From Graduate to Head of Compliance: A Recruiter's Success Story

My 5 years at Hamlyn Williams- a chat with Will Brown

Apr 28 2022

Will Brown- Head of Compliance in North America

Why did you join Hamlyn Williams?

I joined Hamlyn Williams primarily because it was presented to me as a place where you can carve out your own career. If you delivered, worked hard within the ethos and values of the company, you could do what you want from a career perspective.

I’m happy to say that so far, it has delivered and that I have been given a lot of career opportunities and progression from Hamlyn Williams since I started my recruitment career here.

What is your story so far with Hamlyn Williams?

I joined Hamlyn Williams, as a fresh-faced, young graduate, from university in May 2014. I had a short stint in London for 8 months that was really successful and allowed me the opportunity to work in Hong Kong with the director Ali Sharaki.

I was there for 3 years, building up the compliance and financial crime function, which then gave me the opportunity to move to New York to help build up our Compliance and Legal function over there. I've been doing this for the last 18 months now and it’s been very rewarding and enjoyable.

So why did you become a Recruiter?

It was quite surprising actually, Recruitment wasn’t a career I considered after university, but I’m glad I chose it now.

I didn’t know much about it at first, which was why I was fascinated and eager to learn more when Hamlyn Williams, in particular, Nick, our founder, presented me the opportunity to become a recruitment consultant.

If I worked hard and delivered then I would be able to forge my own career path was something that appealed to me. I like to be competitive, so if I was in a career where I could work among a successful team and thrive off that, trying to outperform our rivals, I was motivated and eager to start my career in recruitment.

Please describe Hamlyn Williams in three words?

I’d probably say we are entrepreneurial, ambitious and excellent.

So what would you tell people wanting to be a recruiter?

It’s a great career choice for someone who's ambitious and competitive. It’s a fantastic career that will align with those career skillsets and those attributes that you possess or want to do. It's not designed as a rigid career path. You can go as fast as you want to go by working hard and getting results. The opportunities are endless for the places you can work and the people you can meet. Its all set by yourself. You get fantastic support from the company with training and having the same mindset to succeed.

So what would you say to a senior recruiter wanting to join Hamlyn Williams?

I’ve been with the company for 5 years now and it’s been the most exciting experience so far for me that has been hugely rewarding. The company has continued to grow and develop and laid down the foundations for a new and exciting phase- as shown with our global expansion. The US record alone we’ve had 3 back to back record quarters alone from a revenue perspective. It’s a really exciting time for us and where we can end up being in the next 2-3 years.