mavis specialise in recruitment and executive search for the creative, design and product industry.

We partner with companies, startups and investors in the UK, Europe, USA and the Middle East. Finding perfect candidates for successful senior leadership teams, from senior manager to C-Suite level.

 

Working together

mavis is an independent recruitment and executive search company. We work with the best design, advertising and product agencies, as well as companies, startups, scaleups and investors in the UK, Europe, USA and the Middle East.

What differentiates us is that we encourage equal opportunity by specialising in deep research to find truly diverse candidates. Supporting people from different cultural, religious LGBTQ+ and socio-economic backgrounds, inclusive of disabilities and other marginalised groups such as those with neurodiverse needs. As female founders we are particularly passionate about seeing more women in senior leadership roles.

We are experts in building successful senior leadership teams, from Senior Manager to C-Suite level in these areas:

Design
Creative
Motion
Digital
Product
Strategy
Client Services
Production

We find the best talent for clients and the right opportunities for candidates so that they can feel empowered and fulfilled in their role.

With a large talent network and a lot of industry know-how, we respond to client briefs and candidate requirements intelligently, creatively and efficiently.

We have candidates and clients who we have worked with for years. Candidates have become clients as they have progressed in their careers, and clients have re-engaged us as they have moved companies. The trust we have established ensures they stay connected and bring us into their new workplaces.

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.

Jobs

About

"Inspired by my gran, Mavis, I wanted to bring a personal touch to the world of recruitment. She was a warm, creative and successful lady, very generous with advice and hot beverages, and always there when you needed her"

– Helen Fleming, Creator of mavis

The way Mavis approached her life and her relationships are what we base our values on – people are at the heart of it and they are what we value.

We are a dynamic female led team and advocate diversity in our sector, supporting  all to reach their full potential.

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 Fleming

Helen began her career as a designer and gained valuable experience in a number of London-based design agencies before spending several years at leading creative recruitment consultancies, where she specialised in digital. The combination of direct industry and recruitment experience gave her the confidence and know-how to create Mavis.

Here she can concentrate on what she do best: looking after creative thinkers and designers at senior through to leadership level. She also previously advised young talent at advertising and design universities, and led many graduate portfolio days with key industry figures.

Her design background gives her an instinctive ability to evaluate portfolios and support with career advice. As well as helping clients understand what type of person they need to lead and develop their team. Building authentic long-lasting relationships with clients and candidates is the foundation for mavis.

As a female founder, she is particularly passionate about helping women become successful and gain positions in senior leadership roles.

You can see my full CV on Linkedin.

If you’d like to brief me on a new role you are hiring please book a call here: [email protected]

Melissa Phillips

Melissa Phillips

After graduating with a degree in Fashion and Marketing Melissa began her career at Marks & Spencer where she gained valuable business and commercial management experience. She moved to Sydney for sunnier climes, and freelanced with various advertising and branding design agencies. Here she worked with teams of talented creatives and managers, and finally found her tribe.

On her return to London starting mavis was the ideal fit. She enjoys creating a human connection with candidates and clients and providing a service she couldn’t easily find when she was job searching. She is proud of the strong partnerships nurtured with clients over the past 10+ years, often becoming an extension of their business to help structure and grow teams. Witnessing first hand such exciting journeys from early stages to global success gives her  immense satisfaction and pride.

Melissa is a team player with strong communication skills, and the confidence and ability to work with candidates and clients across all levels of business. She is passionate about the creative industry, and especially enjoys being part of industry dialogue, exploring and discussing what sets new precedents and what truly connects, motivates and inspires people.

I am a team player with strong communication skills, and the confidence and ability to work with candidates and clients across all levels of business. I’m excited to be working in the digital creative industry. I love to review creative portfolios and help candidates achieve their career goals.

I smile a lot too.

You can see my full CV here.

If you’d like to brief her on a new role please book a call here: [email protected]

Emily Richie

Emily Richie

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, USA, Emily comes from an automotive family, so fittingly started her career in automotive advertising as an Account Manager. This eventually led her to New York, followed by a move to Shanghai, China. Her knowledge base spans full 360 campaign work, focusing on the Account, PM, and Production side of things, with a particular specialism in TV production, website builds, and digital product creation.

She moved to London in early 2019; and knew she wanted to stay within the creative and advertising industry, but also ready for a bit of a change. Working with mavis allows her to use her industry knowledge and combine it with her love of working with and helping people – everyone should be able to do what they love, and love what they do, and this job allows her to help people find that.

She loves hearing about peoples’ experiences, about what they have achieved, and learned throughout their career, and she is very grateful to be able to help these amazing people find their next perfect role, and to help our clients find incredible talent.

She has worked across the creative industry globally for more than 14 years, it has taken her around the world and put her touch with some of the most wonderful, interesting and creative people she has ever met. She is happy to be able to put that knowledge and that connection to work for those of you out there seeking your next career move.

Also loves a spontaneous trip, travel photography, trying new food, and keen on running and biking, and no matter how long she lives in London she will still insist on the American pronunciation of “oregano!”

Olivia Cody

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 then led her to UAL where she graduated with a degree in Creative Advertising. Shortly after she stumbled upon mavis hoping they could help her find a job in the industry she loves, and they did!

Olivia has been fortunate enough to be part of the Mavis family from the early stages, watching it grow into the thriving business it is today. Starting out on a freelance basis at mavis she has also had the opportunity to work within graphic design and marketing. This background has given her a varied working knowledge within the creative space which she has been able to apply to 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!

  • 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)