Meet the JDers - JD & Co.

Our team

Hi there, nice to meet you. We are the JDers, a tribe of People lovers with a thirst for knowledge and a keen AI (get it?) on the future. We also love a quiz and have quite the collection of Science & Technology, History, Sports, Art, Literature & Culture enthusiasts, so we are almost there with our ultimate quiz team…but could always do with a few more specialist subjects in tow, what would yours be?

Here is a little insight into our much-loved line-up.

Sophie Lovell-Smith

Talent Partner

My catchphrase:

In the words of a well known sports brand….. Just do it!

My fave Spotify playlist:

Songs to sing in the Car – got to love a power ballad, just to embarrass the kids

Dream dinner party guests?

Without doubt Gino Di Campo – he’s bonkers, he can bring his friends Gordon Ramsay and Fred Sirieix too for extra laughs.

Colin Dale

Talent Partner

My most-Googled holiday destination:

Bora Bora (see you there Kel!) and Vegas baby!

Mastermind specialist subject:

As office quizmaster hit me with your best questions! I never cease to surprise myself with my vast stash of useless knowledge #justcallmeMonkman

If I had to live in the past or the future:

An 80’s kid at heart I’d live in the past, doing the Rick and Roll to ‘never gonna give you up’, sporting a footballers perm with matching moustache, and sipping on Sodastreams… either that or the 15th Century, because I do love a good use of the word ‘Thus’

Georgie Feaver

Senior Project Manager

My escape:

My photos. Whenever I get a spare moment you will find me reminiscing through my thousands of photos. Epic experiences make memorable snaps.

My most Googled holiday destination

I love travelling so that’s a difficult one but my ultimate getaway would be to go on safari in the Masaai Mara, Kenya

If I was a vegetable:

I would be a sweet pepper

Kate Clegg

Talent Associate

My escape:

Driving range or Tetris (throwback)

My fave Spotify playlist:

Pop remix, dance or pretty much any summer-vibe playlist

Mastermind specialist subject:

Reality TV (primarily U.S. knowledge but that will be changing soon 😂)

Natalie Hatchard

Project Coordinator

My escape:

The gym, releases stress and makes me feel great

My Uber rating:

It was uncharacteristically low… but I worked hard at charming the drivers and it back up to 4.66

If I had to pick to live in either the past or the future:

Definitely the future year 3000, to see if Busted were right about living underwater.

Jo Dalton

Founder & CEO

My catch phrase:

If it’s not a ‘Hell Yes’, it’s a No

My favourite ice cream:

Rum and Raisin

My most-Googled holiday destination:

David Sherlick Elephant Santuary in Kenya and the Bistate Lodge in Rwanda to see the gorillas, they are top of the bucket list

If I had to pick to live in either the past or the future:

For anyone that knows me – Yes, the future!

Dream dinner party guests?

Ada Lovelace, Barack Obama, Joe Rogan, Rudolph Nuriev, Mohammad Ali, David Attenborough, Steve Jobs and Madonna

Simon Gottschalk

Talent Partner

Mastermind specialist subject:

The pistes of Courchevel

Dream dinner party guests?

Dame Judi Dench, Bob Mortimer and Mel Giedroyc along with my wife and small group of my oldest and closest friends. Oh, and let’s have Barack Obama there too please… just because!

My fave Deliveroo order:

Sushi any time of day or night. Followed by… more sushi please!

Daniella Angel

Talent Partner

My 10%:

Anything creative or innovate, I’m energised by ideas, making, breaking and painting. My house is filled with my own abstract Pollock-style pieces.

My most-Googled holiday destination:

French Polynesia or anywhere with a buttery biscuit base beach… in a constant state of Wanderlust and booking my next long haul trip.

Dream dinner party guests?

A science geek at heart it would have to be Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Lady Gaga, David Miscavige, Ruby Wax, Elon Musk, Hugh Jackman, Louis Theroux, Charles Darwin, Brian Cox

Kelly Tzelepis

Talent Partner

My 10%:

Process, Process, Process

My favourite ice cream:

Ferrero Rocher gelato please, yum!

My fave Deliveroo order:

Wagas (Praying they bring back my old fave, the chicken chilli men)

My most-Googled holiday destination:

Bora Bora (see you there Col!)

If I was a vegetable, I would be:

A carrot (rooted from the ground up, with strong morals and values)

Dream dinner party guests?

Ed Sheeran, Robert De Niro, David Attenborough, Michael McIntyre, Gordon Ramsay, Nelson Mandela, Angelina Jolie

Hannah Phillips

Team EA

My most-Googled holiday destination:

It’s a tie between Santorini, with the beautiful whitewashed buildings or Iceland in a glass igloo watching the northern lights…..it couldn’t get more diverse than that!

If I was a vegetable, I would be…

A jacket potato, it’s comforting, so versatile goes with anything, it’s very complementary and normally is included at social gatherings like BBQs!

Dream dinner party guests?

Ed Sheeran and James Cordan for entertainment purposes, Sandra Bullock, Robert Downey jnr, Gino D’Acampo, JK Rowling and my darling mum

James Brook

Leadership Coach and Psychologist

James is an experienced business leader, entrepreneur, leadership coach and management consultant. Following an international career with several global brands where he held leadership positions, he founded and ran several businesses, including Strengthscope®, a global HR Tech platform, which he successfully grew over 12 years before selling his stake in the business.
James is passionate about helping leaders optimize their talents and seeing Tech disruptors and innovators succeed and thrive. Drawing on his expertise in leadership psychology, executive coaching, organizational change and talent management, he has helped numerous companies, including Commvault, Farfetch, Gilead, PhotoBox, Novo Nordisk, Oracle, Takeda and Yahoo! to achieve their goals.
James is a regular speaker on leadership, coaching and the psychology of success and positive organizations. He has authored several books and his articles have been published in various publications, including Fast Company, Financial Times, CEO, Director and Personnel Today.

Khushana Jalota

Project Coordinator

My favourite ice cream

mmm has to be Ben Jerry’s Phish Food – all the best ingredients wrapped up in a yummy tub of lovelines

My most-Googled holiday destination

I’m drawn to hot climates, beautiful beaches and stunning vistas, and constantly dreaming of a trip to the Maldives…best get there quick before it sinks!

If I was a vegetable, I would be…

A sweet potato, my fave veg of all time, and who doesn’t want to be sweet?

Brad Hawkins

Project Coordinator

Dream dinner party guests?

Tom Holland, Scott Disick, Dame Judi Dench would make a hilarious party!

Mastermind specialist subject:

It must be the Marvel Cinematic Universe, what I don’t know about that isn’t worth knowing.

My fave Deliveroo order:

A cheeky Five Guys always goes down a treat!

Elicia Martin

Project Coordinator

My Escape:

Anywhere by the sea!

Favourite ice cream:

Mint choc chip

Spotify playlist:

‘The Great British Breakfast’ or any throwback playlist

Past or Future:

100% future!

Richard Boastë-Kelly

Number Cruncher

My Success

Leaving the rat race and freelancing has meant I’m less stressed and have more time for the important people in my life

My Escape

Weekends at our Southampton retreat

My Things

Massive movie fan with over 1500 films in my collection

Fun Fact

I can drive a Steam Train, and have done on the Main Line – and it’s how I met my partner having shovelled five tons of coal

George

Chief Happiness Officer

My Success:

I once ate my dinner in under 8 seconds, a new world record apparently! Typically I am much slower, usually woofing it down in an average of 11 seconds.

My Escape:

Running around Ascot Racecourse or Virginia Water Lake and going swimming, doggy paddle of course!

My Stuff:

My hoomans, treats and my bed

Fun Fact:

I live quite near Windsor Castle and once met the Queen out walking… I’ve always fancied myself part of the Royal Family actually, the Corgis look like great fun

Our story

2019
We met a huge milestone this year, reaching 25k followers on LinkedIn. As well as several charity endeavours for Thames Hospice, walking 100’s of miles to raise funds for a worthy cause, and GBEA was a big theme as we attended all the regional and national finals across the UK. Also, lots of lovely new JD faces :)
2018
Amidst tonnes of growth, scaling the business, growing the team and venturing into new markets, we launch our new product (Leadership Development) as well as our new website (hello!)
2017
It was a busy year in 2017 as we went global, making our first hire across the pond, visiting TechCrunch Disrupt in NYC, hit a huge milestone completing our 150th Exec Search, threw a few more amazing parties and Kelly rejoined the team after Mat leave (we missed you Kel!)
2016
We visited WebSummit in Lisbon, and the Great British Entrepreneur Awards where Jo judged Startup & Young Entrepreneur of the year categories (won by Simon Crowther of Flood Protection Solutions Ltd and David Tuch of Lightpoint Medical)
2015
Launched our Graduate scheme with Louisa as the first to join… and lots more amazing grads followed!
2014
An eventful year with our annual Client shindig at the Ivy Club JDDisrupt, a charity abseil for Cancer Research UK, and we take on our first projects outside of the UK tackling searches across Europe in Berlin, Stockholm and beyond
2012 – 2013
Our first home! Settled into our first office in Ascot and Jo hired her first JDer, Daniella. Jo also managed to take her first day off in 2 years!
2011
JD&Co was born. From the comfort of her kitchen table, Jo worked hard to get the business off the ground