Gavin Walford-Wright

“Gavin is tenacious, entrepreneurial and is not afraid to challenge the status quo (in a good way). Rarely have I come across someone that looks at everything with an eye of how it can be improved or leveraged into a better opportunity. Refreshingly direct, but sincere, Gavin makes stuff happen and somehow always remains ahead of the curve.”

“We recently had the opportunity to be selected by Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi to deliver two cross border global senior leadership mandates. It was a pleasure to work with Gavin, he recognises the importance of creating a trusted partnership with executive search firms. He appreciates and values search firms that are key strategic advisors who provide genuine and transparent counsel on a broader basis, including assessing leadership teams, advising boards on their effectiveness, succession planning and culture shaping. ”

“Gavin is one the thought leaders and veteran in talent acquisition space. He is known for bringing innovative ideas on table and execute. As a client he explores partners capability very well , you can trust Gavin to make the best of you . We have delivered some extraordinary projects while working with him and he being on driving seat success is almost guaranteed. ”

“I have known Gavin for over a year now. He is a seasoned HR professional with the passion for Tech and Innovations. Always looking for ways of improving processes and getting better results. He is self motivated, has a wealth of knowledge and an inspirational leader for the fortunate people who work closely with him. ”

“Working with Gavin and his team on a current nationalisation project shows how he has refined the recruitment process and developed assessment centres to achieve results. His energy, eye for detail and passion for the business are excellent.”

“Gavin has great vision and leadership skills. I have seen his career develop over the last 10 years and it is clear he has the ability to develop his team and identify real talent. He is a concise leader who commands a presence that encourages success.”

“I have known and worked with Gavin now for the last 4-5 months. He is an extremely efficient HR and recruitment professional and strives to be the best at everything he does. Recently I worked with Gavin on an international project interviewing and selecting a large number of candidates. Because of his knowledge and drive this was a very smooth process for myself. Gavin would be a great addition to any company and adds value in a lot of areas.”

“Gavin is an excellent professional to work with. He works with such high synergies , leads with example(s) and masters collaborative engagements. A very process oriented and protocol adhering professional who is passionate for success. In my career I have come across very few HR leaders who leverage technology in achieving their initiatives and Gavin in among them. In a short span on time I could learn a lot of effective management methodologies from him for which I would like to thank him.”

“I knew Gavin from past 3-4 months its really nice working with him for a DU project where we were involved in the entire end to end recruitment has been very helpful in the complete process of recruitment. He is one of the top notch HR professional! He has extensive global experience and was a great source of information on global HR. He is always willing to help others and has an enthusiastic attitude regarding HR. Gavin is a motivated individual who always takes the extra step to assure he is satisfying everyone's needs. He is a pleasure to work with and will surely add value to any organization. His professionalism and pleasant attitude are some of his best assets.”

“Gavin is one of the best HR guys I have ever worked with. He is strategic in his work and very detailed oriented when it comes to providing suggestions. He has been a great support to my team for Middle East recruitment. His strategy to approach a problem/issue is excellent. An amazing people manager !”

“Working with Gavin is an AMAZING experience. You have to work with Gavin to understand what ‘amazing’ means. My lexis for the word Amazing has been completely redefined working with him. It would be hard not to think of Gavin, when you hear 'amazing'. As a true leader Gavin empowers his team and gives full credit for their work. He knows how to create excitement at work. He could swift through complex scenarios, handle them with ease and emerge out of it successfully. One can learn a lot from his approachable nature, communication style and positive attitude. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with him. ”

“Gavin is a unique HR professional in the Middle East; he demonstrates excellent cultural and commercial awareness, plus an ability to get things done. He is genuine and pragmatic, and can guarantee results even in adverse situations. As a client, Gavin's expectations are understandably high, but he is also supportive and transparent - with a good sense of humor! Highly recommended. ”

“Gavin is one of the best HR and Talent Acquisition Directors I have had the good fortune to work with. He's sympathetic to local and international market nuances and understands how to get things done, often under difficult circumstances. He is professional, efficient and, above all, personable.”

“Gavin is one of those Rare Leader's who also naturally serves as an inspiring Mentor / Colleague / Friend.He has a pleasing personality & strong interpersonal skills and a unique capacity for empathy.He is an effective communicator at the same time very good listner.These qualities most notably translate in his ability to motivate a team to care about its project.Gavin is very focused, dedicated sharp and swift! He diligently leads his team from the front and so it is no surprise that his team looks-up to him. One of the best in the business.All the Best Gavin and stay in Touch”

“Few people have the opportunity to work with a collague who is both a coach and mentor without being your manager- but I did when I worked with Gavin. On several occasions, I have received an enormous amount of support and guidance in the office when I joined as a fresher in Business Development. Gavin bought a significant change in the HR department of Travelex, and expertly filled the role of HR Head for Middle East, India, Africa and Turkey. Gavin's ability to juggle multiple challenging projects with limited resources at the same time was commendable, and made a big difference to the overall HR productivity. No matter how boring the meetings were, Gavin always made it fun and entertaining for us. Though Gavin and I have been in seperate departments, I can assure anyone that he is a definitive asset to whichever company he decides to work with. I wish you only the BEST for your future!”

“Gavin is one of the most exceptionally remarkable and outstanding HR professionals that I have come across and luckily worked with. Gavin is crowned as a high sophisticated professional with a broad spectrum in the Human Resources domain. He is a guaranteed investment to any organization. A self-driven talent and a leader with great passion for success; his path to success is integrated with intelligent and smart techniques. ”

“Gavin is a very dynamic person to work with, Insights on HR aspects , Business Sense and Integrity toping the chart. He has been very instrumental in the assignment with his commendable knowledge and expertise on Payroll, HR, Compliances and Technology. Very proactive, reliable and available at all times. Gavin's Quick, rational decision making is a quality to be admired and learnt. Gavin is a thorough Professional and adds value to our engagement. Very employee centric and always looks at getting more for the Business to enhance the experience. I recommend Gavin as a wonderful person and full of talent to work with for Business projects and assignments.”

“I worked with Gavin for almost two years and always found him to be a focussed and driven individual. He demonstrated efficiency and professionalism at all times and I could always rely on him to deliver the required results. He achieved success and respect for his delivery capability and customer centric approach at both Cornerstone Resourcing and 4uBusiness.”

“Gavin is a highly skilled HR practitioner – he’s fast and efficient and is a good communicator. I am impressed by the high volume of candidates he is able to recruit whilst maintaining a very high calibre of final recruits. I enjoy working with him. Gavin has a strong grasp of the commercial issues surrounding recruitment and search processes, which enables him to run concurrent, multiple processes which are effective. He also has an excellent knowledge of what it takes to run an effective HR function with a global remit. Gavin is a great asset to QIA and QH.”

“Gavin has a very unique ability to identify and source top talent from all over the world. He consistently displays a very professional and refreshingly direct approach in managing relationships and meeting stated objectives. Gavin's comprehension of global sourcing including the industries and verticals he works with is superior making him a valuable contact as well as a trusted client.”

“I very much enjoy working with Gavin, who is approachable and friendly. He provides comprehensive information when issuing instructions and always understands the features of the marketplace relevant to each assigment. This is not only incredibly useful to me as a third party recruiter, but no mean feat taking into account the number of different areas for which Gavin sources candidates!”

“Gavin is an experienced and highly respected HR professional with a proven track record and sound commercial acumen. This is my impression as we started working on some recruitment requirements for QIA. Gavin was very approachable. He has guided and given me enough details for us to execute our search on their requirements. He has the necessary expertise to identify high caliber candidates specifically in the financial services sector. I have no doubt that Gavin would really be an asset to any team.”

“Gavin and I have been working together since 2009 on recruitment assignments for the QIA. Gavin really understands the industry and his exceptional knowledge of various sectors certainly helps when identifying suitable candidates for vacant roles. He is prompt at getting back to the recruiter with valuable feedback and has been a pleasure to work with. I look forward to working with Gavin for many years to come.”

“It was a pleasure doing business with Gavin through the Islamic Bank of Britain where I witnessed first hand his professionalism and work ethos of the highest standard whist at the same time putting his personal touch in the mix. Gavin makes you feel always at home and you notably sense he is a worldly individual who understands and appreciate different cultures and diverse audiences. He is truely an added value to any institution he is part of. Constantly on the move, bouncing from one continenat to the other, and always busy head over heels, make sure to grab the opportunity to have a cup of coffee with Gavin as he puts the "H" in HR.”

“Gavin has the ability to map out the recruitment process from A-Z, providing realistic and commercial data points throughout the journey. He provides a refreshing and reassuring approach to talent search.”

“Gavin is very professional in dealing with both staff and applicants, as Head of Recruitment at QIA. He is generous with his (pieces of) advice to staff and level-headed with applicants' concerns.”

“I had the pleasure to work together with Gavin for about 2 years. Gavin is one of the most efficient and hard working people I have ever met. In addition he has a very positive and professional attitude and a unique sense of humor! I wish him all the best in his flourishing career!”

“Gavin was among my first contacts with QInvest during my recruitment process and his informative briefing on the company and Qatar itself was key to my decision to accept the role. I believe Gavin to be one of the best HR professionals that I have worked with, which was fully reflected in the support he provided during my on boarding. I highly recommend Gavin as an excellent and thorough recruiter and manager of human capital.”

“It was my privilege to have worked alongside Gavin during my tenure at QInvest. Gavin combined in himself the qualities of a thorough professional with a genuinely humane nature while addressing the concerns of employees. The initiatives kickstarted by Gavin formed the core of QInvest's Policy Framework.An asset who any Company would delight to have among their rolls.”

“Gavin’s work at both QInvest and QIA has given him an invaluable knowledge and understanding of Qatar and its financial services sector. His skills and experience from this area, together with his successful recruiting career in the region allow me to thoroughly recommend Gavin’s high business and personal standards. Working with him is a great pleasure.”

“Gavin is a senior human resources executive, who uniquely combines excellent communication skills with a deep understanding of banking. He has strong interpersonal relationships development skills and a good ability to network within and outside of the organization. It always amazes me to find the number of people Gavin knows in the industry! Gavin would add immensely to the long term growth of an organization through his abilities to recruit people with the right skills and motivation.”

“It was my privilege to be associated with Gavin at QInvest, Doha, Qatar. Gavin is a thorough HR professional with a very good appreciation of overall business goals of the institution. Gavin's expertise in HR related functions helped in building and nurturing a team of talented investment banking professionals at QInvest. I admire Gavin for his professionalism and diligence. I wish him all the best in all his endeavours.”

“I had the pleasure of working with Gavin at QInvest. He was my first contact with QInvest during my recruitment process and he was instrumental in providing a comprehensive profile of the company, job role and responsibilities. He was exceptional throughout the process and indeed over the course of the time we spent together at QInvest whereby he provided significant support as a colleague and HR Manager. I believe Gavin to be one of the best HR professionals that I have been in contact with and his work reflected both on the support he provided to existing staff and the quality of talent hired by the organization during his tenor. I highly recommend Gavin is as an intelligent, tenacious and thoughtful HR professional.”

“Since working with the Qatar Investment Authority, Gavin has always been the first point of contact with regards to any legal hiring. Gavin is very responsive to any queries we may have and his ability to get back to us promptly makes our life a lot easier in sourcing the right lawyers. It has been a pleasure working with him so far and we look forward to working with him in the future.”

“Gavin is the best HR Manager I’ve ever had the chance to work with. He is a thorough, business-oriented people person, who cares about people under his responsibility. Always a great pleasure to deal with.”

“Gavin is an open, friendly and enthusiastic person. It was a pleasure to work with him at QInvest.”

“Gavins work was very professional and highly focused , I have admired his excellent ability to deal with different nationalities and his passion for his work. He is an excellent human asset for any organization.”

“Gavin was one of the first people I had contact with when joining QInvest, he made the transition a pleasure. His depth of knowledge sense of humour and proffessional approach were much appreciated and very differrent from the normal expectation of HR. I would not hesitate to work with or employ Gavin as i would be confident in getting an excellent employee and in knowing there was a safe pair of hands.”

“I have had the pleasure of working alongside Gavin recently recruiting for some senior roles. Gavin has freely shared his knowledge and helped me to grow my own knowledge in the finance sector. I have found Gavin focused and fair to work with but more importantly an insightful colleague and I value his support and counsel.”

“I have worked for Gavin over the last year and found him to be consistently diligent and professional throughout that time.”

“Gavin and I had the opportunity to liaise on a range of different initiatives at a senior level. I found him to be unfailingly clear & consistent in the way in which he managed the relationship, as well as helpful in ensuring we were visible across the organisation. A pleasure to do business with.”

“I have only known Gavin for a short while and am already highly impressed with his high level of diligence, an expert, a professional with no games or tricks - he is direct and honest as well as a helper when the task at hand needs to get completed It comes as no surprise that QIA is recognized as one of the best companies to work for in the Middle East as this is largely influenced by Gavin's task to lead the growth of QIA to a very high standard. Look forward to growing our relationship!”

“Gavin is highly professional with all prospective new hires and always looks out for the best interest of the company while maintaining a personal, warm rapore with everyone he meets. He produces ideal candidates on specified positions all the way up to Board level. He is a joy to work with and I look forward to continuing to work with him in the future.”

“Gavin is Head of Recruitment at the Qatar Investment Authority/Qatar Holding and an integral part of the HR leadership team. I have worked directly for Gavin for the last 2 years where he has proven himself to be one of the best managers I have worked for. He is results driven and extremely committed to the business and his team. His strong drive, passion and leadership skills were inspiring to me and definitely assisted in my success at QIA/QH. A pleasure to work with and highly recommended.”

“It has been a real pleasure working with Gavin. He is a highly professional individual who engages business partners in a systematic and efficient manner in order to achieve the best results for his employer and colleagues. I have found his professionalism and negotiation skills to be of a very high standard. I can strongly recommend him as a person to do business with.”

“Gavin listens to our specific requirements and applies his vast industry knowledge to select high calibre candidates from his people portfolio that always meet and exceed my expectations. I have no hesitation in recommending him as a senior HR professional and a Head of Recruitment.”

“It has been a real pleasure to work with Gavin whilst in the Middle East. I have found his professionalism and business acumen to be of a very high standard. I can strongly recommend him as a person to do business with.”

“I have been working together with Gavin on various recruitment assignments for QIA. Gavin is clear and precise with his requirements with good communication skills. I am able to work with Gavin effectively and he is a valued client.”

“I first started working with Gavin in 2010. He is one of those rare business people, an HR professional with a deep understanding of his field and the regulatory and legal environment in which HR professionals operate, but also in possession of an entrepreneurial and business brain which I feel will guarantee him success in any field he chooses. It’s refreshing to be working with someone who never loses sight of the underlying business requirements which drive the recruitment activity he performs to such an exceptional standard. He is a tremendous asset to his employer, a consummate professional, and a real pleasure to work with. His involvement in the recruitment process facilitates and enables, rather than hindering or delaying. I suspect I’d not be alone in saying as a recruitment consultant this is a trait not shared by all HR professionals. His experiences in business over the years could fill a book. He is also an excellent bloke, tremendous company, and someone I sincerely hope I’ll be working with for many years to come.”

“Gavin has been a pleasure to deal with. He is considered in his approach and methodical in his delivery whilst working in an environment with a heavy workload.”

“Gavin is the consumate professional. I enjoy working with him and look forward to doing so a great deal in the future.”

“Gavin has been an excellent person to deal with at QIA - he is responsive, straight-talking and provides clear briefs. He is an excellent proponent of the QIA brand and I look forward to working with him in the future.”

“Gavin is a consummate professional. I have been hugely impressed by the manner with which he conducts himself and remains in control amidst a crippling workload. Gavin is a genuinely strategic Human Resources leader and is always aware of how issues impact the bigger picture.”

“Gavin is a highly professional, competent and diligent individual, who engages service partners on a meritocratic basis in order to achieve the best results for his employer. He also conveys an excellent knowledge of the industries that he has worked in. I would highly recommend Gavin.”

“Having worked with Gavin for the first time I have been impressed with his eclectic mix of personal attributes coupled with his keen eye for talent management. His vision for his organisation and the level of commitment he exudes is one to be admired. Gavin has gone above and beyond his scope in outlining his organisations goals and his expectations and thus we found ourselves coming to a mutual understanding as to strategic talent management. Gavin has been active in providing feedback and he his extremely fair in his decision making and dealings. I would highly recommend Gavin as an individual and as a leader and thus as Qatar Holding makes impressive inroads into the market this can be directly attributed to the talented individuals that Gavin is acquiring. I am hoping to continue to nurture this partnership and strongly feel that Gavin is the right individual in the region to work with successfully.”

“I have worked with Gavin on several occasions over the last four years. I was working as GM International when Gavin was running MRL's business in Qatar. At all times he was professional, hard working and dedicated to find the best candidates for all roles that he was working on. His knowledge of the financial services sector in the Middle East was superior to his competitors and I would not hesitate to recommend him at any time. Jeffrey”

“I had the pleasure to work with Gavin for approximately 18 months. Gavin has a unique combination of skills; he is energetic, an excellent motivator, follows up on everything, has outstanding people skills and intercultural skills, is hardworking, knowledgeable, straight to the point and on top of that has a wonderful sense of humour. Gavin is a very valuable asset to any organization and I wish him all the best for the future.”

“Gavin is highly professional and insightful manager with an eye on details. I worked with him on investment banking positions and found his grasp of business knowledge remarkable. Gavin will bring value to any organisation where human resources function is considered vital.”

“Gavin always goes that extra mile in his work and this is one of the factors that makes him a trusted and effective colleague”

“Gavin is a very energetic professional with a strong desire for success. His ability to build strong relationships is second to none and I would happily recommend him as an excellent recruitment/HR professional.”

“Gavin is a highly competent HR Professional who adds value throughout the entire recruitment process. His honesty, thoroughness and commitment in finding the right people for the business is admired.”

“It has been a pleasure dealing with Gavin at QInvest. Gavin has an outstanding reputation within the Investment Banking market and is someone that really understands the business needs. He has been instrumental in helping QInvest acquire its Executive Management team. Very highly recommended.”

“I have personally known Gavin in QInvest and found that he is a very capable Manager. He is very result oriented and focussed and is proactive and is an effective teamplayer. I like his HR management styles and excellent networking skills. He never compromises on his work ethics and values. I would recommend him to any prospective employer or business associate. He is an asset to QInvest.”

"I have worked with Gavin during his time at MRL Financial and now our companies work closely together with his move to QInvest; both as a colleague and a business partner Gavin is a very assured and experienced recruiter. What sets Gavin apart is his character and charisma. Gavin will excel in getting the job done, but he also makes the process an extremely pleasant and professional one for all concerned."

“Gavin worked on a number of large accounts while I worked with him, he seemed to always acheive his targets and was a big character in the office.”

“Gavin's eye for detail regarding candidate suitability could only be described as second to none. His progression through the Cauldwell Group speaks volumes, from recruitment consultant to Director of recruitment for 4U business in one year. Having recruited for Gavin on many assignments. I feel he is driven, personable, professional and accurate. If you want the right individual to drive your business forward first time every time then Gavin Walford-Wright is the recruiter to find that person for you.”

“Gavin is a highly experienced recruitment professional with exposure in diverse markets, who deals effectively at all levels with clients, candidates and colleagues. Gavin's skill, his personality and his abundance in energy have and will continue to make him one of the most successful recruiters I know.”

“Gavin is an exceptionally competent and accomplished recruiter. He has a natural ability to think laterally combined with high levels of energy. As a result, he can always be relied upon deliver the desired result every time.”

“gavin is a exceptional recruiter with a strategic and commercial approach to vacancey filling and account management.”

“Gavin has a natural talent that very few people possess, an aura and a presence that people want to be associated with. His market knowledge is among the best and is one of the best Recruitment Managers I have met. Gavin is also a tenacious and dynamic headhunter himself that leads by example - an asset to any organisation.”

“Gavin is a highly professional, experienced and successful recruiter. I would highly recommend him.”

“I recruited Gavin in to his role at Cornerstone Resourcing, he is a bright, sharp and intuitive Recruiter with a passion for his work and good connector of people.”

“Having worked with Gavin over the last 12 months on a number of projects I believe his relationship / man management skills are second to none. His strong interpretational skills have always enabled him to take our business requirements through to a successful delivery therefore providing our company with a driven and proactive workforce. I would be confident to recommend Gavin to any company.”

“Gavin was an extremely strong asset to the team. He made huge efforts to understand our detailed requirments in terms of culture fit and skill set and endeavoured to supply higher calibre candidates, thus reducing our attrition and increasing our productivity. I would highly recommend Gavin and his unique skill set!”

“I have managed Gavin for over a year and have been very impressed by his drive and ability. He has successfully managed some difficult projects for the business and has very strong recruitment and relationship management skills.”