Higher Education

Higher Education

For over 20 years we have been recognised leaders in the global higher education sector and have appointed hundreds of heads of institutions. Over the last fifteen years, our work has extended across the broader educational sector. 

Overview

In an increasingly inter-connected world, academia no longer operates in its own ivory tower, and as a multidisciplinary firm we bring a creative and holistic approach to identifying leaders – whether for universities, research institutes, business schools, think tanks, governments, private providers, or at the nexus of these sectors. Traditional dividing lines become blurred as organisations seek to integrate, to innovate and to work in partnership on an increasingly global platform. Strong leadership in this context is critical, as is the ability to contextualise higher education within the broader fabric of industry, policy and research. We bring a thoughtful, intelligent and creative approach to finding talent for our clients in this sector.

At an international level, we work closely with our 18 global partners, sharing experience and knowledge to support our clients’ needs, enabling us all to address overseas markets in a way that meets the demands of each individual search. 

OUR GLOBAL REACH

Through our global partnership, our international search capacity enables us to replicate Saxton Bampfylde’s research model around the world’s time zones and to seek out and engage pro-actively with leaders in relevant markets. 

This means that the unique features of an organisation can be interpreted in a number of relevant international contexts, and markets approached accordingly – all within the single relationship with our consulting team.

Our clients

Consulting Team

Mike Hounsell

Consulting Team

Mike Hounsell joined Saxton Bampfylde from the University of Surrey where he held the role of Vice President Marketing, Communications, Recruitment and Admissions. Prior to this, he had a successful career in the private sector working across multiple sectors including; consumer goods (Diageo, Allied Domecq), telecommunications (NTL), and financial services (American Express and Norwich and Peterborough Building Society), in senior marketing and general management board positions. He was also a Trustee for 4 years for East Anglia Childrens’ Hospices. He is a Business Studies alumnus of the University of West London, and attended the Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School in 2008.

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Hamish Laing

Consulting Team

Hamish is a senior member of the education practice at Saxton Bampfylde with a track record of success at Chief Executive, Vice-Chancellor, Principal, Provost, Head and Chair level, working with universities, schools, FE colleges and groups, and commercial education-related organisations. He is a graduate from the University of York and he completed his MBA in 2003. Hamish has been responsible for over 300 search assignments covering a range of senior executive and non-executive appointments, many of them with an international dimension.

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Dr Jennifer Barnes

Consulting Team

Dr Jennifer has held significant senior leadership roles in higher education, business and the arts. From 2010-15, she was Pro-Vice-Chancellor, International Strategy and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Cambridge and President of Murray Edwards College (2008-2012). Prior to that, she was BP’s first Global Director of Education, building partnerships with governments, universities and industry. A graduate of Smith College (USA), she moved to the UK and trained as an opera singer. She holds a MMus from the Royal College of Music, a PhD from the University of London and an Honorary Fellowship from Trinity Laban conservatoire of music and dance. She is on the Advisory Board of Vestd, a digital equity distribution platform, the International Advisory Panel for the University of Oman, a Director of the University of Suffolk and member of the Supervisory Board of the University of Maastricht.

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Jamie Wesley

Consulting Team

Jamie has been with Saxton Bampfylde for four years. He joined the firm as a researcher specialising in higher education and healthcare searches, and was then an associate consultant in our higher education and regulation practices for two years. Jamie is now a consultant working across our education, government and health practices. Jamie graduated with undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Music from Durham University and the University of Oxford respectively.

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Katie Morum

Consulting Team

Katie joined Saxton Bampfylde in 2015 as a researcher after receiving a first class MA in English Literature from the University of Exeter. In her current role she works closely with our Higher Education practice as an Associate Consultant. During her time with Saxton Bampfylde Katie has worked on numerous executive and non-executive assignments across the Higher Education sector, as well as a variety of commercial, pubic and not-for-profit appointments.

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Martin Baker

International Partner, Global Higher Education Practice

USA

Martin is Managing Partner of Buffkin/Baker, Saxton Bampfylde's international partner through Panorama. Martin has been in the executive search profession for 18 years and has conducted searches for the positions of CEO, CFO, CIO, Provost, Dean, Director, and Professor, having worked on over 300 searches throughout his career. Martin has recently represented a number of AAU institutions, land-grant universities, liberal arts colleges, and regional universities, where he has led numerous mid and senior level searches spanning most functions and academic disciplines. He previously worked in the Atlanta office of Korn/Ferry International, where he developed search strategy and executed searches for numerous senior level appointments. He began his career working as a Research Associate with Saxton Bampfylde, an executive search and management assessment firm in London, England. Martin earned his Bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University.

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Sean Davies

International Partner, Global Higher Education Practice

Australia

Sean is a Partner of Cordiner King, Saxton Bampfylde's international partner through Panorama. Sean has extensive experience in the education sector working for independent schools and universities. He has worked with most Australian universities with appointments including Vice Chancellors, Deans, Heads of School and Institute and Centre Directors. He has also worked with a number of independent schools nationally on Principal and Head of School roles.

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David Munns

Consulting Team

David has led the firm’s Finance Practice since 2012.  He has led over fifty CFO, Audit Committee Chair and direct reports to the CFO searches in the commercial, public and charity sectors.   Our Finance Practice is a market leader in University CFO/FD and school/college bursar searches. David also specialises in Chair and CEO searches in the education sector for commercial and not for profit sectors. Before joining Saxton Bampfylde David was CFO of three organisations: the Financial Times Publishing Group, Rocco Forte Hotels and Kaplan Europe.   He was also a non executive director of Colliers CRE plc.   He read Law at UCL, has an MBA from the University of Chicago and is a chartered accountant.

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Stephen Bampfylde

Consulting Team

Stephen is co-founder and Chairman of Saxton Bampfylde. He began his career working for IBM and Whitehall, where he spent nearly 10 years before moving into top level executive search. For 27 years he has been involved in the recruitment of executives to senior positions across all sectors. He helped establish the worldwide professional association AESC in Europe and was its international director for a number of years. Outside executive search, he has been involved with the advisory boards of the Business Schools at Cambridge and City Universities, is a Trustee of the Yvonne Arnaud theatre, and is former Chairman of the Guildford Cathedral Council. Stephen read Economics at Jesus College, Cambridge and studied corporate finance at London Business School..

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Featured

Candidate Opportunities

The Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology

Chair of Council

Closing date:
Friday 5 Apr 2019

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Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies

Home Bursar

Closing date:
Monday 1 Apr 2019

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Canvas

CANVAS is a regular insights update from Saxton Bampfylde.We aim to share interesting thoughts and perspectives on topics and issues that are relevant and current across sectors.

Higher Education Summer 2018