UX & Service Design7 people
Nick Cochrane
Founder & specialist recruiter of design, research and product folk
I’ve partnered with Nick as a candidate and a client, and he’s always delivered. He’s knowledgeable about the market and understands the subtle nuances between roles, industries and expertise. He will ask the right questions and actively listen to your requirements, understanding what’s important and notably, what’s not. A trustworthy, personable recruiter who takes pride matching you with a role that will further your career or adding value to the organisation you’re hiring for. I have no hesitation recommending Nick to friends or colleagues. – Neil, UX Director
Nick set up Zebra People in 2001, the first agency of its kind in Europe. Alongside a specialism in digital, Nick wanted to offer brilliant customer service, consultants with true expertise and a home for recruiters to build a career in a safe and supportive environment. He’s done all the above and more, launching pioneering events like UX People, India’s first UX Conference and Zebra Labs – training sessions to help digital people skill up. As well as running the business and supporting the industry, Nick continues to have a hands-on role in recruitment – getting on the phones and working with the Zebra People team to offer clients and candidates the best service possible.
Ben Clarfelt
Director, Specialist UX & Product Manager Recruiter
“It’s been a pleasure to work with Ben and the Zebra team over the last two years. Their knowledge of digital design, UX and tech industry is exceptional. They understood our specific needs, listen to our feedback and empathised with our frustrations. We now have such a talented team of amazing people and Zebra People played a big part in that success. Thank you.” – José Das Neves Alves, London Lab
Ben Clarflet joined Zebra People in 2009, back when the business was still in its infancy. Four years later, he was the company’s Director, charged with growing and managing the business. Ben’s been a UX recruiter for more than a decade, and his passion for the space, as well as the people in it, have kept him in a hands-on role at the heart of the business, alongside his responsibilities as company Director. Ben puts a lot into the industry as a whole, launching a salary survey that’s widely used across digital recruitment, sponsoring/hosting events and introducing companies to each other to facilitate knowledge sharing and progress.
Nick Grantham
Associate Director
“Nick is quality. He knows more about UX than a lot of UXers I know. He knows his clients and their needs and he knows his candidates. This allows him to make exceptional introductions, making sure that candidates and clients all come away with rewarding results. A consummate professional, an honest and just instantly likeable guy, he is … quality.” – Bob Powell
Nick manages a team of UX recruiters at ZP, and has been in recruitment since 2008. He moved to Zebra People in 2018 after catching the eyes of founders Ben and Nick at many industry events. Sharing their passion for the industry, and demonstrating an unrivalled track record in the UX space, Nick was a star recruit for Zebra People. He’s since founded a mentors platform to help recruitment consultants learn and develop, and been a guest on many industry podcasts and guest spots as a key voice in the trade.
Grace Kisnorbo
Consultant
“Grace understood what I was looking for and found me the exact opportunity. She was so good guiding me throughout the recruitment process. And the best thing – she still keeps checking if I am ok at my new workplace- what more you can ask for! She is amazing at her job and as a person.” – Khushbu Parekh Mistry, Senior UX Designer at Vanguard
Grace specialises in placing UX Designers , Product Designers, User Researchers across a wide range of clients from start ups to large household names. After starting out in Customer Care, and training others to give excellent service, Grace transitioned to recruitment because it made the very best of her nonpareil communication and relationship management skills. She was promoted within three months of starting at Zebra, and has been exceeding expectations ever since.
Jonny Brockiner
Associate Consultant
“Jonny is easy going, helpful and a pleasure to work with during the whole recruitment process. He is a very detailed person who helped me to organise all essential meetings with the employers in a timely fashion. He patiently answered all questions and addressed any concerns that came up. In short, Jonny is a delight and an incredible asset to anyone lucky enough to work with him.” – Tianle Lee Xiong, Digital Product Designer at the AA
Jonny joined Zebra People in early 2022 after stumbling across digital design and research, and realising customer experience is a fundamental pillar of designing digital products and services. He immediately decided to put this insight to good use by joining our team.
Shreya Chauhan
Senior Delivery Consultant
“Shreya’s service has been truly exceptional from the start. Shreya took the time to really understand my skills, experience, and career goals, she provided me with detailed and comprehensive pre-interview briefing that helped me optimise my interview performance, and she always promptly responded to any questions or concerns I might have had. I could not recommend working with Shreya highly enough!” – Agnieszka Rzesniowiecka, User Researcher at Receipt Bank
Shreya specialises in User Experience, User Research and Content Design roles, both contract and permanent. Her slightly unorthodox background – with a Psychology and Art degree – have actually proven a real asset in her work, giving her a great understanding of human behaviour and mixed methods research.
Dan Shoola
Resourcer
“Dan is a special kind of recruiter. His diligence and personality set him apart. I wasn’t confident at all after my interview, then Dan called me, and his personality and reassurance were what I needed. Not only did I go on to get the job, but he also landed it at £5k higher than expected. Thanks, mate. Absolute Legend” – Manuel Holihan, User Researcher at AA
As an undergraduate, Dan created an online ecommerce store, so was already familiar with the importance of UCD and the impact it makes on building trust and generating sales. Working in the UX team at Zebra has allowed Dan to gain a deeper understanding of UX, and he recruits UX and Service designers, User Researchers and Content Designers, while his consistent mood makes him generally nice to be around.
User Research7 people
Shreya Chauhan
Senior Delivery Consultant
“Shreya’s service has been truly exceptional from the start. Shreya took the time to really understand my skills, experience, and career goals, she provided me with detailed and comprehensive pre-interview briefing that helped me optimise my interview performance, and she always promptly responded to any questions or concerns I might have had. I could not recommend working with Shreya highly enough!” – Agnieszka Rzesniowiecka, User Researcher at Receipt Bank
Shreya specialises in User Experience, User Research and Content Design roles, both contract and permanent. Her slightly unorthodox background – with a Psychology and Art degree – have actually proven a real asset in her work, giving her a great understanding of human behaviour and mixed methods research.
Dan Shoola
Resourcer
“Dan is a special kind of recruiter. His diligence and personality set him apart. I wasn’t confident at all after my interview, then Dan called me, and his personality and reassurance were what I needed. Not only did I go on to get the job, but he also landed it at £5k higher than expected. Thanks, mate. Absolute Legend” – Manuel Holihan, User Researcher at AA
As an undergraduate, Dan created an online ecommerce store, so was already familiar with the importance of UCD and the impact it makes on building trust and generating sales. Working in the UX team at Zebra has allowed Dan to gain a deeper understanding of UX, and he recruits UX and Service designers, User Researchers and Content Designers, while his consistent mood makes him generally nice to be around.
Nick Cochrane
Founder & specialist recruiter of design, research and product folk
I’ve partnered with Nick as a candidate and a client, and he’s always delivered. He’s knowledgeable about the market and understands the subtle nuances between roles, industries and expertise. He will ask the right questions and actively listen to your requirements, understanding what’s important and notably, what’s not. A trustworthy, personable recruiter who takes pride matching you with a role that will further your career or adding value to the organisation you’re hiring for. I have no hesitation recommending Nick to friends or colleagues. – Neil, UX Director
Nick set up Zebra People in 2001, the first agency of its kind in Europe. Alongside a specialism in digital, Nick wanted to offer brilliant customer service, consultants with true expertise and a home for recruiters to build a career in a safe and supportive environment. He’s done all the above and more, launching pioneering events like UX People, India’s first UX Conference and Zebra Labs – training sessions to help digital people skill up. As well as running the business and supporting the industry, Nick continues to have a hands-on role in recruitment – getting on the phones and working with the Zebra People team to offer clients and candidates the best service possible.
Ben Clarfelt
Director, Specialist UX & Product Manager Recruiter
“It’s been a pleasure to work with Ben and the Zebra team over the last two years. Their knowledge of digital design, UX and tech industry is exceptional. They understood our specific needs, listen to our feedback and empathised with our frustrations. We now have such a talented team of amazing people and Zebra People played a big part in that success. Thank you.” – José Das Neves Alves, London Lab
Ben Clarflet joined Zebra People in 2009, back when the business was still in its infancy. Four years later, he was the company’s Director, charged with growing and managing the business. Ben’s been a UX recruiter for more than a decade, and his passion for the space, as well as the people in it, have kept him in a hands-on role at the heart of the business, alongside his responsibilities as company Director. Ben puts a lot into the industry as a whole, launching a salary survey that’s widely used across digital recruitment, sponsoring/hosting events and introducing companies to each other to facilitate knowledge sharing and progress.
Nick Grantham
Associate Director
“Nick is quality. He knows more about UX than a lot of UXers I know. He knows his clients and their needs and he knows his candidates. This allows him to make exceptional introductions, making sure that candidates and clients all come away with rewarding results. A consummate professional, an honest and just instantly likeable guy, he is … quality.” – Bob Powell
Nick manages a team of UX recruiters at ZP, and has been in recruitment since 2008. He moved to Zebra People in 2018 after catching the eyes of founders Ben and Nick at many industry events. Sharing their passion for the industry, and demonstrating an unrivalled track record in the UX space, Nick was a star recruit for Zebra People. He’s since founded a mentors platform to help recruitment consultants learn and develop, and been a guest on many industry podcasts and guest spots as a key voice in the trade.
Grace Kisnorbo
Consultant
“Grace understood what I was looking for and found me the exact opportunity. She was so good guiding me throughout the recruitment process. And the best thing – she still keeps checking if I am ok at my new workplace- what more you can ask for! She is amazing at her job and as a person.” – Khushbu Parekh Mistry, Senior UX Designer at Vanguard
Grace specialises in placing UX Designers , Product Designers, User Researchers across a wide range of clients from start ups to large household names. After starting out in Customer Care, and training others to give excellent service, Grace transitioned to recruitment because it made the very best of her nonpareil communication and relationship management skills. She was promoted within three months of starting at Zebra, and has been exceeding expectations ever since.
Jonny Brockiner
Associate Consultant
“Jonny is easy going, helpful and a pleasure to work with during the whole recruitment process. He is a very detailed person who helped me to organise all essential meetings with the employers in a timely fashion. He patiently answered all questions and addressed any concerns that came up. In short, Jonny is a delight and an incredible asset to anyone lucky enough to work with him.” – Tianle Lee Xiong, Digital Product Designer at the AA
Jonny joined Zebra People in early 2022 after stumbling across digital design and research, and realising customer experience is a fundamental pillar of designing digital products and services. He immediately decided to put this insight to good use by joining our team.
Technology3 people
Mitch Hooper
Managing Consultant
“It’s very rare that you come across such a standout and genuine recruiter. Mitch not only has strong communication and interpersonal skills but he also understands the tech – which, in itself, is a very rare feat. I was particularly impressed by his timely responses, considering we were in totally different time zones. On top of all that, he is great fun to work with.” – Jehanzeb Khan,Head of Engineering at First Circle
Mitch has been in the Tech team at Zebra for five years, where his attention to detail, charismatic personality and top notch grasp of technology help him find skilled Software, Security and DevOps Engineers for the likes of Vault, MadeTech, Condé Nast and Osa. Mitch is a keen mentor, and dedicates much of his own time to supporting the career growth of others.
Jake Tindell
Associate Consultant
“Jake has been super helpful throughout my contracts with Zebra People. Any issues I had regarding pay, start date or anything relating to my contract he would sort out in less than 24 hours, if he didn’t know the answer to my query he would go out of his way to find the answer for me.” – George Schena, MOJ
London born Tech Recruiter Jake cut his teeth in User Research while at University, and now uses his hands on experience to help recruit within Tech – finding roles for software engineers, developers and DevOps/cloud engineers in the public and private sector, from start-ups to large businesses. His straightforward and kind approach makes him popular with candidates and clients alike.
Will Bendall
Associate Consultant
“Will helped me through each step of the recruitment process at Zebra People in a transparent, communicative and responsive manner! It’s always daunting to navigate the recruitment process, but Will helped every step of the way, gave actionable feedback and was extremely approachable.” – Senior iOS developer
Will is a diligent and tenacious recruiter – doing a software development course in his own time to really deepen his understanding of his field. With a particular specialism in Software Engineering, DevOps and Data Engineering, Will’s a keen attendee at tech events such as AWS summit, London Dev Ops, London Bitcoin Meet up – where he expands his network and swots up on his subject.
Product Design2 people
Sam Gale
Head of Retained Partnerships & Community
“In a crowded sector, Sam’s understanding, empathy and knowledge of the design world is second to none and clearly makes him stand out. This ability enables him to instantly align to a hiring managers needs or a candidates aspirations really quickly, often decoding exactly what is needed for lasting results. I couldn’t recommend Sam highly enough and look forwards to many more years working together.” – Tom Smith, Sr. Director of Design (Platform) at Conde Nast
Tracking down the best digital product design talent, Sam joined Zebra’s team in 2017 after acquiring a core foundation in recruitment and notably studying Product Design at university. Sam heads up a team focused on building or scaling product and design functions for brands, agencies and start-ups and scale-ups. He’s a familiar face at industry events… as well as the gym and London’s latest foodie openings.
Claire Carlisle
Associate Consultant
“Claire is the best recruiter I have ever met. She put herself in my shoes and gave me some valuable advice that not only helps me choosing the right job, but also influences my career choices in the long run. She is a delightful, passionate, empathetic and hardworking individual and would be an asset to any company.” – Amy Deng, Junior Product Designer at PureGym
Operations5 people
Kerry Hough
Group Marketing manager
Kerry joined the HW Group in 2022 to head up the marketing and communications for the four brands in the portfolio: HW Global, HW People, Osmii and Zebra People. Having worked in marketing, communications, branding and business development for over 25 years, Kerry has experience across a range of B2B and B2C sectors, including tech, retail, property, legal, professional services and finance. Working as a consultant, she has been responsible for launching digital campaigns for talent acquisition into a £multi-billion global tech firm.
Among other projects, Kerry has launched a range of global websites for the FA, Premier League, Sport England and RUFC. Working with Embassies, Consulates and Ambassadors, she has also managed clients’ international business development in key global markets, including the Middle East, Asia, Europe and America. She was also responsible for project managing the delivery of a £1.3bn corporate rebranding project.
In her spare time, when not in the gym or traveling, Kerry can be found out on her bike – or socialising in her local pub!
Vicky Sullivan
Finance & Business Operations Manager
“Vicky has been an absolute star in helping raise the bar for our finance & business operations function: She makes sure that our monthly reporting is both timely and accurate while seamlessly managing the day-to-day function of payments & invoicing. She has helped draw together all aspects of the operations team and been instrumental in making sure that communication with contractors is effective & relevant. Vicky consistently delivers.” – Nick Cochrane, Direct at Zebra People
Vicky is in charge of everything finance related, from paying contractors to reconciling accounts or helping create our annual budget. Before joining us, she ran her own direct mailing business, so has a brilliant eye for detail and rigorous approach to finances and admin.
Ele Mafham
Group Head of People Operations
“Ele is a people pro, having come to Zebra from a variety of recruitment specialists at the highest level. Unlike most of our team, Ele’s focus is within the business itself – she finds brilliant people to join our teams, and helps them fulfil their potential when they get here.” – Nick Cochrane, Director at Zebra People
Ele joined Zebra People initially as their first People Operations Manager responsible for a range of ‘people offerings’ from internal recruitment, creating hiring strategies, operations, HR to culture and Diversity Inclusion. The fantastic work she did at Zebra People meant she got promoted to Group Head of People Operations where she’s now in charge of over 80 people across the group. She initially studied law at Oxford Brookes where she played for the 1st Netball team.
Carly Price
Contracts & Compliance Manager
“Carly’s a pleasure to work with, and her approach has been instrumental in improving processes and tightening our overall contract & compliance process.” – Ben Clarfelt, Director – Zebra People
Carly’s laser eye for detail, calm outlook and strong background in HR means nothing gets missed when it comes to compliance.
Madhu Mohindra
Office Manager
Madhu is the reason our office runs smoothly and looks great at all times. In a former life, she managed a photo studio and online art archive, which explains her affinity with our creative talent pool. She’s also worked with angel investors who invested in creative & Tech businesses, so has a great overview of our industry.
