Specialist Executive Search for Global Commodity Markets

Refined Search believes in putting the long-term view front and centre in building lasting relationships with both our clients and candidates.

What we do

Refined Search is a specialist executive search practice serving the global commodity markets.

We take a long-term approach by partnering with a core group of corporate and financial sector clients to help them identify, attract and retain the talent to help them grow and sustain their businesses.

Although we engineer a bespoke approach to account for the nuances of each project, our approach is one of pure search. We take pride in the meticulous nature of our work and the high quality appointments it produce.

Refined Search specialises in three main commodity market sectors.

Metals & Mining | Energy | Agriculture

Offerings

Executive Search

Metals & Mining, Energy and Agriculture are the markets in which we have unbeatable expertise, working front-to-back from trading, origination, sales and structuring through to risk, physical operations, finance, legal and technology.

In keeping with the evolution of the marketplace we have now developed strong track records in data analysis, e-sales and trading, trade finance, private equity and commodity equities.

Commercial

  • Executive Leadership
  • Sales & Marketing
  • Trading
  • Origination
  • Technical Marketing
  • Business Development
  • Corporate Finance and M&A
  • Structured Trade Finance
  • Principal Investment
  • Systematic Trading
  • Data Science
  • Quantitative Analysis
  • Market Research
  • Procurement

Market Research

Refined Search also provides research and consultancy solutions.

We deliver accurate and detailed insights, through primary research, to help our clients gain a better understanding of the competitive environment.

Business Analytics

  • New Market Entry / Sector Analysis
  • Competitor Analysis / Landscaping
  • Business Contingency Planning
  • Change Planning and Management
  • Diversity, Compensation & Benefits
  • Workplace Diversity and Inclusiveness
  • Competitor and Market Benchmarking
  • Incentive Plan Development

About Us

Refined Search was founded in 2013 to deliver a more rigorous, thoughtful, and high-standard approach to executive search within the commodities sector. We combine deep market expertise with a commitment to precision and insight, helping clients secure the talent that drives their business forward.

Richard Usher

Managing Partner Asia-Pacific
Global Practice Leader, Metals & Mining

Richard is responsible for managing Refined Search’s global Metals & Mining practice and local activities in Asia-Pacific.

Richard has over a decade of Executive Search experience, specialising in Metals and Mining. Over the course of his career, Richard has helped a core group of Mining, Commodity Trading, Financial Services and Investment Management companies grow, develop and resource their businesses. He has an extensive track record and has delivered searches in over twenty countries.

Richard holds a Masters in Engineering from the University of Nottingham. Prior to starting his career in Executive Search, he worked on several engineering projects in the UK and Australia.

Michael Flynn

Managing Partner EMEA
Global Practice Leader, Power & Gas

Michael has six years of Executive Search experience, having begun his career focused on quantitative roles, he now specialises in commodities, with a particular focus on front-office hiring across European power and gas markets. Over the course of his career, he has worked with a client base that includes investment funds, utilities and commodity trading houses, supporting them in building and scaling their commercial and trading teams across Europe.

Michael holds a degree in Financial Mathematics from Dublin City University. Prior to transitioning into Executive Search, he held a front-office trade support role at an investment bank, working closely with FX and Bond trading desks.

Will Marshall

Global Practice Leader, Metals & Mining

Will has over 15 years of Executive Search experience, working across equities, rates, FX, structured products and commodities. Over the course of his career has worked with a client base that includes absolute return funds, institutional investors, investment banks, physical producers and family offices, helping them grow existing businesses and to develop new business lines.

Will holds a Bachelor’s in Jurisprudence from the University of Oxford.