this is us

For those familiar with us, you’ll know all about how we expertly deliver the best talent across the Customer Contact Industry. Our success isn’t just down to the hard work of our teams, but the strong relationships we have formed over the past 20 years. While we take great care to get to know our clients and candidates as best as we possibly can, it’s occurred to us that you may not know that much about us!

Read below for an intimate insight into our teams across Cactus Search and Frontline!


Guy Masters

Managing Director

Cactus Search

guy.masters@cactussearch.co.uk

Guy Masters

 

So this is me; I fell into Customer Contact recruitment (how else would it happen!) at the ripe old age of 21. A super learning curve in a fun and exciting company which provided me with many experiences and taught me a a great deal.

 

Moving on from there corporate life had it’s advantages and provided me with an insight into how large corporations work, however, the itch of having my own business was too much and Cactus seemed like a natural progression - having been asked many times over the years where the name ‘Cactus’ came from, we can confirm it was the result of a good old brainstorming in a bar!. I've been fortunate enough to have made some fantastic friends and have had the pleasure to work with a diverse set of companies and individuals, not to mention some candidates whom I have been fortunate enough to represent a number of times, helping them on their journey.

The team here at Cactus are everything you'd want, professional yet know how to have fun, knowledgeable yet know we are all still learning and my ‘work family’ genuinely make my working life so much more enjoyable.





Francesca Randle

Managing Director

Cactus Search

francesca.randle@cactussearch.co.uk

Francesca Randle

 

Other than a short stint in the hospitality industry, I have always worked in the hedonistic world that is recruitment. Firstly within the IT sector (when Faxes were at the old e-mail!), I moved onto Capita to head up the Customer Contact volume resourcing business (incidentally this is where I met my future co-director Guy) and a few fun filled years later Cactus was born.

Certainly not shy and retiring, I lead from the front, I'm a consultant at heart and in addition to leading on some of the more senior search assignments, I also head the team who deliver all of our volume frontline campaigns.

Life and soul of the party, I am described as good fun, loud and more often than not fairly outspoken with a love of The Archers and The Darling Bugs of May!





Matthew Affron

Senior Consultant

Cactus Search

matthew.affron@cactussearch.co.uk

Matthew Affron

 

Originally my career started in London for a large FTSE100 company on one of their online lead generation campaigns.

 

I moved back to Worcester to start a family and I was introduced to Francesca and Guy who were on the look out for a charming, professional and self-assured individual with bags of energy.. but everyone was busy so they hired me!! I’ve been with Cactus ever since and now have over 14 years of recruitment experience!

 

People would be surprised to know that I have a degree in dance and drama and I'm scared of the dark! My guilty pleasure is peanut butter and cherry jam sandwiches, which I work off by cycling 3 miles to work every morning and a gym session in my lunch break.





Deren Zaghlul

Management Consultant

Cactus Search

deren.zaghlul@cactussearch.co.uk

Deren Zaghlul

 

I have 16 years of recruitment experience in the customer contact industry. I am passionate about building strong, loyal client relationships and love working in a fast-paced environment. But I am not only about delivering talent to my clients but also opportunities to my candidates.

 

I love spending time with my kids and going on adventures. My simple pleasures are golf, nice cup of coffee and delicious food.

 

I would be described as very easy going, quick to make connections and constantly on the move ..I guess that would explain the house full of kids, dogs and cats! But hey, at least it’s always fun!





Leigh O’Connell

Management Consultant

Cactus Search

leigh@cactussearch.co.uk

Leigh O’Connell

 

Before travelling around Australia I worked for a debt collection agency, but on my return to the UK I decided I needed an exciting new career, so embarked on a career in recruitment.

 

I'm proud to work at Cactus and be part of a hugely successful team, they work hard and play harder! I can now proudly say that i have 10+ years of recruitment experience both in-house and agency.

 

My moment of fame was dancing on TV on ‘Children in Need’, when I was 6 years old with ‘Starlight Stage’ and ‘Dance Academy’ and my guilty pleasure is a good old-fashioned musical!





Josh Homans

Management Consultant

Cactus Search

josh@cactussearch.co.uk

Josh Homans

 

I have worked in temporary/permanent recruitment for the best part of 6 years before joining Cactus. Having previously worked in a customer contact environment before embarking in a career in recruitment has helped me gain a greater understanding of the Industry.


I'm a lover of the game and support Manchester United/Wolves, I also play for a number of football teams as a striker which keeps me fit and healthy.


Having recently started a family I am excited for what the future holds!!





Jay Holder

Management Consultant

Cactus Search

jay@cactussearch.co.uk

Jay Holder

 

I have 20 years of sales management experience within the Hospitality and Telecoms industries prior to joining Cactus, and another 3 years of experience in the customer contact industry now.

 

I enjoy building long-lasting relationships with both clients and candidates. I am very passionate about finding the right candidates for my clients, and the right businesses for my candidates.

 

Outside of work I am a sports enthusiast following Football, Rugby and Cricket with my one true love being Chelsea Football Club, which I have followed religiously for over 30 years now. I also coach ‘Grass Roots’ football on the weekends with my son’s football team, which keeps me fit in my old age.

 

My guilty pleasure?! A nice cup of Starbucks coffee.. I mean football keeps me fit but coffee keeps me going!





Zakirah Paima

Client Success Lead

Cactus Search

zak@cactussearch.co.uk

Zakirah Paima

 

I’m a client success, new business developer with green blood on a mission. I have 6 years of experience as a Customer Success Manager and another 3 in Sales and Business Development.

 

I am passionate about nurturing success with a unique touch. I would be described as an ‘Out of the box’ thinker crafting a life filled with love, purpose and originality.

 

I’m also a ‘foodie’ by day, car enthusiast by choice, I love to sew, and I am a proud momma of one adorable sidekick. When the day winds down, catch me wrapped up in a cozy blanket, diving into a world of K-dramas, crime thrills, and lovey-dovey romances.





constantly on the hunt for the best candidates