Recruitment merger for former Top Shop founder

FIRMS are being warned to look at their recruitment strategies in the wake of the 'credit crunch' to ensure they have the right managers in place to tackle future challenges.

The advice comes from Colin Littlewood, newly appointed managing director of Leeds-based Mitchells Recruitment, which headhunts senior executive directors and managers for key roles in commerce and industry.

“The days when a weak link in the executive team could be 'carried' are at an end and over the next three to five years, no firm will be able to afford that luxury if it is to remain a competitive force in an ever changing market place,” said he added.

Mr Littlewood joins Mitchells after his firm, Caird Littlewood, merged with the group in a buyout for an undisclosed sum.

In the 1970s, he was one of Sir Ralph Halpern's chief lieutenants at the Burton Group and was at his side in the creation of Top Shop, which remains one of the most enterprising of fashion retailers on the High Street.

David Mitchell, Mitchells group's managing director said:

“Colin and his consultants are extremely well qualified to source, select and present candidates at director and senior management level and they are backed by a highly experienced research team and excellent industry contacts.”