Meet The Team

Co-Founders

James Butler has been working within the corporate security and investigative executive search space for 17 years, placing both local and expatriate security professionals into organisations spread across 40 countries. Before founding enteles Search with Chris Meager, James held various leadership roles with several security recruitment companies, where he led their security search businesses across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, as well as the Asia Pacific region. James is passionate about the subject of diversity, actively encouraging his clients to embrace a more diverse and inclusive approach to their recruitment processes.

James is an active member of the Security Institute, ASIS and The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals, James also holds membership of APSCo, the leading industry body for the Executive Search profession.

James can be reached on james@enteles-search.com, +44 20 3884 2303 or connect via LinkedIn.

Chris-Meager-mtt

Chris Meager has spent twenty-two years working within the security profession, which has seen him work on CSO level searches for some of the largest multinationals in the world and place people in over 45 countries. Chris regularly speaks at industry events both in Europe and the US, on subjects ranging from Diversity & Inclusion, through to how a business’ culture can affect a CSO and the security management function. He has worked with companies to help them increase the diversity of their security and resilience functions, successfully targeting diverse candidates for roles ranging from CSO, to Regional Security Directors, and niche SMEs in intelligence and investigations.

Chris holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Security Management from Leicester University and is a member of ASIS International, the Security Institute and the Association of International Risk Intelligence Professionals. Chris also holds membership of APSCo, the leading industry body for the Executive Search profession and has the Certificate in Recruitment Practice from the Recruitment & Employment Confederation.

Chris can be reached on chris@enteles-search.com, +44 20 3884 2306 or connect via LinkedIn.

Senior Researchers

Selen Ardic has graduated from the Geopolitics, Territory and Security post graduate programme at King’s College London. She has worked in different organisations in the field of security based in the US, Europe and the Middle East ranging from cyber to climate security. Before joining the lively team of enteles Search (her words not mine), she worked as a business development lead on projects to decrease carbon emissions.

She is passionate about empowering communities. Her dissertation on intersectional theory enabled her to internalise values of diversity and inclusion. She actively utilises an inclusive mindset for attracting the best talent in her professional life and works as a volunteer researcher for social action organisations.

Selen is also proficient in Python, Google earth engine, Rstudio and SPSS. She knows Turkish, English and German.

Selen can be reached on selen@enteles-search.com+44 20 4552 2705 or connect via LinkedIn.

Gavin Sakaya is a Tanzanian national and studied all over the world including North America and the Middle East. Moved to the UK where he completed his Management Studies degree and graduated with a 1st class from the University of Leicester. Alongside completing his studies, Gavin accumulated over two years’ worth of work experience within the management consulting and research analyst space. Not only did he lead the business logic case project for the University formula racing team but he also completed an internship with world-renowned financial consulting firm Deloitte – including spending a year consulting for a small medium enterprise as part of his final year project dissertation.

Enthusiastic about long-term business and strategic development, Gavin believes that SME’s are integral to the sustainability and economic success of the local communities in which they reside in – therefore it is of the upmost importance that they are supported. He understands that business development is key to keeping these enterprises afloat and consequently ensuring the economic stability of its local community.

Gavin is experienced in producing managerial strategic roadmaps as well as designing, developing and delivering operational intervention plans using investigative internal and external research.

Advisor

Paul Ballard started his career in Investment Banking before joining the MOD. He has 4 decades experience managing C-Suite key account relationships and delivering both niche and global talent, search and selection solutions in the public/private sectors. He managed the tripartite relationship between government, commercial suppliers and major critical national infrastructure organisations to successfully deliver a new national cyber apprenticeship programme.

He was the Client Partner for a cyber assessment JV between a global software giant and the UK government (which had major brand protection issues) and has led outsourced re-structuring projects in the Health, Transport and Planning sectors. Paul successfully delivered a sales-driven Pan-European ‘people-audit’ talent strategy for a niche access-management security business. Paul has talent-led the establishment of a fusion centre for $multi-billion global software solutions business and project-managed the establishment of a data-secure UK Shared Service as part of a major reorganization of a FTSE 100 company. Paul jointly-led the first leadership development programme for an intelligence-led UK agency and was the business-lead for a Pan-European IT due diligence contract, as well as project leading the restructuring of a UK physical security organisation.

Paul is also a BPS qualified assessor and has designed and delivered both one-to-one and volume assessment programmes for both government and commercial clients, as well as writing Home Office policy on the fair and objective assessment of candidates with special needs.

Kent Bickmore

Regional Security Director EMEAI & APAC

"James Butler & Chris Meager are two of the most prominent security recruitment professionals in this niche field and it is always a pleasure to see how they proactively attend and network at various global security events to remain updated on the evolving security landscape and subsequent global recruitment requirement."

Ryan Long

Head of Global Intelligence, McDonald’s Corporation

"Chris is a true professional and it was an absolute pleasure to work with him…I am confident in saying Chris is "best-in-class" at what he does"

Ajay Kang

Head of Corporate Security at Royal DSM

"He did an amazing job… Highly recommended."

Andy Carmichael

Operations Manager – Excellentia Global

“I've known James for several years and I would have no reservation in recommending him as a point of contact for anyone looking for their next role within the security industry. Whatever your career level, there are very few recruiters or headhunters with his knowledge and experience of the industry globally. That coupled with his personable approach, really does set him apart from his peers”.

Dawn Holmes

Group Head of Security at GVC

"You are not just a name put to the employer, Chris works to understand the applicant: his knowledge of the individual’s abilities and career goals means the roles put forward are relevant, ensuring no wasted time for the applicant or the employers."

Max Hirsch

Director of Security, AsiaPac – Aptiv Plc

“James is a tenacious, effective recruiter who has a knack for matching up the right people with the right companies (and vice versa!). Good people skills, a high EQ, and a deep familiarity with the security and investigations industry”

Guillermo Gaspoz

Global Security Expert at Royal DSM

"No doubts that Chris is a champion in his field and a go-to person for companies seeking to fill security positions. Truly remarkable."

Kate Fitzpatrick

Corporate Security Analyst, Trans Adriatic Pipeline

"Well, what can I say! As a recruiter, one of the best I have ever dealt with. Extremely professional, from start to finish."

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