Testimonials
Said by the people who were in the room.
Chairs, chief executives, investors and the leaders they appointed. Every word below was written unprompted and is reproduced exactly as given.
Shipping, real estate, private capital, mining and energy, technology and professional services. UK-based, international reach.
How to read this page
References are easy to collect. Harder to earn.
The more useful test is not who is willing to say something kind, but what a client says about the moments the work was uncomfortable.
In their words
“I have worked with Imraan as both a client and candidate on a number of occasions since first meeting him in 2006. Having used numerous recruitment agents in the past, Imraan provided a service that was head and shoulders above all others. What appears on a job specification or a curriculum vitae is only a piece of the puzzle. Imraan took the time to ensure that he had a deep understanding of both client and candidate and provided honest and open feedback to both parties to ensure the right decision was made by all. Imraan takes a personal interest in both clients and candidates which shows in the results he generates. Whenever I have used Imraan I have been nothing short of delighted with the level of service provided — he operates at a different level to all other recruiters.”
“In over 20 years in banking I have never had the pleasure to encounter or work with such a professional recruiter. Imraan is not only highly skilled at what he does but he goes the extra mile in really and truly understanding his assignment and the candidate. He has recently placed me as CEO of a fintech company and managed the whole process in the most engaging, transparent and efficient manner. Right from the first encounter you can tell that this is someone you can trust and whose opinion you will value. Imraan is a pleasure to deal with and I look forward to working with him in the years to come — not just for recruitment but for general advice, guidance and leadership.”
“Imraan reached out to me with confidence and passion as I was on the cusp of beginning a new path with a different company. He convinced me that I really needed to have a chat to two exceptional gentlemen in a start-up called Switch. He engineered a call with them the following day, Friday and by Sunday, I was signing their offer letter. More than this, he negotiated a fully remote role for me across a four day working week, which has been instrumental in maintaining a strong sense of work/life balance. Imraan has continued to be consistently available to me at every hour of the day throughout my growth journey to Chief of Staff. I have no hesitation in recommending him to you — whether you are looking to hire, or looking to change your world.”
“I was recently placed by Imraan for a CFO position and I HIGHLY recommend him. Imraan respects both the interests of his clients and candidates EQUALLY. Imraan takes considerable time preparing and briefing both parties before, during and after interview rounds. He is ACTIVELY part of the hire process and provides unique and best in class advisory to ALL parties. After meeting him and the team, I will only deal with this firm in the future. Thank you Imraan.”
“Imraan is an exceptional recruiter, and really stands out like a beacon with his approach and professionalism. From initial contact onwards, Imraan has ensured both the client and candidate side has been addressed effectively through pre-qualification, initial candidate meetings, and keeping all parties in the loop with effective and open communication. Following my first week, Imraan was very proactive around feedback, and this then continued to ensure a really good, honest professional relationship. Not only does he find the perfect fit for clients and candidates, he also offers counsel through his extensive experience, in a very consultative manner.”
“It was an absolute pleasure working with Imraan when joining the Itch team. First and foremost, I felt as though Imraan treated me as a partner in the process of finding a new role — never pushy and always prioritising the perfect match between candidate and company, he became a trusted advisor through the interview process. Not only is he knowledgeable, efficient and thorough, he's also just a genuinely nice guy. I'd happily work with Imraan when the time comes for my next professional challenge.”
1 / 6
More of the same, said differently
“Imraan used his remarkable and rare ability to really understand what I was seeking and just as importantly where I would be the right fit. He liaised closely throughout the recruitment process for my current role and he regularly checks in for a chat and catch up — on all things, not just work related. Imraan is an absolute pleasure to work with and I look forward to maintaining the relationship for the long term. An absolute credit to his profession.”
ClientRobert McLearon “Imraan listens to client needs, both candidate and employer. Uses his years of experience and network to find the best fit leading to effective and long lasting professional relationships. I have known Imraan for a number of years and he and his team are always my first point of contact for recruiting or being placed. I highly recommend him.”
ClientBaljit Johal “Transparent, responsive & insightful — couldn't have had a more positive experience with Imraan. He is completely genuine and makes the whole interview process very straightforward. I received numerous job descriptions from recruiters who clearly had not listened to my requirements or had just read ‘headlines’ from my CV. Imraan takes a much more tailored and personal approach and was a pleasure working with him.”
Appointed leaderEdward Springall “Imraan has demonstrated immense knowledge and professionalism within the leadership search space. He's also displayed an authentic approach to candidates like myself; in fact more than any other exec recruiter I've encountered in the past. His level of communication, dedication and going the extra yards is what sets him apart.”
Appointed leaderHardy Sohal “Imraan has a unique balance of intuitiveness, curiosity and commercial experience. He uses this to fully understand both the client and the candidate in a search — resulting in a clear and honest process that is often undervalued. His focus is always on ensuring the role is right for the long-term benefit of all involved.”
Appointed leaderScott Berry
“I've had the pleasure of both being recruited by Imraan but also working closely with himself and Bradley to find candidates to join my team. Every candidate they have found has been exceptional, making my life somewhat pleasantly hard when it comes to decision time. All in all, working with Tribu has been seamless from start to finish.”
ClientGiles Platel “Imraan was incredibly supportive through my contract role with Elliptic. He went above and beyond to ensure that my contracts were sorted out on time and acted with a level of care that is rare from a recruiter. I would recommend him to anyone to help them on their search both as a client and as a candidate.”
ClientChilufya Mulenga “Imraan has been one of the best agents to work with. Keeping me up to date on the recruitment process, but also that rare quality of really understanding what I was after in a role and matching me with a brilliant role. His understanding of what the roles really require (and not just what a spec says), makes him stand out.”
Appointed leaderAndrew Geddes “Imraan has a sixth sense for executive search like no-one else I've met. He works hard to find for not only with hard and soft skills but culture, values and goals, which results in powerful teams. I am very impressed and would gladly recommend him.”
Appointed leaderFarid Tejani “Imraan recently placed me in a Head of Operations role at a fast-growth recruitment tech business in London. Imraan set clear expectations, communicated often and was a great source of feedback and ideas throughout. I found it an easy experience from start to finish and has resulted in a great fit with role and company.”
Appointed leaderTom Warrell
“Imraan used his remarkable and rare ability to really understand what I was seeking and just as importantly where I would be the right fit. He liaised closely throughout the recruitment process for my current role and he regularly checks in for a chat and catch up — on all things, not just work related. Imraan is an absolute pleasure to work with and I look forward to maintaining the relationship for the long term. An absolute credit to his profession.”
ClientRobert McLearon “Imraan listens to client needs, both candidate and employer. Uses his years of experience and network to find the best fit leading to effective and long lasting professional relationships. I have known Imraan for a number of years and he and his team are always my first point of contact for recruiting or being placed. I highly recommend him.”
ClientBaljit Johal “Transparent, responsive & insightful — couldn't have had a more positive experience with Imraan. He is completely genuine and makes the whole interview process very straightforward. I received numerous job descriptions from recruiters who clearly had not listened to my requirements or had just read ‘headlines’ from my CV. Imraan takes a much more tailored and personal approach and was a pleasure working with him.”
Appointed leaderEdward Springall “Imraan has demonstrated immense knowledge and professionalism within the leadership search space. He's also displayed an authentic approach to candidates like myself; in fact more than any other exec recruiter I've encountered in the past. His level of communication, dedication and going the extra yards is what sets him apart.”
Appointed leaderHardy Sohal “Imraan has a unique balance of intuitiveness, curiosity and commercial experience. He uses this to fully understand both the client and the candidate in a search — resulting in a clear and honest process that is often undervalued. His focus is always on ensuring the role is right for the long-term benefit of all involved.”
Appointed leaderScott Berry
“I've had the pleasure of both being recruited by Imraan but also working closely with himself and Bradley to find candidates to join my team. Every candidate they have found has been exceptional, making my life somewhat pleasantly hard when it comes to decision time. All in all, working with Tribu has been seamless from start to finish.”
ClientGiles Platel “Imraan was incredibly supportive through my contract role with Elliptic. He went above and beyond to ensure that my contracts were sorted out on time and acted with a level of care that is rare from a recruiter. I would recommend him to anyone to help them on their search both as a client and as a candidate.”
ClientChilufya Mulenga “Imraan has been one of the best agents to work with. Keeping me up to date on the recruitment process, but also that rare quality of really understanding what I was after in a role and matching me with a brilliant role. His understanding of what the roles really require (and not just what a spec says), makes him stand out.”
Appointed leaderAndrew Geddes “Imraan has a sixth sense for executive search like no-one else I've met. He works hard to find for not only with hard and soft skills but culture, values and goals, which results in powerful teams. I am very impressed and would gladly recommend him.”
Appointed leaderFarid Tejani “Imraan recently placed me in a Head of Operations role at a fast-growth recruitment tech business in London. Imraan set clear expectations, communicated often and was a great source of feedback and ideas throughout. I found it an easy experience from start to finish and has resulted in a great fit with role and company.”
Appointed leaderTom Warrell
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