Candidate Progress Update
Tech-Enabled Legal Services Division — Managing Director Search

Search Update — Overview
Finding Leaders Who Genuinely 'Get' the Ambition
"We have been focusing on finding leaders who don't just have the right CV, but who genuinely 'get' the ambition behind the tech, have truly scaled business yet hungry to deliver again."
The Search at a Glance
  • 5 featured candidates now in active discussion
  • 5 additional high-potential leaders in pipeline
  • Teams calls & face-to-face meetings being coordinated
  • Market response has been encouraging


Featured Candidates
The Candidates We're Talking To
Each of the five leaders below has been carefully assessed not only for their track record, but for their genuine alignment with the challenge and culture of Farewill's next chapter.
Denise Dunne
Commercial & product leader. Thrives on "meaningful growth". Existing respect for Zillah from Flutter.
Nick Irvine
Hungry for fast-paced, high-growth environments. Background in scaling complex, customer-facing operations. Based in Hampshire.
Rupinder Singh
Cross-functional operator. Took a B2C product from zero to £762m transaction run rate in one year at Paysafe. Lives near Heathrow.
Geoff Bamber
Seasoned "Growth CEO". Decade leading PE- and VC-backed businesses. Recently trained in AI. Reputation for making platforms exit-ready.
Nihal Pekbeken
C-suite operator specialising in "value creation". Experience at NBCUniversal and Ticketmaster. Expert in post-acquisition integration.
Candidate 1 of 5
Denise Dunne — Commercial & Product Leader
We were particularly impressed by Denise's resilience — she took our initial call whist unwell, yet remained incredibly sharp and upbeat. She is a true commercial and product leader who thrives on "meaningful growth".
She already has a high degree of respect for Zillah from their time at Flutter, and her familiarity with the Farewill business means she is already leaning into the challenge. She is very pragmatic about being in Maidenhead, using her bases in London and Guildford to make it work.
Could Zillah rule in/out based on her network or previous interactions?
View LinkedIn Profile
Why Denise Stands Out
  • Thrives on "meaningful growth"
  • Existing relationship with Zillah via Flutter
  • Pragmatic about Maidenhead logistics
  • Resilient and sharp under pressure
Candidate 2 of 5
Nick Irvine — Operations & Scaling Specialist
Nick is someone who is clearly hungry for a fast-paced, high-growth environment where he can build something from the ground up. Coming from a background in IT and business integration within the pet services sector, he has that vital experience in scaling complex, customer-facing operations.
He lives in Hampshire, so the commute to Maidenhead is a straightforward one-hour drive for him — making the logistics entirely uncomplicated.
Why Nick Stands Out
  • Hunger to build from the ground up
  • Grew Vet Connection from 33 heads to 100
  • Proven in complex, customer-facing scale
  • Straightforward commute from Hampshire
Candidate 3 of 5
Rupinder Singh — Execution-Focused Cross-Functional Operator
Rupinder is a "cross-functional operator" who intentionally moved away from his finance roots to lead businesses end-to-end. His track record is exceptional: at Paysafe, he took a B2C product from zero to a £762m transaction run rate in just one year.
He is an execution-focused leader who lives near Heathrow, making the Maidenhead office very convenient for him.
Why Rupinder Stands Out
  • Deliberately broadened beyond finance to lead businesses
  • Execution-first leadership style
  • Heathrow location — ideal for Maidenhead
Candidate 4 of 5
Geoff Bamber — Growth CEO & Exit-Ready Builder
Geoff is a seasoned "Growth CEO" with a decade of experience leading PE- and VC-backed businesses. He brings a unique blend of scientific rigour and modern tech-savviness, having recently trained in AI to better drive value through software.
He has a reputation for professionalising platforms and making them exit-ready, which aligns perfectly with your long-term goals.
Why Geoff Stands Out
  • Decade of PE- and VC-backed leadership
  • Scientific rigour meets tech-savviness
  • Recently trained in AI for value creation
  • Track record of making platforms exit-ready
Candidate 5 of 5
Nihal Pekbeken — Value Creation & Integration Specialist
Nihal is a C-suite operator who specialises in "value creation". She has a deep understanding of how to align product, marketing, and sales into a single, high-performing system.
With experience across global names like NBCUniversal and Ticketmaster, she is highly skilled at navigating the complexity of post-acquisition integration and further growth.
Why Nihal Stands Out
  • Specialism in "value creation" at C-suite level
  • Aligns product, marketing & sales into one system
  • Global experience: NBCUniversal, Ticketmaster
  • Expert in post-acquisition integration complexity
Extended Pipeline
Extending the Reach: Our Active Pipeline
In addition to the core group above, we are actively engaging with several other high-potential leaders. These profiles give you a sense of the broader talent pool we are tapping into as this search progresses.
Luke Carr
Currently in active engagement. View LinkedIn Profile →
Alex Hayman
Currently in active engagement. View LinkedIn Profile →
Phoebe Hugh
Currently in active engagement. View LinkedIn Profile →
Edward Massey
Currently in active engagement. View LinkedIn Profile →
Ed Simmons
Currently in active engagement. View LinkedIn Profile →
Pipeline Insights
Continued Proactive Outreach
Our targeted outreach and strategic advertising efforts have yielded significant engagement, expanding our talent pool with highly relevant candidates.
3065
Advert Views
The total number of times our job postings were seen, indicating broad market reach.
223
Total Applications
High volume of applications from interested candidates, demonstrating strong appeal for the role.

Your Recruitment Partners


Next Steps & Your Practicus Team
We are now moving into more formal discussions and will be coordinating Teams calls meetings shortly. Your dedicated contacts at Practicus are here to guide the process at every step.
Natalie Allen — Head of Practice
Tel: +44 (0) 1491 637066
Email: natalie.allen@practicus.com
Michael Gater — Head of Delivery
Tel: +44 (0) 1491 637090
Email: michael.gater@practicus.com