We are a specialist recruitment firm dedicated to sourcing, evaluating and placing senior finance talent.

Leaders who go beyond the numbers


We partner with dynamic UK based companies, whether public, private equity backed, early stage or family owned.  In common however, is our client's desire to appoint commercially minded finance professionals who understand strategy, technological transformation, risk management, FP&A, tax planning.... the list goes on. 


Our boutique size allows us to maintain deep and extensive networks. We leverage these  connections to tap into hidden talent pools and present you with exceptional candidates, who may not be actively seeking new opportunities, but are the perfect fit for your leadership roles.





Finance leaders must possess a rigorous understanding of key business drivers, combined with the technical finance and strategic skills, in order to be trusted advisers to the board and management. 


We help companies at various stages of their lifecycle.  If the company is young and growing fast, we can help them appoint their first standalone CFO. 


Equally our network of experienced CFO's is extensive.  These individuals have the war stories and the know-how to drive growth, deliver transformation and they have established a strong reputation with the 3rd parties e.g. banks, advisers, investors etc.


Once the CFO is in place, we can help with the team build.  Ensuring we identify the right technical skillset and crucially the interpersonal attributes to succeed.   




We are a small and highly experienced team. We are laser focused on delivering high quality advice and solutions for our clients.  Our expertise, knowledge and approach, sets us apart. 


We are natural relationship builders and our clients and candidates benefit from the value we add to every project. 





Phil Grinhaff

Phil trained as an accountant and spent 9 years in financial services, before joining the recruitment industry in the late 90's.  He launched Freshwood in February 2021, with a view to offering a more personal and tailored approach to senior recruitment projects. 


Based on the edge of the Chilterns, he is a keen fair weather road cyclist.   

Fiona Hartfield

Fiona has over 23 years experience in senior financial recruitment.  She has successfully advised clients ranging from early stage enterprises to multinational PLCs. 


Based in Sussex, Fiona is a stones throw from the beaches and is a keen runner and off-road cyclist. 

Charlie Jaggard

Charlie has spent more than 25 years in executive search, assessment and coaching.  In that time he has met thousands of executives and knows what makes an outstanding leader.  In 2023 he launched Lucidant Consulting, a talent performance and leadership advisory firm.


"I am passionate about providing expert assessment and coaching services to improve clients’ performance through their leadership talent."


Our clients range from early stage VC backed start-ups to established public companies.  We have placed into most industry sectors and we pride ourselves on our ability to quickly understand the dynamics of a sector and the culture of the business.


It's this level of expertise and experience, that ensures we introduce relevant and high calibre candidates, whatever the situation.

Our approach is not just about one successful placement; it's about building lasting partnerships. We aim to be your trusted advisor, helping you to secure top-tier talent, that will help to drive your organisation's success now and into the future.

Companies we have helped

Why us?

  • 50+ years placing senior executives.
  • Experience across multiple industries and ownership structures.
  • Focused on quality and excellence at all times.
  • We are thorough, diligent, discreet and above all, we are experts.
  • Attentive and committed to delivering the highest levels of service.
  • We tailor our advice and recommendations depending on the situation.   
  • Our mission is to partner with our clients for the long term.