Our People

Michael Cripps

Educated in the UK, Michael Cripps read sciences and business studies. Mike developed an early career in industrial management before moving into recruitment.

Mike formed Cripps Sears whilst still in his 20's and has since developed his international search career to focus primarily on the energy/infrastructure and the energy finance/legal sectors. He is active globally but particularly in the EAME region and is supported by a specialist team.

Having recently recruited successfully for a number of positions at MD / Regional /Board Director level, Mike is also involved at the Senior Commercial Originator / Trader / Business Developer / Financial Specialist levels, as well as many Senior Technical positions.”

Joey Chong

Based in Singapore Joey specialises in the energy, Trading and IT sectors, drawing on her experience as an industry executive with 2 years in oil & gas, 6 years in technology sales and 5 years in HR. Joey began her search career with an international Executive Search Consultancy and left the firm as a Vice President, managing Energy and Technology search desks.

Joey’s focus has been predominantly in the Asia Pacific markets, and she has placed positions ranging from senior management to mid level roles within her specialised industries. Joey holds a MBA and is pursuing a Masters in Human Resource Management.

Graham Spencer

Graham is a partner in the energy practice and heads the international LNG, Gas and Midstream practice. His focus comprises all facets of the LNG value chain including technical and commercial disciplines as well as portfolio development & optimisation, and trading & transportation of all energy commodities. His body of work includes executive, commercial and technical energy professionals from all over the world.

James Nichols

James leads the subsurface recruitment within the upstream team. He has a proven track record of delivering international upstream assignments across management and director level technical, commercial and operational disciplines.

He has specialised in recruiting senior subsurface individuals for some of the world's major operators and services companies.

James joined Cripps Sears having also had previous experience with another leading executive search firm. He has an accountancy background and is a business graduate. His interests include a variety of sports including endurance events, and he also has a passion for cars and motorsport.

Darren Kershaw

Darren leads Operations recruitment within the upstream team. His experience at Cripps Sears has focused on senior management level searches across Operations, HSE, Finance, Commercial and General Director/board level appointments within a range of leading global upstream operators and service companies.

Before joining Cripps Sears he also gained experience as a financial recruitment consultant with a particular focus on the Investment Banking sector in London, which he then developed to incorporate the Asia Pacific financial markets of Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Darren has lived and worked in Japan and is a Japanese speaker. He has a passion for the languages, culture and economics of East Asia and is a graduate with honours from Sheffield University with a degree that focused on these areas. He enjoys playing golf and tennis in his spare time and has recently acquired a taste for open water swimming.

Paul Templeton

Paul read Psychology at the University of Swansea and has an MSc in Marketing from Strathclyde Business School. He spent the early part of his career in the advertising industry and moved into recruitment in the late 1990‘s, focusing initially on sales and marketing positions for the manufacturing sector. Subsequently, Paul joined a tier one executive search firm supporting global manufacturers and allied service providers. Paul leads the mining practice and has strong functional expertise across downstream operations and the supply chain.

Lucy Mackie

Lucy has been with the firm since 2005 and has broad experience across all the firm’s sectors. She holds a Masters in Interpreting, French and Russian from Bath University and has lived and worked in Russia. Lucy has lead the firm’s Russia desk which handles assignments across all the sectors.

Tom Isobe

Tom is a member of the upstream team and leads the delivery of recruitment assignments in the face of the specific challenges faced by service companies. Working closely with the rest of the upstream team, Tom has a proven track record and strong network within the global E&P operators, service companies and consultancy organisations, having delivered numerous international upstream assignments across management, technical and commercial disciplines.

Rafael Harbinson

Born in Brazil, Rafael graduated with honours from the University of Kent with a degree in Law. With experience dealing with international technology, environmental, energy and engineering companies, he is a researcher specialising in the international energy and infrastructure industries.

Ruth Hurlock

Ruth is a researcher and specialist in international energy and infrastructure industries. With a keen interest in international politics, economics and energy markets, she has a Masters in International Relations from King’s College in London and also holds a degree in Business.

Hugo Cooke

Hugo is an industrial chemist by background and began his career in the power industry as a chemical engineer. Hugo is a senior associate in the Cripps Sears global energy and natural resources practice with a focus on technical and commercial assignments.