With a combined 30 years’ recruitment experience between its Executive Search consultants, Zero Surplus can offer a wealth of knowledge to anybody looking to hire a senior member for their leadership team. We have a vast network of senior commercial professionals across the East of England and a strong pedigree in filling positions within the Industrial, Software, Technology, Services and Engineering sectors. We understand the intricacies that make an executive search process in sales & business development successful, and have the best software and tools available to ensure that all available candidates are targeted and briefed on each opportunity we retain. Usually we work on a retained model of recruitment, but unlike a lot of agencies in the market we only charge a 30% fee up front. The rest is payable on a successful appointment not on a shortlist. We don’t feel companies should pay for the process and not the result. We also offer generous free replacement periods. Our aim is to work in partnership with our clients to fill a vacancy with a secure candidate.
Chris Jacobs
Chris has 8 years recruitment experience, which combined with having also worked in multiple sales positions throughout his career ranging from executive to director gives him experience across both sides of the table.
Chris brings a wealth of experience in client-side management alongside interpersonal skills to make any candidate feel comfortable and valued. Well versed at market mapping, head hunting, executive search and contract-based recruitment, Chris makes sure to understand the requirement of each client and candidate, matching the two perfectly.
A strong networker with a persistently positive demeanour, he builds lasting relationships built on trust and deliverability on promises made. Challenging roles and specialist positions are his forte and is not afraid to ask the hard questions to make sure each placement is a lasting career move. Outside of work Chris struggles to keep up with his multiple hobbies, whilst also producing music in his home studio under his band name CymphoniK.
From an executive search perspective in the sales and business development sector, he has worked on roles such as Head of Sales, Sales Director, Chief Commercial Officer and VP of Sales. If you are looking for somebody to guide the commercial function of your business, or an international distributor network, Chris would be able to help you source the perfect industry background.
Joby Read
After a 10 year career in media sales from classifieds in the beauty industry to commercial manager for a leading consumer music magazine, Joby switched to recruitment and worked his way from an entry level recruiter to the Head of Recruitment for our sister company Brand Recruitment.
Following on from this he launched Zero Surplus as the premier targeted sales recruiter for the East of England. Joby’s skills lie in working on and filling more specialist or hard to fill assignments, and naturally anything related to advertising, media or publishing. Previous hires have included Global Media Sales Manager, Head of Advertising Sales, Director of Inside Sales, and International Sales Directors.
If you have a role other people have said is not fillable, or that your expectations are too specific, this is the type of position that Joby finds challenging and interesting, although his ability means he is equally able to source the right personality for any senior sales management role.
