Meet some of our team

James Usher
James is Founder and Managing Director of Douglas Stuart. Prior to Douglas Stuart, James set up 6 Group, which he recently sold. Previously, he worked for Shell in The Hague, UK and Malaysia within the global attraction and recruitment team.
With a career in recruitment that started over 20 years ago at Michael Page, James is a seasoned expert in executive search and talent management. He has specialist knowledge of the energy sector and specifically, how to help organisations build an optimised attraction, recruitment and talent management function. James is passionate about best practice within the industry and helping hiring managers to improve their assessment and performance management skills.
In addition to his work for Douglas Stuart, James also acts as Group Talent Director for Shield Safety Group, providing advisory services to their leadership team on talent strategy and succession planning for their executive team.
In his spare time, James can be found providing vocal support to his children at rugby games, looking after his chickens, chopping logs and wondering which of his 25 blue shirts he’s going to wear tomorrow.

Eilidh Scott
Eilidh is Marketing Director at Douglas Stuart and brings a breadth of client development experience, in both consultancy and in-house roles, across recruitment, professional services and media sectors. Most recently she has worked as a consultant, advising on marketing communications and sales within the recruitment sector. Prior to that, Eilidh worked as a consultant for Shell in their Graduate Recruitment team, specifically in the ‘diversity in selection’ programmes. Previously, she worked for KPMG in their global client relationship management team and Seven Interactive, as their Client Marketing Manager.
Eilidh has worked both in the UK and internationally and is particularly interested in issues of diversity in the workplace, and how to create and communicate powerful employer brands.
In her spare time she enjoys books, films, food, walking, family and friends, finding new cushions, and sunshine.

Lindsay de Swart
Lindsay is a Search Consultant at Douglas Stuart. She has extensive recruitment experience, both with agencies and in-house recruitment management in UK, Sweden and Canada.
For the last 15 years, she has been coaching people through career development, career change and personal development. She has a talent for seeing qualities in people that they don’t see themselves, so she often helps people to take big steps towards their ideal next career move.
She is the mum of 3 and has recently returned to England after raising her family in Canada.
In her spare time she enjoys doing yoga, meditating, calming horses and buying fancy shoes - which never get worn as bare feet and wellies are more practical for doing what she loves!

Steven Pearson
Steven is a Senior Consultant at Douglas Stuart and has over five years of Oil & Gas technical recruitment experience. In particular he specializes in the provision of contractors and project related personnel. Most recently Steven has supplied resourcing solutions to large-scale international projects, from Drilling campaigns, FEED studies, and construction projects to the Decommissioning of major offshore assets.
Steven has lived and worked in Australia (Brisbane & Perth) and Texas, both in-house and within an agency, focusing on large recruitment campaigns for EPC projects. He also has a particular interest in profiling and interviewing techniques, working with clients to ensure best practice and culture fit.
Out of work Steven is a committed triathlete, working his way up to compete at Ironman distance competitions. He has a young family, and with two girls under the age of 4, he spends the rest of his time pretending to be Prince Charming.

Annabel Bowden
Annabel is a Search Consultant at Douglas Stuart and has over eight years of experience in recruitment.
Prior to joining Douglas Stuart, Annabel worked in a variety of sales focussed roles including Business Development and Partnership Manager. Annabel is extremely keen to work in partnership with clients, sourcing, securing and leveraging the best possible talent for their organisation while building solid, long-lasting relationships.
Out of work, Annabel is Mummy to Freddie, a gorgeous 16-month-old toddler who likes to keep her occupied. Annabel used to live and work on Skiathos island in Greece and can often be found researching her next trip to see friends.

Alexandra Besel
Alexandra is a Senior Executive Search Consultant with Douglas Stuart. She has extensive experience helping international companies to identify and assess leadership and high potential candidates.
As a trained occupational psychologist, Alexandra brings additional depth and insight to client’s talent management strategy. She is also a highly skilled competency based interviewer with a background in executive coaching and leadership development. With a truly European outlook and extensive network, her language skills are a great asset too.
In her spare time Alexandra can be found behind a stove in her own kitchen or professional kitchens, in her garden, reading, writing, travelling and trying to convince her 3 children that veggies are cool.

Cameron Cooper
Cameron is a Researcher in the Global Resourcing Team at Douglas Stuart.
Cameron spent his early years living an international life attending schools in countries including the UK, Netherlands, Malaysia, USA, and Australia. These experiences have exposed Cameron to an amazing array of different cultures and customs around the world.
Cameron recently returned to the UK and has settled in the bohemian bustle of the Northern Quarter in Manchester. He is putting his worldly wisdom to good use as a Researcher and thoroughly enjoys seeking out those rare talents wherever they may be hiding on the planet.
In his spare time, Cameron enjoys reading, creative writing, computer gaming, sound design and camera work.