tml Partners, Marketing Headhunters, Source Director of Marketing (Maternity Cover) for The Barton Partnership. 

The Barton Partnership is a globally established executive recruitment firm specialising in Strategy & M&A, Digital, Data & Analytics, ESG & Sustainability, and Transformation & Change. Founded in 2007, the company operates across six major global cities—London, New York, Chicago, Paris, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The firm serves a diverse client base, including FTSE-listed and Fortune 500 organisations, SMEs, and private equity firms.

The Challenge

The Barton Partnership faced a critical need to find an interim Director of Marketing to cover for maternity leave. This was not just a matter of business continuity – it was a unique opportunity to elevate the marketing function and drive strategic growth.

The ideal candidate needed to:

• Execute the firm’s existing marketing strategy seamlessly, ensuring continuity.
• Develop a forward-looking plan, adapting to upcoming challenges and opportunities.
• Differentiate the brand in a highly competitive executive recruitment market.
• Combine technical proficiency in CRM, analytics, and digital marketing with strong leadership and creative thinking skills.

The challenge was to find a candidate with both strategic vision and hands-on expertise, who could thrive in The Barton Partnership’s collaborative and fast-paced environment.

The Solution

To meet this brief, The Barton Partnership turned to tml Partners, specialists in executive search for commercial and marketing leadership roles. Selina Cowell, marketing headhunter at tml Partners, led the search, and developed a bespoke recruitment strategy to address the unique demands of the role:

• Client Collaboration: Selina worked closely with key stakeholders, including Founder and CEO Nicholas Barton, to gain a deep understanding of the company’s culture, goals, and expectations for the role.
• Targeted Talent Search: Leveraging tml Partners’ extensive network of senior marketing professionals, the search focused on candidates with proven expertise in strategic marketing, thought leadership, and digital transformation, as well as those with experience in both SME and global environments.
• Comprehensive Candidate Support: Candidates were guided through a structured and supportive process, ensuring they were well-prepared for the interview stages and fully aligned with the role’s expectations.

The Results

Through this collaboration, The Barton Partnership successfully appointed a highly qualified Director of Marketing. The candidate not only ensured a seamless transition but also delivered meaningful results, including:

• Strategy Execution: The interim Director successfully delivered on all key marketing initiatives outlined for 2024, maintaining operational momentum.
• Strategic Vision: They played a pivotal role in shaping the firm’s 2025 marketing strategy, introducing innovative initiatives to support global business development and elevate brand visibility.
• Brand Impact: Enhanced the company’s presence through innovative digital marketing campaigns, thought leadership content, and impactful events.

Testimonials

Nicholas Barton, Founder & CEO, shared his positive experience:
“We recently worked with tml Partners to fill a critical role in our organisation and we couldn’t be happier with the outcome. From the very beginning Selina demonstrated a deep understanding of our needs and company culture. Selina was highly professional, responsive and thorough throughout the process.

Thanks to her expertise, we found the perfect candidate who has already made a positive impact on our team. The entire experience was seamless and exceeded our expectations. We highly recommend tml Partners to any business looking for top talent.

Thank you for being a trusted partner in our growth.”

The placed candidate added:
“Selina is a fantastic recruiter who truly understands the value of building and maintaining relationships. Unlike a lot of recruiters a candidate is more then just a placement to her. She was there to support at every step of the interview process which was invaluable. I know she will be on hand to find me my next role when the time comes.”

About tml Partners: Specialist Headhunters for Marketing and Commercial Roles

tml Partners are specialists in Executive Search with access to a global network of commercial, marketing, communications, brand, product and digital leaders. Our team work with businesses ranging from fast-growth challenger brands to blue-chip organisations to develop their in-house teams.

As one of the world’s leading commercial and marketing recruitment agencies, we can support whether you’re seeking interim or permanent solutions. Our team has the expertise to support across various sectors and locations.

To learn how tml Partners can help you, get in touch with Selina Cowell: