Nick joined Saxton Bampfylde as a Consultant in early 2025, working across social impact, government and regulation. Nick has an extensive and distinguished background in executive search, specialising in senior appointments for leading global development organisations. Find out a little bit more about him in our quick(ish) fire interview below.
Past, Present and Future
I am a failed and (mostly) reformed actor. I was fortunate to temp at a recruitment firm between jobs, and realised I loved it. I joined Russell Reynolds Associates, one of the global search firms, in 2018, and I am delighted to have now joined the team at Saxton Bampfylde.
Summarise your view of executive search in three words
People make organisations.
What is your role and focus at Saxton Bampfylde?
I am a Partner and Consultant. My focus is global development, global public health, philanthropy, and social policy.
Given your experience working with international development organisations what are the common challenges they face in the current geopolitical environment?
The unavoidable fact is that the sector’s funding landscape has fundamentally changed since the start the year. There is the huge impact of the US government funding cuts, resulting in 15-30% immediate budget cuts for a whole range of international organisations and NGOs. But there is also a much wider, but more gradual, cutting of ODA budgets around the world, as low growth persists, and countries reprioritise defence spending.
The funding challenges are at a level where they could – or rather, should – prompt a programme of international reform and realignment. There are not the alternative sources of capital to replace the US government contribution, nor of course would it be necessarily desirable to simply plug the gaps in the remaining system. There is so much pain in the sector, and that is wholly understandable. But there is also a greater need than ever for brilliant leadership, to deliver the reforms that the international development sector, its participants & beneficiaries, and its donors, all want to see.
Beyond the funding challenges, what are the leadership challenges facing the sector?
These questions are connected, really. But another key question for the sector was how organisations would decentralise decision-making power and resources to be closer to those that they serve. Step back from the furore about USAID, and these questions about organisational legitimacy and performance are intrinsically linked to questions of their future funding. Some radical decentralisation programmes have been undertaken in the sector, Open Society Foundations and Oxfam spring to mind, with some successes, and others, frankly, at risk of tearing themselves apart, ultimately distracting from the people they are supposed to serve. David Miliband has spoken very eloquently about this: in his leadership of IRC, he has focused on near total local staffing and leadership of programmes, whilst compellingly making the case for a global centre to the organisation, because he understands that the imperative is for the IRC to deliver exceptional results.
To do this they have to have global expertise, resource management, learning, assurance, fundraising, and so on. You earn legitimacy through being decentralised, and by delivering results. Not one or the other!
What are your passions outside of work?
My wife and I became parents in January last year. Fatherhood is both my passion, and the reason I have very little else going on outside work just now! While that implies that my passions are now nappies, batch cooking, and nursery rhymes, I’m afraid it’s the only accurate impression I can give you!
With the choice – pop on a podcast or bury your nose in a book? And please share any good recommendations…
I would always have been a book person, but with a one year-old, I need my hands free and eyes up! I am a near-daily devotee to the News Agents. The Rest is History is the most powerful somnolent. My ideal “weekend listening” is Revisionist History, Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast.
Get in touch with Nick Ricketts
