Stephen has a deep understanding of how to ensure successful senior public service appointments, gained through the combination of his personal experience as a public sector leader, and his extensive executive search track record.

He joined Korn Ferry following six years in Government; initially running an arm’s length body of the MOD and then serving as a Senior Civil Servant in the Cabinet Office, where he worked across a wide range of briefs including national resilience, the national Covid-19 response and leadership development. Stephen was the UK Government’s first Director of Leadership and he played a leading role in the establishment of the National Leadership Centre and its successor, the Public Leaders' Programme for CEO-level public sector leaders.

Before his Government career, Stephen spent nine years at a global executive search firm where he was head of the UK Education Practice, recruiting Chairs, Board Members and Vice-Chancellors for universities and other education providers. His experience also covered top team and NED/Trustee appointments across Government, the Affordable Housing sector and major charities.

Stephen’s first career was spent in the British Army, leading soldiers on three operational tours as an officer in the Royal Artillery.

Stephen has a bachelor’s degree in archaeology from Durham University and a master’s degree in Conflict, Security and Development from King’s College London. He commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, is a graduate of the UK Defence Academy’s Strategic Leadership Programme, and is a Fellow of the Forward Institute.