Valentine Thomas & Partners is a boutique executive search firm focused exclusively on Asset and Wealth Management. For more information on our team, please select a name from the menu below.

Richard Valentine
Partner
- rgv@valentinethomas.com
- +44 (0)20 7743 6513
Biography
Richard Valentine

Richard trained as a lawyer before spending twelve years in the futures market, latterly as Sales & Marketing Director of a derivatives fund management company.
He then worked in investment banking at Singer & Friedlander prior to joining Tyzack & Partners in 1993. In December 1999 Tyzack & Partners merged with The Whitney Group. Richard specialises in asset management, private banking and alternative investments and led Whitney’s European Asset Management practice group prior to founding Valentine Thomas & Partners with Basil Reid Thomas in 2004.
He then worked in investment banking at Singer & Friedlander prior to joining Tyzack & Partners in 1993. In December 1999 Tyzack & Partners merged with The Whitney Group. Richard specialises in asset management, private banking and alternative investments and led Whitney’s European Asset Management practice group prior to founding Valentine Thomas & Partners with Basil Reid Thomas in 2004.

Basil Reid Thomas
Partner
- brt@valentinethomas.com
- +44 (0)20 7743 6512
Biography
Basil Reid Thomas

Basil started his career with Standard Life in Edinburgh before moving into executive search with Whitney Group in 1998, where he spent six years developing their European fund management operations.
In 2004, Basil and Richard Valentine founded Valentine Thomas & Partners, where he specialises in senior level leadership, investment and distribution searches for many of the leading Global and European asset management and alternative investment firms. He has an M.A. from Glasgow University.
In 2004, Basil and Richard Valentine founded Valentine Thomas & Partners, where he specialises in senior level leadership, investment and distribution searches for many of the leading Global and European asset management and alternative investment firms. He has an M.A. from Glasgow University.

Alex Diffey
Partner
- adiffey@valentinethomas.com
- +44 (0)20 7743 6514
Biography
Alex Diffey

Alex joined Valentine Thomas in 2019. He has over 18 years’ experience within Executive Search specialising in both the domestic and international Private Banking and Investment Management industries.
Alex has run search practices across the globe, notably in London, Geneva and Singapore. With a market leading track record of placing sought after professionals from Senior Relationship Managers to Heads of Private Banking, as well as Investment Managers and Family Office CEO’s, Alex has earned a reputation as one of London’s top search professionals within his field. During his career, Alex has overseen and completed numerous team moves and C-Level placements as well as being mandated on various bespoke consulting projects on behalf of his clients.
Alex holds a BA degree in Marketing and French and completed a portion of his higher education at the University of Lyon, France. Alex speaks conversational French and conversational German.
Alex has run search practices across the globe, notably in London, Geneva and Singapore. With a market leading track record of placing sought after professionals from Senior Relationship Managers to Heads of Private Banking, as well as Investment Managers and Family Office CEO’s, Alex has earned a reputation as one of London’s top search professionals within his field. During his career, Alex has overseen and completed numerous team moves and C-Level placements as well as being mandated on various bespoke consulting projects on behalf of his clients.
Alex holds a BA degree in Marketing and French and completed a portion of his higher education at the University of Lyon, France. Alex speaks conversational French and conversational German.

David Harms
Partner
- dharms@valentinethomas.com
- +44 (0)20 7743 6521
Biography
David Harms

David joined Valentine Thomas in 2019 as a Partner specialising in senior searches for investment management firms across the globe, with a focus on the markets in London, Europe and the US. He has extensive experience searching for individuals and teams and executing cross-jurisdictional mandates that include CEO, CSO, COO, CIO & CTO.
David has executed numerous front office assignments across EMEA for traditional and alternative investment managers who are in growth mode.
Before joining Valentine Thomas, David spent 9 years at Heidrick & Struggles in their financial services practice, most recently as a Consultant, where he advised a number of leading investment managers, Fintech firms and private equity backed businesses on their human capital needs. He began his career with a search boutique based in London.
David holds a BA Hons in Business Management from the University of Bristol, West of England.
David has executed numerous front office assignments across EMEA for traditional and alternative investment managers who are in growth mode.
Before joining Valentine Thomas, David spent 9 years at Heidrick & Struggles in their financial services practice, most recently as a Consultant, where he advised a number of leading investment managers, Fintech firms and private equity backed businesses on their human capital needs. He began his career with a search boutique based in London.
David holds a BA Hons in Business Management from the University of Bristol, West of England.

Victoria Bushell
Research Consultant
- vbushell@valentinethomas.com
- +44 (0)20 7743 6509
Biography
Victoria Bushell

Victoria started her career with Chase Manhattan bank before moving into executive search. In 1997, she joined a boutique executive search firm specialising in emerging markets, before joining Korn Ferry in 1998 where she spent over 10 years working within their Financial Services Practice. During this time, she specialised in asset and wealth management assignments working with many of the leading Global and European institutions.
After leaving Korn Ferry in 2009, she worked as a freelance executive search professional within asset management and transaction banking. Victoria joined Valentine Thomas & Partners in 2015. She has a BA (Hons) Business Studies from London Guildhall University.
After leaving Korn Ferry in 2009, she worked as a freelance executive search professional within asset management and transaction banking. Victoria joined Valentine Thomas & Partners in 2015. She has a BA (Hons) Business Studies from London Guildhall University.

Georgia Hill
Research Analyst
- ghill@valentinethomas.com
- +44 (0)20 7743 6508
Biography
Georgia Hill

Georgia Hill joined us in July 2020 as a Research Analyst on her industrial placement year.
Georgia is a crucial part of our research effort where she is responsible for capturing and analysing market news and maintaining our information database.
She is studying for a BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance at Bournemouth University. After her year with us, Georgia will go back to Bournemouth to complete her third year studies and graduate in 2022.