Based out of London, Giles Allen co-leads Spencer Stuart’s Financial Services Practice in EMEA and is a member of the Board and CEO practices. He is a trusted advisor to CEOs and boards and is passionate about helping clients attract and develop the best talent from around the world to build diverse, engaged and high-performing leadership teams. His client work includes chair, CEO, CFO, board director, senior executive and functional heads for a range of FTSE 350, private business and multi-national clients. Giles is a respected market leader advising businesses on issues such as diversity and inclusion, succession planning and organisational change and transformation. An economist by background, Giles brings more than 20 years of consulting and recruiting experience to his role.

Deep leadership advisory experience

  • Prior to joining Spencer Stuart, Giles was at a highly respected executive search firm with offices in London and New York, where he co-led the board and CEO practice.
  • Previously, he was a partner leading the financial services practice at an esteemed London-based executive search boutique which was subsequently acquired by a leading global executive search and leadership firm. He worked with a broad range of organisations and leaders, with a particular focus on the UK, Europe and Asia across board, executive succession and leadership advisory.
  • Giles spent his early career with The Economist and the Economist Intelligence Unit advising clients on political, economic and geopolitical issues.

Giles has a master’s in Middle East politics and Arabic from Durham University and in international relations and Spanish from the University of Aberdeen. He speaks English and Spanish and has lived and worked in the U.S., South Africa, Spain as well as the Middle East. He is passionate about mentoring and until recently worked with a nationwide social mobility charity.

Practice Areas