RP International's growth is driven by its experienced leadership team.
David Higgins | Chairman
David spent circa 20 years building Harvey Nash plc into a £500m turnover global professional services organisation. David's roles have encompassed Managing Director, Chief Executive, Executive Deputy Chairman and most recently Non-Executive Deputy Chairman.
As a highly effective senior international business leader, David's past successes have included growing Harvey Nash significantly in terms of size, revenue and profits and expanding the previously UK-centric organisation to deliver a global footprint covering Europe, Asia-Pacific and the USA.
David has a proven track record in creating growth, both organically and via strategic acquisitions. He has also taken a private business through to a successful flotation and listing on the London Stock Exchange. He currently advises the boards of five SME companies.
Stuart Wilson | Chief Executive Officer
A founding Director of RP International, Stuart has two decade’s experience of recruiting executive-level technology and telecoms resources for global organisations.
As CEO Stuart plays a consultative and facilitative role for global telecoms and technology groups worldwide and spearheads our work in emerging markets and technologies.
Stuart has worked at two major international recruitment organisations (Parity plc and PSD Group plc) where he headed their respective telecommunications divisions.
Stuart has an MBA from City University, UK.
Julian Frankum | Managing Director, MEA
Julian is a founding Director of RP International and has over 25 years experience in telecoms and technology recruitment.
Julian is responsible for board-level assignments in Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East, North Africa and the Americas. He maintains an awareness of deregulating and restructuring industry sectors with a view to exploring new opportunities.
Julian has previously worked as the director of the banking and finance recruitment practice of Parity plc, at that time Europe's largest technology recruitment company and at Penna plc where he was responsible for recruiting IT and operations directors for major international institutions.
David Northey | Finance Director
David has more than 20 years hands-on experience of working in the International Executive Search, recruitment, IT subcontracting and software development sector.
David has held various senior positions at Harvey Nash Group plc including that of European Finance Director and CFO for offshore software development and outsourcing. David started his career in finance with a mid-sized London practice where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant. Following a short period as an auditor manager and business advisor working with many SMEs he migrated to industry and became the UK Head of Finance at Harvey Nash prior to its flotation on the FTSE. Post-flotation he moved up to become European Finance Director and guided the group’s many acquisitions of recruitment and sub-contracting companies as it expanded internationally. The role developed further culminating in the set up of an offshore software development centre in Vietnam. David has worked extensively in UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany and the Far-East.
David is a member of the ICAEW and holds a BSc from Kings College London and an MSc from the University of Southampton.
Chris Baker | Director, Executive Search
As Director, Executive Search Chris Baker focuses on providing strategic partnership to our global clients.
Operating from Dubai, Chris has a global remit with particular focus on senior leadership recruitment for the telecommunications industry.
Chris previously served as Managing Director, APAC where he established our Singapore office in 2007 and guided our expansion across the region with the creation of hub offices in Sydney, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur.
Justin Birch | Managing Director, APAC
With more than 17 years experience in the global telecoms industry, Justin has managed multimillion dollar accounts in Operators, Network & IT Vendors and Systems Integrators across EMEA, APAC and the Americas. As Managing Director for APAC, Justin now uses his network and expertise to develop complete recruitment solutions for clients across Asia Pacific. These often complex solutions comprise of all the RPI offerings of search, contingency, interim and managed services.
During the course of his career Justin became deeply involved in Professional Services and spent several years as the European Consulting Director for Aircom International. He was responsible for winning many major 2G and 3G rollout projects in mainland Europe and the UK. On joining RP International in mid 2006 he established a highly successful global network rollout business before concentrating on OSS/BSS projects.
Justin has lived and worked in UK, Australia, Dubai, Turkey, Sweden and Singapore. He has lived in Singapore since the beginning of 2008 with his wife and three sons.
Steve Lovelace | Non Executive Director
Steve has over 30 years of professional services and recruitment experience with Parity plc and Hays.
During 12 years at Parity, 10 as UK Sales Director, Steve guided the business to become the largest IT contract recruitment agency in the UK.
Steve is a founding Director of RP International.
