Willie Finlayson retires from FWB

Following an intimate send-off with colleagues last night, Co-Founder of FWB , Willie Finlayson retires from the business today after 31 years. 

Willie commented: “suffice to say it’s been quite a journey – there’s a lot that’s happened in the last 30 years – including the biggest change to the world of working ever imaginable. It has however been a privilege to have been asked to advise so many outstanding companies on the recruitment of their leaders. The responsibility and the importance of this has never been lost on me.”

FWB was founded in 1993 by Willie, Judy Wagner & Scott Black and we are proud today to have since become one of the UK’s leading boutique Executive Search firm with clients and offices across the UK.

Finlayson continued: ‘I feel very fortunate to have had a career I have loved and with so much purpose and I’m hugely grateful to all those who have supported me on my journey. I am also delighted that several of our leadership team are now also the owners of the business and I wish everyone in FWB, and connected with the business, every success in the future.”

Throughout his career Willie was always client facing and led a considerable number of FWB’s most notable appointments and he has worked tirelessly to develop these engagements into long-lasting personal and professional relationships that have lasted the test of time.

Bob Brannan, Chair of Walker’s Shortbread, and former William Grant & Sons Managing Director commented: “Willie’s natural ability to exude genuine empathy to clients and candidates alike over a long period of time has made him the standout Scottish Headhunter of his generation”. 

Scott Black , Managing Director and Co-Founder of FWB said “I’ve been very fortunate to have had a number of exceptional colleagues in my career, most notably my co-founders in Judy and Willie. The three of us have an unbreakable bond and Judy and I speak for the entire business when we wish Willie all the very best in his retirement. 31 years after we started the company together and we’ve enjoyed an extraordinary journey. ”

Brian Williamson, who joined the firm as our Chair earlier this year commented “ I have known Willie for such a long time and most of it as a customer. His relaxed and confident style made me feel comfortable that he would find exactly the right candidate and he never disappointed. When I joined FWB as Chair, I discovered that he has exactly the same demeanour in the business as out. There is no doubt in my mind that Willie has been one of the key influencers within the recruitment industry and it goes without saying that I wish him all the very best as he retires from the great firm he helped to establish.” For many years we are proud to have been regarded as Scotland’s largest and most successful Executive Search firm –  a large part down to the foundations Willie helped build with Scott and Judy. A particular hallmark of our company has been its reputation for valuing, nurturing, and developing relationships through service, an approach which Willie has always ensured and that has  led to a growing client base year on year. In recent years, and following our successful MBO, to underpin and ensure the continuation of this approach and reputation, the business has aligned itself more closely to sectors and this has brought significant growth across Consumer, Private Equity, Financial Services, Manufacturing and Engineering, the Built Environment and the Public and not for profit sectors.