GLASGOW-based construction and engineering recruitment specialist, James Gray Recruitment, has announced the appointment of three new directors.
Mario Fionda, Lesley Samuels and Kelly Stirling have joined MD Richard Samuels on the board.
James Gray Recruitment was formed in 2006 and has subsequently undergone significant growth. From originally focusing on the local construction market the business has expanded to offer services on an international scale. Recent activity has centred around the whole of the UK and Europe, GCC area and Central Asia and more recently the US and Canada.
The business said the expanded group is able to support the full spectrum of construction and engineering activities from project-based trades and labour through to client side services and executive appointments.
Mario Fionda said, “I joined the business in 2010 as a trainee recruitment consultant. My career escalated rapidly, moving to senior consultant, principal consultant and laterally associate director. Keen to continue to grow, in 2019, in partnership with Richard, we opened James Gray Engineering as a dedicated brand servicing our engineering design clients. Initially focusing on the UK market, we now also operate successfully across the US and Canada.
“In addition to James Gray Engineering, I also lead all the group’s North American operations from civil engineering and building general contractors to cost and project management consulting. We are excited to continue to grow this side of the business in the next 2-3 years.”
Lesley Samuels added, “I am delighted to be back on the board of directors. As one of the co-founders of JGR in 2006, our intention was always to create a company where we could offer a professional service and build long lasting relationships, where people were proud to work with and as part of the team of James Gray. I am grateful to be working with such an inspiring team and see the continuing development and growth of James Gray and excited to see where this path takes us.”
Kelly Stirling commented, “I’m delighted to have been appointed as a director of James Gray Recruitment after working with the business for the past 18 months, during which time we have achieved exponential growth. Myself, Richard, Mario and Lesley all bring different viewpoints and strengths to the management team, and I am confident in our ability to keep leading the business in a positive direction in the months and years to come.
“Having worked in the construction industry for the past 17 years I have learned that reputation is absolutely everything. As a business this is at the heart of everything we do, we aim to be the best recruitment partner to the construction and engineering sector globally and provide an exemplary service to our customers.
“It sounds cheesy but we really do change the lives of the candidates we work with and help influence our clients’ ability to deliver their business objects through the staff we supply. It’s therefore of fundamental importance to me to work with a company who provide an exemplary service and I truly believe James Gray are the ones to do this. I’m excited to see what the future holds as we continue with our strategy to lead our team to deliver the top construction, management, technical and leadership candidates to clients across the UK, US and globally.”
Commenting on the new appointments, MD Richard Samuels said, “I am delighted to be expanding our board with such a broad array of skills and experiences. Lesley and I formed the business together in 2006 and it is great to welcome her back to the board where she has responsibility for all marketing, HR and non-recruitment operations. Lesley has extensive experience in all aspects of the business and also supports our sales and senior team through coaching and personal development training.
“Mario has been an integral part of the business for over 12 years now and following the formation of James Gray Engineering Ltd in 2019, he now also sits on the JGR board with responsibility for all our US and Canada operations. Having joined the business as a trainee it is great to have watched Mario’s progression up close.
“Finally, Kelly joined the business in 2021 and now looks after all UK operations for James Gray Recruitment which more recently has incorporated our Trades business as well. Kelly brings significant experience of the UK construction market and a reputation and eye for organisation and process that has completed our board at this exciting time.
“Currently our group is over 30-strong and we have ambitious plans to grow by at least another 50% in the next 2-3 years as we capitalise on our strong reputation for quality and service.”
