Our leadership

James Bilefield, Chair

Non-Executive Chair

Timo Lehne

CEO; Executive Director

Timo Lehne was appointed CEO in April 2022 after joining the board as interim CEO and Executive Director on 1 January 2022. As Senior Managing Director he held full responsibility for the day-to-day running of SThree’s largest region, DACH, which comprises of Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Timo studied International Economics in the Netherlands before joining our Progressive Recruitment business in Germany as a sales consultant in 2006. He was appointed Senior Business Manager in Düsseldorf for SThree in 2009, quickly turning it into our fastest growing business and growing the city’s share of net fees within the DACH region from 4% in 2009 to 27% in 2012. He was promoted to Senior Sales Director in 2013, taking joint responsibility for the running of the overall DACH business and in 2017 became Managing Director for the region, where he was responsible for the overall DACH business of SThree accounting for over 33% of the Group’s revenue and more than 1000 employees across 10 locations.

Andrew Beach

CFO; Executive Director

Andrew Beach was appointed to the SThree Board in July 2021, joining from Hyve Group plc, a global exhibitions business. As CFO he holds full responsibility for the financial strategy and financial activities across the SThree Group. He is an accomplished CFO with more than 13 years’ experience in listed companies. He has global experience of business transformation, funding and M&A in fast-paced and high-growth companies and has extensive experience of working alongside Boards and senior leadership on company strategy and direction.

As CFO of Hyve, Andrew was instrumental in leading the company through a period of significant transformation and rapid international growth, which resulted in its promotion to the FTSE 250. Previously, he held a number of roles at Ebiquity plc, joining as Group Financial Controller in 2007 and quickly being appointed as CFO in 2008. In 2014 he was promoted to Chief Financial and Operating Officer. Andrew trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PwC, working with them from 1998 until 2007.

Denise Collis

Senior Independent Non-Executive Director and Employee Engagement NED

Denise Collis was appointed to the SThree Board, Nomination Committee and Remuneration Committee in July 2016. Denise was appointed as Chair of the Remuneration Committee in September 2016 became a member of the Audit & Risk Committee in April 2018 and was appointed Senior Independent Director in October 2018. With effect from 1 December 2018, she was appointed as Employee Engagement NED. 

Denise is also a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee at Smiths News plc, the specialist distribution company, a Non-Executive Director of Emis Group plc, a major provider of healthcare software, information technology and related services, where she is Chair of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit and Nomination committees, and Chair of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Advisory Council at the British Heart Foundation. Prior to this, she was Group HR Director for 3i Group plc, and most recently Chief People Officer for Bupa. She has extensive international Human Resources and executive committee experience, and has also held senior roles at EY, Standard Chartered plc and HSBC. Denise is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Barrie Brien

Non-Executive Director

Barrie Brien was appointed to the SThree Board, Audit & Risk, Nomination and Remuneration Committees in September 2017.

He is also Group Chief Executive Officer of STRAT7, a data analytics and strategy consultancy, and was the former Chief Executive Officer of Creston plc, a media and marketing communications group, stepping down in 2017 following its sale and de-listing. Barrie was extensively involved in the growth of Creston plc from 2004 with its buy-and-build strategy and had also been Chief Operating and Financial Officer. 

In addition to extensive public company experience, including M&A fundraisings and Investor Relations, Barrie has spent 30 years in global media, digital, and marketing communication companies, advising a portfolio of boards and clients across multiple industries on their growth strategies. 

Imogen Joss

Non-Executive Director

Imogen was appointed to the SThree Board, the Audit & Risk, Remuneration and Nomination Committees in December 2022.

Imogen is Non-Executive Director and Senior Independent Director of Fintel plc and Chair of its Remuneration Committee. Imogen is also Chair of Grant Thornton UK LLP, the accounting and consulting firm, and a Non-Executive Director of IPSX UK Ltd and Envetec Sustainable Technologies.

Imogen spent her executive career working in senior general management, sales and marketing roles for a range of information services and other companies, including the London Stock Exchange Group plc and S&P Global Inc.

Imogen was previously a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee of Euromoney Institutional Investor plc, stepping down in November 2022 on completion of the acquisition of Euromoney and its delisting from the London Stock Exchange.

Elaine O’Donnell

Non-Executive Director

Elaine was appointed to the SThree Board, the Remuneration and Nomination Committees and as Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee in October 2022.

Elaine is Chair of Games Workshop Group plc and Chair of its Nomination Committee. Elaine is also a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee at both On the Beach Group plc and The Gym Group plc. 

Elaine qualified as a chartered accountant at PWC and then spent the majority of her executive career specialising in corporate finance, latterly serving as a partner in Transaction Advisory Services at EY. Throughout her career, she has worked extensively with global businesses across a range of market capitalisations and industry sectors. Elaine was previously a Non-Executive director of Studio Retail Group plc, stepping down in September 2021.