Our team

Will joined Maven in February 2019 to help to drive the next stage of its growth – from global specialist financial services executive search firm to multi-industry talent solutions provider. His energy and positive outlook owe as much to winning a past battle with cancer, as to his lifelong love of cycling.

Will co-manages the firm with Gaurav globally and his personal areas of expertise span Global Markets, Investment Management, Investment Banking and Technology. Prior to joining Maven, he was a Partner and Global COO at Hogarth Davies Lloyd for 12 years, having started his career in a multinational recruitment company.

A craft beer aficionado and diehard Liverpool fan, Will studied Maths and Philosophy at King’s College London.

Gaurav founded Maven in 2007 with no sense whatsoever of the financial crisis to come. Since then, despite this lack of clairvoyance, he's driven the growth of a business that began with one small office in London into a global executive search firm with an established presence in London, New York and Hong Kong.

Gaurav has led searches across the Investment Banking, Investment Management and Global Markets businesses and now focuses on Maven's most senior mandates and relationships. Before founding Maven, he ran the Asia-Pacific practice for a large multi-national search firm.

Prior to the start of his professional life, Gaurav spent several years in academia, earning two Master’s degrees from the Universities of Edinburgh and Cambridge.

When not working, Gaurav can be found diving into a new hobby, which could be anything from golf to Mandarin – though he has now resolved to enjoy the latter vicariously through his children instead.

James is a Managing Partner & COO, having joined Maven’s London office as Chief Operating Officer. He oversees day-to-day operations of the US, EMEA and APAC businesses, as well as holding other specific management responsibilities. Prior to Maven, James worked at UBS Investment Bank where he managed the EMEA Investment Banking Recruitment and Global Markets Recruitment teams. In these roles, he worked closely with the senior leadership of the business, and led change programmes across Diversity & Inclusion and UK apprenticeship.

In 2004, James graduated with an honors degree in Business Studies, before working at global executive search firms focusing on financial services.

Charlie joined Maven as a Partner in May 2022 to lead the firm’s EMEA Investment Banking and Private Capital team.

Prior to joining Maven, Charlie spent seven years at a boutique executive search firm, where he was a Director responsible for senior level executive search across M&A and Capital Markets, as well as VC, Growth and Private Equity.

In his pre-parenthood days Charlie played AFL for Great Britain, now he is most content watching Glasgow Rangers with his family and friends, or practicing the art of patience on the golf course. Charlie has also served on the board of Spark Inside, a charity that is pioneering the use of professional coaching in prisons to promote rehabilitation and reduce reoffending.

Genevieve joined Maven in March 2023 and is a Partner in the Investment Banking team. She joined from Russell Reynolds, where she was a member of the global Financial Services Practice, splitting time between Investment Banking and Private Equity mandates. Prior to that, Genevieve was a member of the Investment Banking team at Heidrick & Struggles, working to identify and attract key talent across sectors and geographies.

Genevieve holds a Bachelor’s degree from Yale University, where she majored in Art History. She spends her spare time shuttling her three children to and from activities and is an active board member at both The Pingry School and Christ Church Nursery School in New Jersey.

Since joining Maven’s London office in 2011, Rizwaan has played an important role in driving the firm's growth across investment banking, global markets and private equity. Now in New York, Rizwaan spends most of his time developing key relationships in the Americas and globally across the Investment Banking team.

Rizwaan holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Management & Economics from Queen Mary University of London. A one-time international cricketer and keen traveller, with a special affection for holidays in Antalya, he is a big sports fan, as well as a devoted father.

William joined Maven in September 2024 to help establish its Hong Kong office and regional presence in APAC. He has been in Hong Kong since relocating from the UK in 2013 for what was supposed to be 6 weeks, quickly falling in love with the city and region.

William has over 20 years' experience in executive search across APAC and EMEA. He advises on leadership, performance culture, and succession planning to C-Suites and Managing Directors in Investment Banks, Securities Brokerages, Financial Conglomerates and Web3 & Digital Assets. Prior to Maven, William was a Partner in Heidrick & Struggles' Financial Services Practice.

Outside of work, William's spare time is filled with learning Chinese, playing guitar, acting as chauffeur to his son and chef to his wife. He wishes he had more time to play squash.

Having joined Maven in London, Ellie works across the Investment Banking and Investment Management teams, covering both the Americas and EMEA. In October 2023, she moved to the New York office to focus on Americas.

Whilst studying History at the University of Oxford, Ellie took on the role of Women’s Officer, which involved organising and hosting events to celebrate and advance discussions on gender equality. 

Away from work, Ellie enjoys playing netball and participating in local park runs.

Isa joined Maven in 2018 and has worked on a variety of senior executive level assignments across Investment Banking and Investment Management. She now spends most of her time working on some of the firm’s highest profile strategic projects with particular specialisms in M&A and Capital Markets. Isa also spearheads Maven’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion strategy. 

Isa earned a Bachelor's degree in History, Literature and Cultures of the Americas from The University of Warwick – having decided it was for her when, aged just 11, she made a tour of its campus with her brother. Proficient in Spanish, Isa loves UFC, NBA and always likes to wow an audience with her mum's legendary carrot cake recipe.

Having joined Maven in 2024, Natalie specializes in originating and executing executive search assignments across M&A, Investment Banking Coverage, Capital Markets Origination and Leveraged Finance products. She has previously led execution and origination for senior search mandates, including individual target hires and team builds. She has also successfully led and executed several consulting projects focused on competitor intelligence and market analysis including detailed industry moves reports. In addition to search, Natalie has experience providing competitive intelligence management scans, management and cultural assessments, as well as benchmarking and succession planning, market sentiment analysis, and compensation analytics and advisory. 

Natalie is also an active member of New York Junior League leadership and is also a member of Greensward Circle, the young patrons of the Central Park Conservancy, and Apollo Circle at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

She graduated from Denison University with degrees in Political Science and English Literature.

Originally from Canada, Chichi joined the London office at Maven as an Associate working within our Investment Banking team.

Chichi earned a first-class Bachelor of Law degree and a Master’s in Management from the University of Liverpool.

Chichi is a fitness fanatic, breaking records in track and field before coaching teams at High School.

As part of Maven’s internal mobility program, Chichi relocated to New York in 2023 to cover US Investment Banking clients, on the ground.

When she’s not getting stuck into a good book or playing tennis, Chichi loves to discover new and interesting restaurants around the city. 

Emilia is a member of Maven’s global Investment Management team in London, focusing on European Equities. She brings significant experience covering buy-side market making and investment banking executive search across the US, EMEA, and APAC. Emilia has successfully executed key C-suite hires and led team builds across core middle office functions, including Risk, Compliance, and Legal.

Emilia holds a BSc in Biomedical Sciences from Royal Holloway, University of London and an MSc in Clinical Neuroscience from King’s College London. 

Beyond her professional achievements, Emilia is passionate about animal welfare.  She has volunteered in Africa and Greece, and partnered with Chimney Farm Animal Rescue, supporting international rehoming for cats and dogs. She is an avid traveller and enjoys discovering London’s up and coming restaurants.  She is fluent in English and Greek.

Having joined Maven’s London office as an Associate, Yasra is part of the EMEA Investment Banking team and while she has worked on assignments in the Americas, she has focused more recently on the UK and European markets.

Yasra thrives on the unique working culture of Maven, the close collaboration with colleagues and the challenges she helps our clients to resolve, every day.   

Yasra studied at King’s College London, where she graduated with a First-Class BSc in Psychology. Sport is a lifelong passion for Yasra, with her time at King’s College including plenty of sport, netball, and karate practice which continues to this day. 

Ellery joined Maven in 2022, as a member of the Investment Banking team focusing on the US market. Prior to Maven, Ellery started his executive search career at one of the fastest-growing contingent recruitment firms in the US, successfully executing a wide variety of mandates across their Investment Banking & Advisory group. With previous stints as an entrepreneur and leading a sports gambling investment venture, Ellery was also an Acquisitions Associate, in Real Estate Private Equity.  

Originally from Cincinnati, Ellery earned his BA in Economics & History from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a discus and shotput thrower for the Varsity Track & Field team.  
Away from work, Ellery can be found exploring New York's creative arts scene including art, fashion, and music or playing point guard for his intermural basketball team.

Griffin is an Associate within the Private Capital & Investment Banking team. He focuses on senior mandates across the global Private Markets asset spectrum. Prior to joining Maven, Griffin served as a Consultant in the Private Equity team at a top global recruitment firm, advising leadership across private equity, credit and infrastructure on hiring.

Griffin studied English Literature and History of Art at the University of St Andrews, where he also played for the university futsal team, was the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of an independent arts journal, and held the position of Head of Sponsorship at the largest student-run fashion show in the UK. Outside of work, Griffin is an avid footballer, and he can often be found performing in theatrical productions around London.

Sophie joined Maven in 2024. She is an Associate in the EMEA Investment Banking & Private Capital team. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Geography from the University of Bristol, where she was involved in musical theatre, starring in the production of Waitress and Spring Awakening.
 
Following her graduation, Sophie spent three months backpacking through Vietnam, Thailand, & Laos. Outside of work, Sophie enjoys listening to jazz and classical music, inspired by her love for music & singing. 

Vyn is an Associate within the EMEA Investment Banking team. Vyn graduated with a Law LLB from the University of Liverpool where she also founded an international youth-led NGO tackling brain drain and increasing employability skills in underprivileged youths.

An avid vinyl collector with a love for vintage trinkets, she can be found in vintage markets on the weekend searching for yet another Billy Joel vinyl, and is also a competitive fencer, having represented her state & university in both foil and épée — though she finds her passion leaning more with épée.