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About Ben Appleton
With over 20 years of recruitment and industry expertise, Ben specialises in delivering senior leadership talent in engineering and manufacturing sectors. His focus is on partnering with organisations to identify and secure high-impact leaders who drive operational excellence, transformation, and sustainable growth.
Ben brings a proven track record in executive search, having led specialist search initiatives and delivered senior appointments across complex markets. His deep understanding of engineering and manufacturing dynamics—combined with a highly engaged and trusted network of industry leaders—enables him to provide a consultative and insight-led approach to leadership hiring.
Throughout his career, Ben has successfully supported a wide range of organisations, from SME to multinational business. His methodology is built around delivering tailored search solutions that align leadership capability with both immediate business needs and long-term strategic objectives. Ben’s expertise extends beyond traditional recruitment, offering a comprehensive and sophisticated service including market mapping, salary benchmarking, leadership advisory, and bespoke executive search solutions. This ensures clients are supported with the insight, structure, and precision required to secure critical leadership talent within competitive manufacturing and supply chain environments.
Open executive search roles
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What our clients say
At Robert Walters, we believe our success comes from the success of our clients and candidates. We're not just recruitment experts; we're partners in crafting your success story.
“From commencing the search to securing an accepted offer, the entire process was completed in just six weeks. For a Managing Director appointment, this was an exceptional achievement. Throughout the process, Howard maintained excellent communication, provided honest and balanced advice, and managed both candidates and stakeholders professionally and discreetly. The quality of the candidates presented was particularly impressive. Every individual introduced was credible, well-qualified and thoroughly assessed against our requirements. Howard demonstrated a strong understanding of both technical capability and cultural fit, ensuring that the shortlist reflected not only the skills required for the role but also the leadership style and values that were important to our organisation.”
Managing Director
Anabas
Fortune 500 Global Tax Director Search
"We were very pleased with the service provided by Robert Walters in our search for a new Global Tax Director. More specifically, we were impressed by their great ability to understand us as a client, including our culture, needs, and our industry. We felt that Robert Walters prioritized Seadrill’s requirements and kept in constant communication with us. The result has been that we have found an excellent resource and the process was made very simple."
“Robert Walters is truly great at their job—knowledgeable, supportive, and able to strike the right balance in communication, keeping you informed throughout the process at the right time and in the right way. They are genuinely focused on achieving the best outcome for all parties, and I have no hesitation in recommending them.”
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Contact Ben Appleton
Contact Ben for a confidential discussion about your executive search requirements.