mavis is an executive search business representing senior leaders in creative, design, product and tech.

We work with a small roster of VP, Director, C-suite and Non-Exec talent, helping them navigate their next move with clarity and confidence.

Who We Are

As a leading Executive Search and Recruitment firm powering the world’s most dynamic and visionary companies, we’ve partnered with leading brands and products across various sectors. We excel in Technology, AI, Design, SaaS, Fintech, Fashion and disruptive business models.

Our individual approach to Executive Search and Recruitment ensures:

Precision and Speed – We fill high-stakes roles quickly with top-tier talent.
Cultural Fit – We value culture alignment over raw talent that disrupts.
Deep Market Insight – Our network and expertise uncover talent others miss.
Long-Term Partnership – We listen to understand the qualities that define roles.
Proven Impact – We align with leadership to shape strategies and fuel growth.
Career Creation – It’s not about placing one role, we shape careers.

Whether breaking into new markets or scaling globally, we bring the expertise, persistence and insight to build the teams that build your business.

What makes us unique; we have 30 years of combined experience, a thorough process that gets us results and we care deeply about finding the right person for your business.

As a female-led team, we champion diversity in all its forms. Diversity for us is never a checkbox, it’s about bringing together varied perspectives and experiences to solve complex business challenges. This mindset drives every role we fill, ensuring that we provide the perfect match for your needs.

Who We Represent

We represent a small roster of senior leaders across creative, product, design and tech. People we know deeply, represent actively, and believe are ready for the right next move.

Some of the leaders we currently represent:

COO, BAFTA-winning Production Company
VP, High-growth B2B Platform
VP Creative, Fashion Heritage Company
ECD, Global Technology Agency
CMO, Global Product Company
MD, Premium Immersive Experience Company
CCO, Global Creative Technology Company

About

"Inspired by my gran Mavis, I wanted to bring a personal touch to the world of headhunting. She was warm, creative and successful, always generous with advice and there when you needed her. Her life approach shaped out core values: people first, always. " – Helen Fleming, Creator of mavis

About Helen & Melissa
A 25 year friendship, deep professional respect and a partnership built on trust. Growing up in Northumberland, we've always shared the same ambition. Our strengths complement each other, making us faster, sharper and more effective. Together, we problem-solve, finding the right talent with confidence and care.

Creating happy unions where people can excel in their careers is what drives us.

We love what we do, and we know you will too.

Helen Fleming

Helen started her career as a designer, gaining hands-on experience at leading London design agencies before transitioning into creative recruitment. After years of working with top digital and design talent, she co-founded mavis, an all-female creative headhunting firm dedicated to placing exceptional talent in design, creative, product and tech companies from early-stage startups to high-growth scale-ups and established brands.

With a deep understanding of the intersection of creativity, product and technology, Helen specialises in helping businesses build strong leadership teams. She has a sharp eye for identifying top-tier talent, whether hiring for key design leadership roles or helping high-growth companies shape their product teams.

A trusted advisor to both candidates and clients, Helen brings a human-first, consultative approach, ensuring placements are not only skill-based but also rooted in cultural fit and long-term impact. She is known for her ability to navigate the nuances of senior hires, providing discreet guidance on career progression, salary benchmarking and leadership coaching.

As a female founder, Helen is especially passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion, advocating for underrepresented talent and helping more women step into senior leadership roles. Her commitment to authentic connections and long-term partnerships makes her a key player in shaping the next generation of creative leaders.

You can see her full CV on Linkedin.

If you’re hiring or looking for your next opportunity, get in touch here: [email protected]

+ Read more

Melissa Phillips

With a background in fashion, marketing and business, Melissa began her career in retail, gaining valuable experience in commercial strategy and team leadership. After moving to Sydney, she worked with top advertising and branding agencies, collaborating with creative leaders and discovering her passion for connecting talent with the right opportunities.

On returning to London, co-founding Mavis was the natural next step. Over the past 13+ years, she has built a reputation for forming deep, strategic partnerships with product, design and tech businesses, ranging from startups and scale-ups to global brands. Melissa takes pride in being an extension of her clients’ teams, helping them structure and scale with the right leadership talent.

Passionate about people, culture and industry innovation, she thrives on understanding what drives creative and tech teams, ensuring every placement is not just about skills but also about long-term impact. Known for her human-first approach, she provides discreet career guidance to senior talent, helping them navigate growth, leadership and salary alignment.

An advocate for diversity in leadership, Melissa is committed to making the industry more inclusive, supporting underrepresented talent and helping more women step into senior roles.

Specialisms: Global Executive Search | Leadership Hiring | Creative, Design & Digital | International Team Building | Diversity & Inclusion

Clients: Startups, Scale-ups & Global Brands redefining the future of creativity and innovation

You can connect and see her full CV on Linked In here.

If you’re hiring or looking for your next opportunity, get in touch here: [email protected]

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Olivia Cody

Ambitious and passionate about everything creative, especially branding, Olivia decided to study a graphic design course at Shillington College. Loving the conceptual side of design, combined with an obsession for puns, her path led her to UAL where she graduated with a degree in Creative Advertising. Shortly after she found herself at mavis HQ hoping they could help find her a job in the industry she loves, and they did!

Olivia has been fortunate enough to be part of the Mavis family from early stages, helping them grow from Recruitment in to Executive Search. Starting out on a freelance basis with mavis enabled her the opportunity to also work within graphic design and marketing. This varied background has given her a great working knowledge of the creative space, vital for her role here. In working directly with clients and candidates she has developed strong relationships with some of the most inspirational minds in the industry. Olivia really enjoys being a part of peoples’ career progression and helping in their success.

“Be nice and do great work” that’s always been her motto!

Currently on maternity leave, Olivia will be back in 2026.

+ Read more

I wanted to reach out and say a huge thank you for opening the door to an incredible opportunity at Google. My time there wrapped up this summer, and after a short sabbatical, I can wholeheartedly say that everything from the work to the people proved rich, meaningful, and an engine for growth - in great part thanks to your expertise in matching me with the perfect role and supporting me throughout!

Andreea S (Senior Creative Strategist)
Melissa, Helen and the team at Mavis were incredibly supportive through my job-hunting process. They really took time to understand what I was looking for in my next role, proactively came up with suggestions of companies where I’ll be a great fit and gave helpful tips during the interview process. It was great having their expertise during my search.

Kristina Dimitrova (Social Director)
The difference with Mavis has been the depth in which they get to know the talented people on their books, as well as us as an agency. This has led to some inspired collaborations which we may not have thought of otherwise, for both freelance and full time employment.

Tom (Founder & Creative Director)
It’s been a pleasure working with mavis on key creative and design hires for our business as we scale. Since 2016 they’ve been successful in finding us the superstar talent we need. Never an easy task as our benchmark for design talent is incredibly high, but the ladies are tenacious and never give up. They lately helped us hire an exceptional Head of Product Design, one of the most fundamental roles for our business, elevating product design as we continue to grow.

Liam H (CEO & Founder)
I've experienced my fair share of recruiters, some good, mostly bad, then you get a rare one that's great, enter Mavis. They are super friendly, great communicators and work with some brilliant agencies. Freelancers are familiar with 'ghosting' but you'll never get that with Mavis, they are upfront, honest and transparent and want the best for their candidates. I've recommended them to others many times and will continue to do so!

Mike Harrison (Design Director)
Many thanks to Melissa and Helen for helping in my job search. After an initial call to understand the direction I wanted to head in, they found and set up calls with a range of great studios that matched my ambitions perfectly. They guided me through the processes, checked in on me regularly and navigated me through the offer stages to where I am now in my new role. I couldn't be happier with where I am now and that is thanks to the Mavis team.

Callum Buchanan (Senior Designer)
Helen was the first recruiter I met after having set up Space 66. While others were not sure about us, being a young agency with no folio to show potential candidates, Helen listened to my thoughts and ideal scenarios. We are still in touch via Mavis, they always promise not to blanket mail us, sending candidates who are on point to brief.

Jon Wiltshire (Founder, Space 66/Addictive Pixel)
I grew up with Helen and Melissa. No, really, I actually did, we were at the same school and everything. They were like sisters to me. Alright maybe not sisters, but, you know, I really liked them. And continue to do so. They're both an absolute joy and pleasure to work with. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them...obviously.

Stu Outhwaite (Creative Partner at Creature)
Helen gave me great advice when I decided to go freelance. She has brilliant connections and interesting contracts in the creative industry. She makes the effort to understand what your strengths are, finding the right role for each individual. Helen has become a firm friend and has encyclopedic knowledge of restaurants.

Jocelyn Amner (Freelance Senior Visual Designer)
Hello Mavis are thoughtful, considered and responsive. They listen carefully to the brief and field high quality, relevant candidates. A joy to work with.

Kate Roskill (COO)
It's been a pleasure to work with a recruitment business that not only understands our 'requirement' but understands us as people too, as well as the personality of our brand before introducing us to exceptional talent when the time is right.

Guy Jenkins (VP, Platform User Experience)
Recruitment is a people business. Many agents appear to have forgotten this. Not so Hello Mavis – Helen digs deep into your business needs and then into the candidates' psyches as much as their portfolios. I have only ever seen quality CVs from Hello Mavis and that keeps me coming back.

Adam Powers (CXO)

Contact

We like to build long-lasting relationships with talented, creative people. Excited to partner with us? Let's start a conversation.

mavis
3rd Floor
80-90 Paul Street
London
EC2A 4NE
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
+44 (0)20 3917 4118