As Chairman, James takes an active role in the investment process, working closely with the Recruitment Entrepreneur team to support you and your company. His hands-on approach enables entrepreneurs to learn from his considerable experience in founding and scaling recruitment businesses.

O'Neill, a seasoned professional with 25 years of experience in the recruitment industry, is a Partner at Wayfinders, an investment group and venture builder in the Middle East. Specializing in Strategy, Business Development, and Customer Experience, Melissa has played a pivotal role in driving the success of Wayfinders and its diverse portfolio of companies, including SGP Technology, People Partners, Hotdesk, and Benchmark.

As a double degree holder in Business and Law, Melissa has been honored with numerous accolades, including being named Runner-Up for Start-Up of the Year in 2012 and a Best Customer Experience nomination in the Trade Excellence Awards in 2013. A fierce advocate for female leadership and diversity, Melissa's passion and expertise have made her an influential figure in the Middle Eastern recruitment landscape.

James has lived in the Middle East for over 10 years and has built several successful multi-million-pound recruitment and outsourcing businesses in the Middle East. He is now a strategic advisor to these groups. 

James is passionate about fast growing startups and is now Founder of Wayfinders an investment group specialising in investments in the “Future of Work” arena. 

With James experience of growing recruitment businesses and start up investments, James as our Local Partner offers a wealth of strategic advice and support to our Middle East investments. 

Alexandra Scholes is an experienced Recruitment Manager with a passion for positive culture and talent acquisition based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. With a focus on both technical and non-technical roles, she has recruited for various sectors including construction & engineering, claims & dispute resolution, management consulting, IT, supply chain, logistics, and procurement.

Previously, she was the Head of Recruitment at Inspire Selection, managing the Construction Claims & Disputes Resolution, Contracts & Commercial Management recruitment portfolio. Alexandra has partnered with key stakeholders to deliver full life-cycle recruiting and hiring for all positions across various disciplines, successfully growing offices in various regions.

Sophie advanced from Recruitment Consultant to a pivotal L&D role, crafting eLearning solutions. At Reed Talent Solutions, she aligned learning with business goals, enhancing retention. As Head of L&D at Hamlyn Williams for EMEA & APAC, she established the L&D function and implemented a global strategy, significantly improving recruitment metrics.