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Eden Search

Introduction to

Eden & Blankney Estates

This is Eden

We are the leading specialist non-executive, board and executive search company focused across the global food supply chain.

  • Extensive industry experience, understanding and connections in Europe, Africa, Asia and The Americas
  • Passion and commitment for the sector is central to both the founder and business’ DNA.
  • Eden is an integral part of the sector’s success story – we champion the industry, making it a better place through our partnerships, connections, initiatives and the work we do with clients.

At Eden, our values shape every relationship we build.

Eden’s values define the approach we bring to every partnership—with our clients, our candidates and, importantly, the wider industry we’re proud to support.

  • We champion and strengthen our industry, supporting charities, not‑for‑profits sector initiatives and events that drive sustainable outcomes and resilient communities.
  • We build partnerships that last, working alongside organisations committed to long‑term, positive change.
  • We invest in future leadership, creating opportunities for senior leaders to connect, collaborate, share insights and shape the future of our sector.

Eden Insights

  • We have access to a wealth of knowledge and global sector insights gained through our unrivalled network and experience of working in the industry
  • A platform to support our clients and stakeholders in making effective business decisions that drive profitable long-term growth
  • Talent and hiring decisions PLUS key issues and opportunities impacting the industry
  • Insight reports developed with insights from 50 CEOs representing up to $15bn turnover employing over 50,000 people globally.

 

Our sectors

Vertically integrated across the Agri and Food ecosystems.

Agribusiness

Agritech Scale-Up
Data, Robotics & Automation
Seed, Fertiliser & Crop Protection
Animal Health & Genetics
Animal Feed & Nutrition
National Farming businesses

Aquaculture

Feed & Nutrition
Fisheries
Seafood

Fresh Food

Meat, Dairy & Poultry
Fresh Produce & Horticulture
Wholehead & Added Value

Food Manufacturing

Ingredients to Finished Product
Complex Food Processing
Alternative Proteins
Future Foods
Branded & Own Label

100% of our clients would recommend us

Eden is trusted globally for delivering long lasting leadership success - through exceptional retention, strategic counsel and a deeply personal approach to every non-executive and executive search project

Why Eden

  • Industry leading candidate retention rate, with 90% of candidates sourced by Eden still in role or promoted after 3 years
  • Globally effective in house research team with a proven ability to attract and engage leading talent across our sectors
  • We operate at senior board level across all functions
  • Support leaders through strategic change, offer counsel grounded in industry insight and build strategic networks for our clients
  • At Eden, every project is personal

Recent projects

Our search approach

No. 1 - Initial phase

Understanding your business

No. 1 - Initial phase

Understanding your business

Culture, Skills, Values, Experience, Strategy, Personality

No. 2 - Initial phase

Bespoke project design

No. 2 - Initial phase

Bespoke project design

Tailored to uncover the most relevant and best talent for the project
Candidate brief generation

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No. 3 - Initial phase

All about the research

No. 3 - Initial phase

All about the research

Market talent mapping
Networking

No. 4 - Initial phase

Assess the talent

No. 4 - Initial phase

Assess the talent

100% Face to Face
The perfect balance - expertise, character and ambition

No. 5 - Final phase

Present the shortlist

No. 5 - Final phase

Present the shortlist

Market insight
Full candidate profile
Long list – future talent / networking

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No. 6 - Final phase

Select the right talent

No. 6 - Final phase

Select the right talent

Design end to end interview process including logistics, psychometrics and referencing.

No. 7 - Final phase

Appointment

No. 7 - Final phase

Appointment

Negotiating offer and supporting the candidate through the resignation process.

No. 8 - Final phase

Post project support

No. 8 - Final phase

Post project support

Project feedback, induction support and ‘check ins’ every three months.

The benefits of our approach

We find the best talent

  • We look beyond the obvious to uncover exceptional senior leaders.
  • We actively engage candidates, so they’re aligned and motivated.
  • We deliver a discreet, professional process with strong, diverse shortlists.
  • 100% of Eden’s recommended candidate are invited for 1st interview.

We deliver

  • We prepare clients and candidates to get the best from every conversation.
  • We filter early to save time and surface the strongest matches.
  • We focus on cultural and long term fit, not just capability.
  • The best fit, every time.

Our Clients

Our track record

Business Advisory

When the business landscape shifts, your organisation may need specialist leadership - from interim experts to drive scale and navigate complexity or focused project senior consultancy to deliver critical initiatives with impact

Why Eden

  • Broad established network
  • Agility to find quick solutions
  • Depth and breadth of industry insights

Business
turnaround

Short term
leadership

M&A
Consultancy

Organisational Insight

Having a thorough understanding of the industry talent pool, it’s makeup or optimal organisational structure is critical for decision making and the ultimate performance of your business.

Why Eden

  • In-depth sector insight
  • In-house research capabilities
  • Experienced team to support informed and actionable decisions that are fit for purpose and sector leading

Project specialisms and completed confidential assignments include:

  • Organisational structures
    Multi-site Fresh Food Group
  • Remuneration benchmarking
    Vertically Integrated Produce Business
  • Global talent mapping
    Leading Controlled Enviroment Agriculture Business
  • Competitor mapping and benchmarking
    Global Agrichemical Manufacturer

References

David Fursdon
Chair
Sarah Dean
Owner & Chair
Shelagh Hancock
CEO
Keith Packer
Managing Director
Jim Godfrey
Former Chair
Peter Quinn
Chair

The team

Eden Search has the largest dedicated team focused on these specialist sectors, bringing unmatched experience and personal commitment to every search. Having worked within - and recruited across - the entire food and drink supply chain, we use our deep sector knowledge and cultural insight to give our clients a decisive advantage.

In Summary

  • The largest dedicated search team in our sectors, bringing unmatched focus and expertise.
  • Extensive, lived experience across the global food supply chain, informing every search.
  • Insight led, culturally attuned approach that gives clients a decisive advantage.
  • A committed specialist partner, delivering exceptional leadership talent every time.
  • At Eden, every project is personal.

Case study

Chief Executive Officer
UK Agri-Tech Centre
Eden Search partnered with the UK Agri-Tech Centre to appoint a Chief Executive Officer to lead the organisation through its next stage of development following the successful merger of three specialist centres in 2024. The CEO would also play a critical role in supporting innovative startups through their growth journey— bridging research, industry, and investment to accelerate impact across the agri-tech ecosystem. This was a unique opportunity for a credible, strategic, and people-focused CEO to shape the Centre’s future, strengthen its national and international presence, and drive real-world outcomes for the UK’s agri-tech sector.

Through close collaboration with the Chair and Board of the UK Agri-Tech Centre, Eden defined the leadership capabilities required to unite three previously independent organisations into a cohesive, high-performing entity. The search spanned academic and research institutions, commercial organisations within the agricultural supply chain, and innovation-led businesses with a strong focus on technology adoption and impact.

Our search focused on candidates who could lead transformational change—balancing strategic vision with cultural sensitivity—to build a more effective, collaborative, and commercially focused organisation while nurturing engagement and shared purpose across diverse teams and stakeholders.

The result:

Our search focused on candidates who could lead transformational change—balancing strategic vision with cultural sensitivity—to build a more effective, collaborative, and commercially focused organisation while nurturing engagement and shared purpose across diverse teams and stakeholders.

Following a rigorous series of interviews with the Chair, Board members, Innovate UK, and key stakeholders, the UK Agri-Tech Centre appointed a CEO with visionary leadership, deep sector credibility, and the ability to create lasting impact. The appointed leader brings a strong network, a collaborative approach, and the drive to position the Centre as a national and international authority on agri-tech innovation—propelling the organisation into its next phase of development and creating measurable impact across the sector.

Case study

Chief Commercial Officer
Fera
Fera Science Ltd (Fera) is a UK-based expert science services organisation with over 100 years heritage of protecting the environment and supporting food production. It is a highly successful public private partnership operating as a Joint Venture part-owned by the UK Government (DEFRA) and backed by Bridgepoint Development Capital. Eden continued our relationship with Fera to identify and recruit its Chief Commercial Officer to accelerate its international growth in the commercial sector. This leadership role will be critical for the delivery of Fera’s strategic plan reinforcing its position as the leading scientific partner for sustainable food production, biosecurity, food integrity and laboratory assurance.

Following in-depth discussions with Fera’s CEO and CFO, it became clear that the ideal candidate needed a proven track record of driving and scaling commercial growth within scientific businesses at a scale of annual turnover exceeding £100 million. Success in this role required strong leadership capabilities, commercial acumen and the technical expertise to credibly develop, articulate and sell scientific services.

Given these criteria, our search took a global approach, leveraging extensive market mapping alongside our established network and collaborating with Fera to capitalise upon their experience and knowledge of the sector. The shortlist was further refined to focus on individuals with experience in leading teams and successfully operating within private equity-backed businesses.

The result:

Eden’s targeted search identified five highly qualified candidates where 60% of our shortlist was based outside of the UK. Following a rigorous interview process conducted by a selection of Fera’s Board including its Chairman, Fera appointed a candidate who brings both the commercial capabilities, achievement record and the aptitude to drive growth and successfully deliver Fera’s growth strategy.

Eden Search

Contact details

Our offices
Oakgate House,
25 Market Place
Wetherby, LS22 6LQ
0113 834 6634
Registered in England No. 07449318. VAT Registration No. 102 292949.
info@edensearch.co.uk www.edensearch.co.uk