About Us

Lisa Norris – Director, Australia

Lisa is based in Sydney as the Director of McCall Norris.  She deals with all our Australian based appointments.

How long have you been in recruitment?

I fell into the recruitment industry 24 years ago after a successful career in hospitality. I was actually a dairy maid on a kibbutz prior to going into recruitment!

What made you move from hospitality to recruitment?

There was no money in hospitality at the time but I don’t think I realised I was moving to a career in recruitment – I just thought I was taking a job on reception for Andersen Contracting (now Chandler Macleod) for 6 months!

Tell us about your previous experience before becoming a rec2rec?

Well I started my recruitment career in 1991, on reception joining Diversiti, now part of the Chandler Macleod Group, and made my way through to Team Leader.  After five years I moved to London to further my career, and opened the IT division of Robert Walters. I built this fledging business from two staff to more than 50 IT recruiters in a three year period and we were key to the company’s strategy to publicly list.

Returning to Australia, I took a job as Australian Head and GM Sales for what is now Randstad (Sapphire Technologies). From here I moved to Spherion, one of the world’s largest publicly listed recruitment powerhouses at the time. Spherion was acquired by Julia Ross (now part of the Chandler Macleod Group) and on acquisition I became Regional Manager Australia. My most recent job, prior to rec2rec, was as the Regional Director of Aquent, looking after operations in Australia and NZ, responsible for a network of six offices and more than 70 staff.

How did you become a rec2rec?

I really decided overnight.  I knew I wanted to go out on my own and I knew I wanted to use my network and experience to ensure others had a professional career in recruitment.  I had seen, and still do see, too many people join the wrong brands, and I wanted to guide others on their recruitment career path.  In addition to this I’d had so many people ask during my career “do you know a good rec2rec” so I thought by creating Norris & Partners, now McCall Norris, we could fill the gap.

What makes you a great rec2rec?

I have a unique skillset for a rec2rec – a great rec2rec is someone who has been there, and in the most humble sense of the word “done that”.  Many of my clients and candidates recognise this and value it, as I have held the roles I recruit for.  This coupled with 24 years of local and international recruitment experience, has resulted in me developing and providing bespoke value added services to our clients such as our new management consulting capability, and for our candidates, The Talent Centre.

It’s an exciting time for Norris & Partners as we become part of the McCall business, continuing to provide exceptional service in Australia for the group, as well as benefit from their brand, international presence and candidate reach.

Nick Bancroft – Joint Managing Director

Nick is based in our London office and is Joint Managing Director. Nick deals with Senior/Director level appointments on a nationwide basis as well as the Professional Services market in London at all levels.

How long have you been in recruitment?

My first role in recruitment was 21 years ago and like many people I fell into recruitment by accident – a client with whom I worked was in recruitment and asked me to go and talk to them, so I did and they offered me a job!

Tell us about your previous experience before becoming a rec2rec?

After university I started to train to be an accountant and although I could do the work, I did not really enjoy it so I moved into advertising sales and then worked for a sales and management training company.  My first role in recruitment was as a Director for a high street recruitment company with responsibility for over 30 locations.  After 2 years I decided that I wanted to be a specialist rather than a generalist recruiter and worked in London for Alexander Mann as MD for some of their divisions.  I was then approached about an opportunity to join the global brand of Robert Walters and it was here that I first met Lisa.

How did you become a rec2rec?

When I left Robert Walters I was not sure what I wanted to do in recruitment so I registered with McCall as a candidate and after a couple of weeks I had some job offers – at the last moment I was asked by the owners of McCall if I had considered rec2rec, which I had not.  I met the management team and was really bought into the idea of placing recruiters and now the rest is history – I have been at McCall since 1998.  Over the years McCall has become part of a larger group of companies and has expanded globally.

What makes you a great rec2rec?

Being able to give advice to a recruiter is never an easy task as at the end of the day they are sales people and therefore often have their own strong opinions – after 17 years at McCall I am able to add value not just at a superficial level but I am viewed as an industry expert.  Even after all these years I still have both clients and candidates who can be extremely challenging!

Julie O’Neill – Joint Managing Director

Julie is based in our Regional office and is Joint Managing Director.  Julie deals with Senior/Director level appointments, Joint Ventures, Mergers & Acquisitions nationwide.

How long have you been in recruitment?

I too fell into recruitment, as was so common about 25 years ago, after a spell at the BBC. I was the youngest hire Select Appointments (now Randstad) had made. I was out to prove myself so being a Branch Manager of the number one office at 24 (and I had already had my daughter) was the most natural thing in the world to me!

Tell us about your previous experience before becoming a rec2rec?

I disappointed my parents when I didn’t undertake a degree, so having a good career and demonstrating that I could manage well and build a successful future was paramount – the BBC after a couple of years clearly wasn’t going to give me that.

How did you become a rec2rec?

I had a productive career at Select Appointments, I ran the number one branch and had a good region. Afterwards McCall placed me at an American owned Adecco specialist brand in accounting and finance – their most profitable division.  It was interesting going to the US for management meetings – they really do live to work typically.  After a few years I decided to re-approach McCall, as the UK business was small in comparison, and the owners insisted I work for them running the UK regional business and launching Senior Appointments.  At first I was surprised as I had only worked for two companies and they were both international corporates – here was a niche independent…. The first fee I generated in 1999 was for £10k, funny how you remember these details!

What makes you a great rec2rec?

I always have a good eye for a perfect match and I have a lot of industry knowledge – its more than just the fact I’ve done the job, I am, and have always been, very entrepreneurial.  I spot gaps in the market and aim to fill them. That’s why McCall have moved into M&A, Joint Ventures, Board Appointments, Outsourcing – we are so much more than an introducer of consultants and branch managers (although the core still prevails of course!) I am honest, resourceful, generally positive and totally passionate about the sector. I am a glass half full recruiter at heart!