Marks Sattin,the specialist recruitment and executive search agency with over three decades of experience, has announced the appointments of Andy Barnes as Director of Financial Services and Ed Hall as Director of Technology.
The high-profile senior hires mark a significant step in the company’s strategy to strengthen its market presence and drive growth across the financial and technology sectors, two of its key divisions which it services from its UK-wide and European network of offices in London.
Andy brings 25 years of experience to his new role, including running his own business in recruitment, finance, and regulatory services. Known for his expertise in leading change and transformation projects, Andy will oversee a team of specialists across Finance, Risk, Legal and Change Management for temporary, contract and permanent hiring.
His initial focus will be on consolidating the company’s market presence in financial services, refreshing the division’s brand following the challenges of the pandemic, and establishing a national change and transformation desk.
Commenting on his new role, Andy said: “Marks Sattin has built a strong reputation in the financial services space over the last 40 years, particularly in the London market. My goal is to build on that while bringing fresh ideas, harnessing the deep expertise of the team, and using the company’s market-leading technology to ensure we continue to deliver and excel for our clients.”
Joining him at Marks Sattin, which is part of the Gi Group Holding family, is Ed Hall, the new Director of Technology. Ed has nearly a decade of experience in technology recruitment, where he has earned a reputation for successfully scaling teams and delivering specialist recruitment services. At Marks Sattin, Ed will focus on expanding the Technology division, with plans to triple the size of his team within two years. His goal is to establish the division as a recognised leader in tech recruitment, supporting businesses with high-demand roles such as data engineers and scientists, software engineers, and infrastructure, security and AI specialists.
Ed highlighted the growing demand for these roles as organisations modernise legacy systems and prepare for the integration of AI technologies. “This is an exciting time to join Marks Sattin,” he said. “The technology division has enormous potential, and my focus is on building a team that becomes synonymous with expertise in tech recruitment. The market is evolving rapidly, particularly around AI and data, and our goal is to help businesses navigate these challenges by connecting them with the talent they need to succeed.”
Marks Sattin’s Managing Director Matt Wilcox, who recently celebrated 20 years with the business, welcomed the appointments, describing them as a pivotal moment for the business. “Andy and Ed bring a wealth of experience, energy, and vision to Marks Sattin,” Wilcox said. “Their leadership will be instrumental in driving growth and ensuring that we continue to provide an exceptional service to our clients and candidates. Our Financial Services and Technology divisions are critical to our business, and with Andy and Ed at the helm, I am confident we will continue to strengthen our position as a trusted recruitment partner across these sectors.”
Marks Sattin’s longstanding reputation, combined with its robust data and technology capabilities, provides a solid foundation for growth under the leadership of Andy and Ed. Their appointments come at a time of significant change and opportunity in the recruitment industry, particularly in the financial and technology sectors, where companies face challenges ranging from compliance and regulation to AI readiness and legacy system upgrades.
Both directors share the vision of building trusted partnerships with clients and candidates while ensuring Marks Sattin remains agile and adaptable to the demands of an ever-changing market. Their arrival underscores the company’s commitment to innovation, leadership, and excellence in recruitment as it continues to evolve its offering in the years ahead.
