“Leaders at their best speak from authentic, deeply held and articulate values.”
Stephen Bampfylde Co-Founder & Non-Executive Chair

Stephen Bampfylde Co-Founder & Non-Executive Chair

Stephen Bampfylde co-founded the firm with Anthony Saxton in 1986, built on a belief that executive search could be done differently, with integrity, with care, and with a genuine sense of purpose. From the beginning, the firm’s mission has been to change the world by changing leaders in interesting and important organisations, and to build a place where everyone within it could grow to their fullest extent, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. That mission has shaped nearly four decades of work.

Over his career, Stephen has been involved in some of the most significant leadership appointments across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, from FTSE 100 boardrooms to government departments, universities, arts organisations and the charitable sector. In 2021, Stephen was recognised by the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC) for his longstanding contribution to the profession and was awarded the organisation’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

He began his career at IBM and in Whitehall, where he spent nearly a decade before moving into senior-level executive search. Over his career, Stephen has been involved in the recruitment of executives to some of the most significant leadership roles across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.

Alongside his work in executive search, Stephen has served on the advisory boards of the business schools at the University of Cambridge and City, University of London. He is currently Chair of the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and previously served as Chair of the Guildford Cathedral Council. Stephen read Economics at Jesus College, Cambridge and later studied corporate finance at London Business School.