Carver ExecutiveCarver Executive
The Royal Exchange and Bank junction in the City of London on a bright morning

City of London · UK & Europe

The right rooms.
The right people.

Executive careers · NED & advisory appointments
C-suite engagement for technology & growth firms

Start a confidential conversation > What we do
25 years in executive search and advisoryBoard-level relationships across technology, financial services, professional services and the public sector, with particular depth in high-growth, emerging-technology and investor-backed businesses.
Warm introductions, never coldStrong referrals create trusted partnerships and mitigate risk. Every introduction is personal and made to a named decision-maker.
Research and an Advisory GroupA dedicated research capability, and an advisory group of former CEOs and industry leaders who support every stage of the sales lifecycle.

Why Carver

The conversations that never reach the open market

A large proportion of senior appointments, and senior-level commercial relationships, are built through conversations that never reach the open market. Roles get created for the right person; partnerships form in the right rooms; decisions move on trust and referral long before anything is advertised. After 25 years in executive search and advisory we have seen both sides of that market, and Carver was built to work in it.

We open doors for senior executives, and we open markets for technology and growth businesses. The same network serves both: the leaders we advise sit in the rooms our clients need to reach, and the businesses we support create the opportunities our candidates move into.

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Executive Engagement

For sales and business leaders

Mapping, personal introductions and sales-cycle support that gets your leadership in front of the people you want to do business with, months sooner than traditional channels.

How it works > >

Executive Events

For relationship building

Dinners at the Savoy, bespoke days at Stoke Park, Sunseeker charters along the South Coast. Curated guest lists, relaxed rooms, and every guest followed up.

See the events > >

Executive Careers

For senior executives · NED & advisory appointments

Career review, collateral, targeted introductions and interview support for leaders planning their next move with intent, whether a leadership role or a first NED or advisory appointment.

The programme >
Scrabble tiles spelling Carver with the red chevron tile

Executive Engagement

Access to the highest levels of business

We work closely with your sales and business leaders, mapping sectors, companies and individuals against your strategic sales plans so that every stakeholder is aligned. Then we make personal introductions to those targets.

Each target gets a bespoke strategy, often with several touch points: a direct introduction, an executive dinner, a round table chaired by a member of our Advisory Group, or a stand-alone activity through our partners.

Through direct engagement with key decision-makers, clients can often save many months of sales effort and benefit from a deeper, more personal engagement that understands the personal drivers as well as the company ones.

Executive Introductions

Personal introductions at CIO, CTO, CDO, COO or CPO level across an agreed target list. A mapping report before the clock starts: who holds the decision, the best route in, who to approach first and the earliest realistic introduction.

Executive Advisory

Access to our advisory board members: former CEOs, industry leaders and subject-matter experts who provide strategic proposal support, industry insight and proposition refinement. We can also place temporary or permanent advisors and non-executive directors with your leadership team.

Sales-cycle support

Preparation for every meeting, attendance where it helps, and follow-up with the target through proposal and close. Intelligence as the programme runs: what is on each target's agenda, where the budget sits, when to move, what the competition is saying.

"We have worked with Carver for almost five years and during that time they have supported the UK leadership and the wider Pega sales organisation. They have been instrumental in developing our footprint in a number of major corporations and have introduced us in at board and leadership levels resulting in new customer wins and generated significant additional revenue. I highly recommend them to sales and business leaders wanting to engage at high levels of corporations and reduce the length of their sales cycle."

Tony TarquiniDirector of Insurance EMEA, Pega

"We instructed Carver Executive to support us as we built a new delivery business within Pinsent Masons. The mandate was to identify and introduce us to a select number of main board directors across a designated target list ranging from global banks to leading insurers. The results were outstanding and resulted in the desired engagement at the most senior of levels. I would highly recommend their services."

Mark HuntDelivery Director, Pinsent Masons

How an engagement runs

Six stages, every account

One plan, one monthly review, one contact at Carver. Your sponsor always knows where every conversation stands.

Stage 1

Map

You share the target brief under NDA. We return the mapping report within ten working days.

Carver
Stage 2

Rehearse

A former senior executive of the target business, or a sector equivalent from our Advisory Group, briefs and rehearses your account lead before the real meeting.

Carver with partners
Stage 3

Open

We meet the target personally, usually over lunch, and introduce you. Not a cold approach.

Carver
Stage 4

Convert

Your account lead takes the first meeting. We attend where useful and follow up.

You, with Carver alongside
Stage 5

Sustain

Intelligence, insight and support to your team through proposal and close.

Carver
Stage 6

Gather

An executive dinner brings targets, your leadership and the wider network into one room.

Carver hosts
WeeklyA note to the sponsor: who we have spoken to, what was said, what happens next.
MonthlyA summary to leadership: introductions made, meetings held, pipeline created, and the month ahead.
Programme reviewResults so far, the next event, and whether to extend. Every open conversation is handed over with status and next step.
A long dining table laid for a Carver executive dinner at the Savoy

Executive Events

Relaxed rooms, the right guest list

We have many years' experience of constructing bespoke executive events, designed to provide a relaxed environment conducive to long-term relationship building. We host senior executives from key sectors and promote a spirit of collaboration, so all parties can explore areas of alignment and potential opportunity.

We take care of all the logistics, planning and management. Every invitation is followed by a call with attendees and your executive team, and we keep track so new relationships are nurtured into meaningful engagements and sales opportunities.

The floral entrance hall of the Savoy
The Savoy, London
Carver Executive Dinner sign at the Savoy
Executive dinner
Carver Executive sign outside the Polo Lounge at Stoke Park
Stoke Park
Aerial view of Stoke Park mansion and golf course
Stoke Park, Buckinghamshire
Fireside lounge at Stoke Park
The Polo Lounge
Old Harry Rocks seen from the water on the Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast charter
The helm of a Sunseeker yacht at Poole
Sunseeker, Poole
Guests talking in the saloon of a Sunseeker yacht
On board

Executive dinners

Hosted regularly at venues such as the Savoy, with 10 to 12 guests curated to your target accounts. A key service partner can join the discussion and gently explore ways to support the challenges and opportunities that come out of the conversation.

Bespoke events

Tailored events built with your sales, marketing or leadership teams and populated with executives from agreed target sectors. We have hosted wine tastings, clay shooting, golf days and sailing, with event planners at top venues including Stoke Park.

Exclusive charters

Our Sunseeker charters run from Ocean Village, Southampton to the Isle of Wight, or from Poole to Sandbanks and along the Jurassic Coast. A private chef on board; all guests have to do is relax, enjoy the food and the sights, and meet other executives.

Your events and virtual rounds

Clients use our networks to populate their own marketing events, and our advisors can attend and extend invitations across their own networks. When meeting in person isn't possible, we run one-to-one introductions and online round tables chaired by an Advisory Group member aligned to the audience.

"I'd like to take the opportunity to thank you for the invitation to your event and dinner at Stoke Park. It was a great mix of people with interesting perspectives on some of the current technology, operational and business challenges we're currently facing. I have a couple of follow ups to arrange over the coming weeks but certainly having the opportunity to network in this type of environment was incredibly valuable."

CTO, IPO & NEDCompanies House

"Just a short note to thank you for a great day yesterday. As usual a really good guest list and everyone mixed well. Let's speak on the ideas we discussed in the next few weeks."

CEO UKABN AMRO

Executive careers · NED & advisory appointments

Your next move, with intent

A seasoned adviser alongside you at the moments in a career that matter most. For 25 years we have supported senior executives into leadership, advisory and non-executive roles across the UK and Europe, with board-level relationships that open conversations not available on the open market.

We offer a range of coaching and introductory services, taken together as a programme or individually as you need them:

  • Career review and planning
  • CV, profile and positioning
  • Interview coaching and preparation
  • Offer, contract and exit advice
  • Targeted introductions at leadership level
  • First NED or advisory appointments
Arrange a confidential conversation >

"I was impressed by the review of my skills and experience and how then they were able to structure a marketing programme that succeeded in securing a number of high level introductions resulting in more than one offer being issued. I highly recommend them for anyone looking for their next position or wanting to increase their Board level network."

Delivery DirectorPinsent Masons

"Tom is a professional, reliable and 'can do' individual who displays all the proactive attributes of a World Class Director by putting his customer first and understanding the priority drivers. He is trust-worthy and able to provide solutions and connections both efficiently and swiftly."

Senior DirectorEricsson
Tom Atkinson

Tom Atkinson

Founder, Carver Executive

Leadership and the Advisory Group

A seasoned advisor to the C-suite

Carver is led by Tom Atkinson, a seasoned advisor to the C-suite with 25 years in executive search and advisory: supporting board and leadership level executives, hosting networking events and working with technology organisations bringing new ideas, concepts and services to market.

Behind every engagement sits a dedicated research capability and Carver's Executive Advisory Group: former CEOs, industry leaders and subject-matter experts with vast experience at all senior levels. With sector-specific experience, networks and track records, they help clients open new markets and develop deeper in existing ones.

"Tom has repeatedly demonstrated his willingness and a duty of care to both really understand my challenges when there are opportunities and to nurture our relationship through times when there aren't any. He has become a professional friend and these are needed in our industry, regardless of which side of the IT and Leadership skills fence you currently sit on."

Karl DeaconCDO Northern Europe & Asia Pacific, Atos

Strategic proposal support

Advisory Group members review propositions, sharpen positioning and bring the view from the other side of the table.

Chairing and hosting

Round tables and dinners chaired by a member aligned to the audience, so the conversation is between peers.

Advisors and NEDs

Temporary or permanent advisors and non-executive directors who add value to your leadership team.

Our clients

From global technology firms to boutique consultancies

Our clients range from large technology firms to boutique consultancies and start-ups, all sharing a passion for innovation and delivering excellence. We support clients to expand their reach into specific markets or geographies and use our networks to support that growth in a seamless way.

We strongly promote a spirit of collaboration so that all parties support each other's objectives in a creative and constructive way, and we stay agile in our thinking with a determination to deliver superb service.

Engagement clients include

PegaSalesforceDellAlvariaWorld Wide TechnologyTemple Grange PartnersPinsent Masons

Search and engagement work has included

CapgeminiCognizantPrudentialLloyds BankCamelotAtosNFU Mutual
TechnologyBankingInsuranceProfessional servicesPublic sectorHigh-growth & investor-backed

"We have worked with Tom and his team to extend our footprint across Banking and Financial Services. The level of engagement, the positioning and introductions have always been of the highest quality ensuring we have relevant conversations with the people we otherwise can struggle to reach through traditional channels."

Pepe SmithSales Director, Temple Grange Partners

"I have known Tom for almost 20 years, both in a business and personal capacity. He is excellent at building relationships with people at all levels, trustworthy and having made a commitment to do something will always deliver on his word. I have no hesitation in recommending him as a business partner."

Director, Banking, Financial Services and DigitalCGI

Transparency and trust

Always wanting to improve underpins everything we do. We welcome feedback and strive for service excellence.

Market insight

We feed back what the market says about your brand, propositions, communication and people, and look at ways we can collectively do things better.

Reputations protected

Integrity and reputations are critical components for success. We protect yours and ours at all times, and never disclose a client's interest in an account without agreement.

Contact

A confidential conversation

If you're planning your next move with intent, or taking innovation to market and need to reach the people who matter, we'd welcome a confidential conversation. Tell us who you want to reach, or where you want to be next, and Tom will come back to you personally.