• Chase Search & Selection: UK-based executive search firm focused on procurement, supply chain, and operations leadership. Directly comparable in executive search, mid-to-senior placement focus, and client profile to 1st Executive.
• Jigsaw Recruitment: Specialist recruiter in procurement, buying, and supply chain roles across the UK and internationally. Closely comparable business model, customer base, and vertical specialisation to 1st Executive.
• 1st Resource Solutions (procurement division): UK specialist recruiter with a dedicated procurement and supply chain practice. Comparable in vertical focus and contract/permanent placement model to 1st Executive.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1st-executive
• Xx.com/1st_executive
• Facebookfacebook.com/1stExecutiveLtd

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 1st Executive