OUR colleagues
“At Hamilton Forth, we are more than the sum of our parts”
Collectively we can offer the strength and depth of service that makes us a leading technology and change recruitment business.
We are committed to taking an open, honest, and ethical approach to recruiting, being proactive and always aiming to be the best in our field.
Our people are knowledgeable and experienced, yet always ready to listen and learn.
Our purpose and values led culture is based on partnership – with our clients, our candidates, our community and each other. We are accountable, responsible, and professional in everything we do.
Meet the team...
Mark Lewis
Managing Director
Mark is Managing Director at Hamilton Forth and has over twenty years of experience in the recruitment industry in Scotland and beyond. He works with companies across a wide variety of sectors and geographies, ranging from FTSE 100 through to private equity and owner-managed businesses, delivering a bespoke service underpinned by professionalism and unrivalled market knowledge. Mark also leads the CFO Services Practice within Livingston James, a Scottish headquartered Executive Search firm, and Rutherford Cross, a specialist senior finance recruitment business.
A graduate of the University of Manchester, Mark started his career in the once fledgling Energy Trading market before embarking on a career in recruitment with a leading FTSE 100 listed business. Following his strong performance in the North of England for this organisation, he was relocated to Scotland in 2004. In 2006, he was headhunted by a boutique professional services recruiter, resulting in his promotion to Associate Director within two years. Mark joined Livingston James in 2011 and led the launch of Rutherford Cross two years later. In 2022, Mark broadened his role to encompass Hamilton Forth which is exclusively focused on senior change, transformation and technology appointments.
Outside of work responsibilities, Mark is a keen participant in a range of sports and spends the majority of his weekends ferrying his two children to their various social engagements.
Rachel Sim
CIO SERVICES
Data and Software Engineering
Rachel specialises in supporting Data professionals such as Data Scientists, Analysts and Engineers across the central belt of Scotland. Rachel focuses on the permanent market with a client base covering a wide range of sectors from multinational companies to public sector bodies.
Rachel has a passion for building long term relationships and aims to create partnerships between clients and candidates; supporting organisations to succeed and grow, and helping individuals realise their career ambitions. Rachel prides herself on her thorough approach and consultative nature, having spent time working as both a recruitment Researcher and Consultant.
Rachel graduated from Robert Gordon University with a BA (Hons) in Management with Marketing and an MSc in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs before starting her career in recruitment with the Livingston James Group. Outside of work Rachel enjoys cooking and baking, and socialising with friends and family in Glasgow.
Tom Watson
CIO Services
Tom joined Hamilton Forth to focus on the Interim and Contract market in Edinburgh; specialising in Project Management, Business Analysis and Software professions across the Central Belt of Scotland. Tom is passionate in sourcing IT experts and prides himself on building relationships and supporting the success of our clients, candidates, and colleagues.
Tom graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a First Class Honours in Business Management. Having some prior experience within the recruitment industry and writing his dissertation on the sector, Tom joined Hamilton Forth directly from university and is thriving on growing his network and experience within the Interim and Contract market.
Outside of work, you’ll certainly find Tom on the golf course trying to live up to his famous name, or in the gym. Tom also enjoys spending time socialising with friends and family and is an avid food lover so you can be sure to find him eating out in some of Edinburgh’s great restaurants.
Kirsty Mclardy
Head of Research
Kirsty is Head of Research for Livingston James Group. Kirsty leads all research activities including market mapping, talent mapping, international search and candidate attraction. Kirsty is also our trained in-house psychometric assessor.
Kirsty works closely with Consultants and Clients to understand exactly what is required and build a robust and targeted plan for how to source and attract high calibre individuals. Over ten years in the recruitment industry, she has worked across a range of sectors and specialisms, primarily at executive level.
Passionate about understanding people, what motivates them and how they can reach their potential most effectively, Kirsty studied MA Psychology at the University of Aberdeen. She has since completed further training in Occupational Ability and Personality testing and is a member of the British Psychological Society.
Outside of work, Kirsty has a passion for food and drink, particularly Scottish produce. She promotes local restaurants and businesses and shares homemade recipes through her food blog, Pancakes and Polaroids. Kirsty is also a fan of the countryside and escapes to the outdoors when she can, trying her hand at some (very) amateur photography.
Rachael Birkett
GROUP ADMIN & OPERATIONS ASSISTANT
Rachael is Group Admin & Operations Assistant for the Livingston James Group. She provides full support to all consultants across our Group’s three specialist brands (Livingston James, Rutherford Cross and Hamilton Forth), involving a vast range of duties from document formatting to compliance monitoring and events management.
Rachael graduated from the University of St Andrews with an MA in Social Anthropology with Upper-Second class Honours where she gained a wider understanding of what it means to be human across different cultural contexts. She volunteered as a Student Ambassador during her studies which involved assisting prospective students with their next steps into academia, providing her with direct experience of our Group’s purpose: helping others to realise their potential. Rachael is keen to develop her knowledge of the recruitment industry and is delighted to be starting her career journey at the Livingston James Group.
Beyond the work environment, Rachael enjoys reading books from a variety of genres and watching Formula 1 at the weekend.
Francesca Christophersen
GROUP OPERATIONS MANAGER
Cesca is the Executive Assistant to our Chief Executive Jamie. She offers a confidential organisational support service to him, as well as operational and administrative support to the Livingston James Group. Cesca has a people-first approach, a keen eye for detail and is always on hand to support anyone in need.
Coming from a sporting background, Cesca was motivated to join an organisation focused on teamwork and joined Livingston James as a Research Associate in 2018. She gained significant experience sourcing senior executives for high profile assignments, learning the ropes of recruitment from the ground up and developing wider knowledge of market mapping, candidate attraction and assessment strategies and client/candidate relationship management.
Cesca graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a BSc in Applied Sport Science with first class honours, where she specialised in Sports Biomechanics and Physiology. In addition to playing competitive football, basketball and water polo, Cesca was a competitive swimmer for over 10 years competing at National level and for Scotland Universities. She is fluent in Norwegian and has studied Spanish, French and Italian.
Cesca has always been heavily involved in volunteering, from swim teaching at local clubs to working at high profile sporting events. She also took on several committee roles whilst at university including Vice President of EUSWPC, overseeing club development for over 200 members. She was subsequently awarded a university Colours Award for outstanding voluntary service to the Sports Union. After graduating, she became head swim coach of EUSWPC for a year whilst working with us, coaching university students 5 times a week. Since leaving the team and retiring from swimming, she has vowed to never get up before 5am anymore… especially not to exercise.
‘We are here to advise and support people and organisations to realise their potential so that together we can impact lives and communities for the better’
Consultant Spotlight – Rachel Sim
In September 2021 I graduated from Robert Gordon University with degrees in Management with Marketing and Corporate Communications and Public Affairs. I had always wanted to secure a place on a graduate programme due to the variety of work and rotations often offered by such.
Together we achieve more.
Livingston James Group comprises three bespoke sub brands: Hamilton Forth, Rutherford Cross – our specialist finance recruitment practice, and Livingston James – our executive search and leadership advisory practice. This wider group structure complements our robust search and assessment process, allowing clients to access the Group’s deep-rooted network and expertise.
Contact our IT recruitment experts
We’d be delighted to provide further information. Get in touch with our team to find out how we can help you.
Latest from the blog
Hamilton Forth is Delighted to be Retained by Bute Energy to Appoint Junior GIS Analyst
Hamilton Forth is delighted to be retained by Bute Energy to appoint a Junior GIS Analyst. Bute Energy Limited has built up a market-leading pipeline of Energy Park projects in Wales, constituting the largest onshore renewables development portfolio in the UK.
Hamilton Forth is Delighted to be Retained by Baxters Food Group to Appoint its IT Business Partner
A new vacancy based in Edinburgh has arisen within Baxters Europe, representing an excellent opportunity to join their market-leading team. This role offers a fantastic opportunity to further your career within a reputable business that has made themselves a well-established household name over many years. The successful candidate will report directly to the European Finance Director with regular interaction with the wider organisation and various key senior stakeholders within the business, including the IT, finance, HR, sales and marketing teams.
Virtual Roundtable Event – Guidance for Interview Preparation
On Thursday 24th of August, Livingston James Group hosted the next in our Roundtable series. Hamilton Forth Consultant, Rachel Sim and Rutherford Cross Consultant, Christina McLean collaborated to bring an Interview Preparation training session and discussion group to the tech and finance communities.
Hamilton Forth is Delighted to be Retained by Bute Energy to Appoint Junior GIS Analyst
Hamilton Forth is delighted to be retained by Bute Energy to appoint a Junior GIS Analyst. Bute Energy Limited has built up a market-leading pipeline of Energy Park projects in Wales, constituting the largest onshore renewables development portfolio in the UK.
Hamilton Forth is Delighted to be Retained by Baxters Food Group to Appoint its IT Business Partner
A new vacancy based in Edinburgh has arisen within Baxters Europe, representing an excellent opportunity to join their market-leading team. This role offers a fantastic opportunity to further your career within a reputable business that has made themselves a well-established household name over many years. The successful candidate will report directly to the European Finance Director with regular interaction with the wider organisation and various key senior stakeholders within the business, including the IT, finance, HR, sales and marketing teams.
Virtual Roundtable Event – Guidance for Interview Preparation
On Thursday 24th of August, Livingston James Group hosted the next in our Roundtable series. Hamilton Forth Consultant, Rachel Sim and Rutherford Cross Consultant, Christina McLean collaborated to bring an Interview Preparation training session and discussion group to the tech and finance communities.
