Meet the team

Michelle Carson is Chairwoman and Founder of Holmes Noble, a global executive search and leadership advisory firm. She has more than thirty years’ experience advising boards and senior leadership teams across listed organisations, private equity portfolio companies, private enterprises and purpose-led organisations. Her work focuses on leadership capability, decision integrity and the design of leadership systems that support long-term organisational value. She brings a particular specialism in cognitive strengths and neuroinclusive leadership, helping boards identify high-value thinking, reduce leadership risk and strengthen performance in complex environments.

With a distinguished career spanning over 22 years, Amy stands as a seasoned leader and influencer in the realm of executive search and talent advisory. Holding the position of Chief Executive Officer at a prominent global executive search and talent advisory firm, Amy has been instrumental in shaping the company’s growth trajectory and solidifying its reputation as a trusted partner for C-Suite and N-1 executive placements as well as supporting clients with broader talent solutions.

Amy’s expertise extends across diverse industries, including Energy, Transport, Infrastructure, Defence, Aerospace, Logistics & Supply Chain, and Private Equity. This comprehensive industry exposure has not only honed Amy’s acumen but has also positioned her as a versatile leader capable of navigating the complexities of different markets with finesse.

Boasting a truly global perspective, Amy has garnered valuable experience working for both large corporate search firms and boutique agencies. This journey commenced in the domain of Corporate Finance search for a US-listed search firm, setting the stage for a career marked by continuous achievement and growth.

In addition to spearheading the overall growth of Holmes Noble, Amy leads the Non-Executive Board Practice, demonstrating a commitment to holistic talent solutions that extend beyond traditional executive placements. This dual leadership role showcases Amy’s ability to seamlessly integrate strategic leadership with specialised expertise, ensuring a comprehensive approach to talent acquisition and board governance.

Amy’s global network and profound insights into the dynamics of leadership and talent in various sectors make her an invaluable asset in the executive search landscape. Their track record of successful placements at the highest echelons of organisations speaks volumes about their ability to identify and attract top-tier executive talent.

A visionary leader with a wealth of experience and a commitment to excellence, Amy continues to shape the future of Holmes Nobles executive search and talent advisory services on a global scale.

Samantha is an experienced business advisor and strategic leader with over 25 years of expertise in executive search across the UK, EU, and USA. With a focus on excellence,Samantha works closely with high-performing executive search firms that deliver top-tier research, attraction, and selection services, ensuring their clients secure the very best leadership talent. Currently, Samantha supports recruitment industry leaders, helping them to innovate, scale, and achieve their strategic growth goals and value creation.

As a Non-Executive Director and trusted advisor, Samantha guides business owners in implementing robust management information (MI) systems and reporting structures, ensuring that the right foundations are in place for sustainable growth and long-term success.

Outside of work, Samantha is married and a proud parent to two adult sons. A happy dog owner, they enjoy spending quality time with their family and their furry companion, balancing a fulfilling personal life with their professional success.

Katie Ann brings over 25 years of executive search experience and talent management expertise across a diverse range of industries, including Transportation, Aerospace & Defence, Infrastructure, and Energy. Throughout her career, she has thrived in various career environments, from executive search boutiques to corporate in-house roles to owning her own recruitment business.

Notably, Katie Ann spent a decade as Bombardier’s Global Executive Search Leader. During this tenure, she headhunted and managed global executive level appointments, spearheaded the design and implementation of executive assessment frameworks, provided comprehensive leadership assessment and coaching, and led talent management and large-scale recruitment and restructuring programs.

Her track record includes successfully managing large-scale global recruitment initiatives and offering her international perspective to clients in Transport, Automotive, Rail, Aerospace & Defence, Shipbuilding/Marine, Energy, and Infrastructure sectors. Katie Ann’s cross-industry market insight and intelligence enable her to deliver innovative strategies and solutions tailored to each client’s unique needs.

Katie Ann’s approach centres on delivering exceptional candidate programs that yield long-term impact for her clients. Her creative strategies have enabled businesses to elevate their potential both within the UK and on the global stage. With her extensive experience and accomplishments, including her roles as the global executive search talent leader for Bombardier and director of her consultancy, she is well-equipped to guide customers through transformative initiatives and support them in achieving their business objectives.

Tom brings over fifteen years of invaluable experience to his role as Partner and Lead for the Global Logistics, Transportation & Services Practice at Holmes Noble. Throughout his tenure, he has been pivotal in expanding the Practice’s capabilities to offer both executive search and a range of talent advisory solutions to clients worldwide.

His professional journey spans various industries, including Oil & Gas and Consumer markets, with a predominant focus over the past decade within Supply Chain. This extensive experience has equipped him with a deep understanding of the nuances, complexities, and market dynamics inherent in Logistics and Transportation sectors.

Before joining Holmes Noble, Tom worked for one of the leading ‘big six’ global search firms, having previously worked for prestigious multinational and boutique firms across the UK and APAC regions. This background has provided him with a solid foundation and a commitment to delivering exceptional results for his clients.

Tom’s client base includes multinational corporations, privately owned SMEs, and Private Equity firms, for whom he identifies and develops transformative leaders capable of driving sustained success. His focus on fostering enduring, client-centric relationships reflect his dedication to adding long-term value to the sector.

Tom is a relationship builder and strategic thinker with a commercial mindset. He has a track record of introducing practical, value-added services to his clients. Beyond executive search, he actively supports initiatives such as M&A transactions and contributes to the development of diverse Boards today and in the future, through mentorship and executive coaching programs.

As a key member of Holmes Noble’s Board, Tom plays a vital role in shaping Holmes Noble’s growth strategy, with a particular emphasis on brand development, service diversification, market expansion, recruitment, training, and the formulation of future strategic growth plans.

With over two decades of experience in executive search, Aidan’s career spans various senior roles, both within global search firms as a multi-site P&L responsible Director, and as a business owner running his own executive search practice.

As Head of Client Partnerships, Aidan leverages his extensive cross-sector knowledge and global search experience to foster strong and enduring relationships with our clients. He has become a trusted partner to our clients for global C-Suite and N-1 executive placements.

Aidan’s role is to ensure that our customers meet their strategic objectives on each assignment and receive the highest standards of service and insight. He has a track record of building diverse and inclusive teams and takes great pride in helping businesses deliver ambitious growth plans. 

Aidan cultivates a deep understanding of client needs and delivers tailored executive search solutions that drive organisational success. His expertise encompasses the full spectrum of executive search and talent advisory services, ensuring that clients benefit from his comprehensive knowledge and strategic insights.

In the 13 years running his own successful executive search business, Aidan honed his skills in process management and talent acquisition, before joining the Holmes Noble team in 2022. This entrepreneurial experience provided him with a unique perspective on the intricacies of running a business, further enriching his ability to serve clients with agility, precision and understanding.

Beyond his professional achievements, Aidan is a former Scotland Students and Scotland A international rugby player, a testament to his dedication, teamwork, and competitive spirit. He continues to channel this drive as a competitive league cricketer, maintaining his passion for sports and excellence in all endeavours.

As the Head of Operations at Holmes Noble, Mike empowers our clients with actionable insights, fostering flexibility and transparency. He drives delivery, process improvement, technology integration, and other key business processes, ensuring we are enabled to support our clients’ needs.

With six years of experience in executive search as a researcher and as a research leader, Mike excels in delivering and managing high-quality research. At Holmes Noble, he has successfully completed international and UK-based mandates across Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific, working with a diverse range of clients from venture capital and private equity portfolio businesses to SMEs and FTSE-listed companies.

Mike’s background in sales and operations, combined with his experience in agile project management, allows him to streamline processes and implement cutting-edge technologies. His previous roles in consultancy and sales management have equipped him with the skills to provide operational insights and drive performance across our organisation.

Mike’s expertise and commitment to excellence drives our mission to offer the best possible insights, helping clients transform their businesses and achieve their goals.

Caroline is a Chartered Psychologist with over 25 years’ experience in the assessment and development of leaders. She is a registered psychometric test user through the British Psychological Society and is qualified in a range of robust assessment instruments.

Caroline designs assessment processes tailored to each role and manages a team of highly skilled associate psychologists to produce detailed reports of shortlisted candidates. They use psychometric assessments not as an end in themselves, but as a starting point for an in-depth discussion with a candidate about all aspects of their work. As a matter of ethical principle, all candidates are offered feedback on their assessment.

As well as managing Holmes Noble’s assessment practice, Caroline also has her own business psychology consultancy focused on mid-sized businesses and works with a private equity advisory firm.

Holly is a seasoned professional with extensive experience as a Personal Assistant in the recruitment sector. Over the course of many years in recruitment, Holly has honed exceptional work management and interpersonal skills, thriving in fast-paced commercial settings.

Holly brings her wealth of organisational expertise to streamline operations and enhance efficiency within the business. In her role, Holly is responsible not only for coordinating schedules and managing workflows but also for overseeing the smooth running of the back office.

With meticulous attention to detail, Holly ensures that administrative tasks, document management, and office procedures are handled efficiently. By maintaining a well-organised and structured back office, Holly contributes significantly to the overall effectiveness and productivity of the Holmes Noble team.

Holly’s background in recruitment has equipped her with a keen understanding of the intricacies of talent management and client relations. Her contributions elevate the team’s performance and support Holmes Noble in delivering outstanding service to its clientele.

Abigale is an Operations Assistant at Holmes Noble. She began her career with the company as an administrative apprentice, where she quickly demonstrated her strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

Through dedication and hard work, Abigale transitioned into a permanent role within the operations team. Her responsibilities include supporting the day-to-day functions of the company, ensuring smooth operations, and assisting with developing the business as a whole.

Abigale is known for her efficiency, adaptability, and commitment to delivering high-quality support to her colleagues and the organisation.

EMCC Global Executive Coaching Master Practitioner and EMCC Global Team Coaching Senior Practitioner.

As the founder of MRA Executive Coaching, formed in 2011, I bring together a talented and highly impactful team of Executive and Leadership Coaches each with their own specialism. We enjoy the privilege of working across a broad and global client base, and driving systemic and transformational change for our clients through our comprehensive offer; our clearly defined Purpose and Vision; and our Values.

We are ‘trusted partners’. We are ‘proudly at the forefront’. We ‘champion interdependence’. We are ‘courageously candid’. We ‘believe in possibility’. We are ‘committed to collectively thriving’. And we are always ‘deeply connected’.

I specialise in leading powerful Executive 1:1 and Executive Team Coaching programmes, guiding individuals out of their comfort zone using incisive questions, inquiry and observation and holding them in the zone of uncomfortable debate where true learning occurs. I am known for challenging assumptions and perceptions, championing new behaviours, and enabling clients to be braver than they thought possible. All of this coming from an increased commitment to leading their organisations with a greater level of self-awareness and belief. My ability to go beyond what has been seen or said before, combined with my high energy and expertise, ensures that I drive my clients hard throughout their journey with us. And I am direct and clear in what I see.

My passion to challenge the Coaching Profession and to build a business that is a force for good, with outstanding social and environmental impact, is why we are so proud of our B Corp certification. And our mission to transform the face of the Coaching Profession through both our 10-year DEI Programme and our Social Impact Fund, showcases we are a business with a deep sense of purpose.