Richard Ashton is a Managing Director in ZRG’s Financial Officers Practice, based in London. With more than 20 years of experience advising public, private, and private equity-backed organizations, he specializes in the recruitment of CFOs, senior finance leaders, and board-level executives.

Before joining ZRG, Richard built a distinguished executive search career with Spencer Stuart, Blackwood, and Savannah after qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG. His background in finance gives him a unique perspective on leadership assessment and succession planning.

Richard advises organizations across industries on executive and non-executive finance appointments, including CFOs, Group Finance leaders, Divisional Finance Directors, and Audit Chairs. He has successfully placed finance leaders at some of the world’s largest organizations, including FTSE 10 CFOs, while also developing deep expertise in recruiting Partners and functional leaders within Professional and Technology Services. Clients value his thoughtful counsel, balanced approach, and ability to identify leaders who can create lasting business impact.

Based in ZRG’s London office, Richard earned his degree from the University of Birmingham and qualified as an ACA. He believes that the most successful leadership appointments combine rigorous, data-driven evaluation with a strong understanding of culture, chemistry, and long-term fit.