25 years + Recruitment & Talent Leadership Experience. Innovative Strategist. Dynamic Leader of 200+ people teams. Employer Brand Innovator and disruptor. Recruiter ‘Hall of Fame’ inductee.
Bye EY! Today is my last day at EY, with a courier on route to collect my IT equipment. What a wonderful privilege it has been to lead the EY UKI Recruitment Team for the past 4.5 years. So many great memories & so much success. I would not change a thing. But all good things must come to an end. I want to say a huge thank you to my AWESOME recruitment team, the brilliant CBS Talent Team, service line Hiring Managers, vendors & business partners. It’s been a roller-coaster through covid, hypergrowth, ‘the Great Resignation’, to the current market slowdown. An unforgettable & exhilarating ride. So many GREAT memories. Winning Work of the year at the RADs for a Black talent diversity video; Winning Marketing Campaign of the year for an LGBTQ+ video at the Euro Diversity Awards; Winning over 53 awards in my tenure; Putting in place a ‘Loyalty Bonus’ that stemmed the flow of talent in the ‘Great Resignation’; Introducing a new motivation strategy with a series of unique ‘Celebrity Messages’ for the Recruitment team. In total 56 celebrity messages, including David ‘The Hoff’ Hasselhoff, Boy George, Ronan Keating, Lily Allen, some of the cast of EastEnders, Strictly Come Dancing, Only Fools & Horses and Coronation Street. Mr Motivator designed a workout for the team. Doug E Fresh, Joss Stone, Beverley Knight, sang for the team. All to help the team through lockdown; The recruitment team being name by Recruiter Magazine as a ‘Super Team’ in 2022; I loved our innovative Spotlight on Wellbeing’, designed to give students support with their mental health as we hosted speakers such as Dr Alex George, Adrienne Herbert, Joe Wicks, Tan France & Anthony Joshua. So much more I could list. That’s the sign of a great era. The UKI Recruitment team is one of the best in the world right now. When my successor is named, I am proud they will inherit an industry leading recruitment team, awesome at delivery, blessed with great personalities, full of heart & passion. I will forever cheer you on and celebrate your continued success. I get asked daily what I will do next. I am taking some time. I have Consulting work lined up and will see how I feel if that is something I want to grow and build my own business. I do have some permanent roles I am in play. And I am speaking with companies about a year in Abu Dhabi or Saudi Arabia. Hence, I am not rushing a decision. Having a break is a priority, especially over the Christmas season. But I could not be more excited for new experiences. Life is about taking risks & living new experiences not living the same old day in and out. I also want to write. Some may remember an article I wrote with Amy on Recruitment 3.0. It was lauded as visionary & ahead of its time. https://lnkd.in/eWMSm6bN. I have neglected writing & public speaking for too long. I will forever cherish my time at EY. It’s a great brand in the market that has a huge prestige and kudos. EY you rock.
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Wishing you all the best on the next leg of the journey, Matthew!! Onward and upward!
No matter what happens next, putting you in any studio, I’m always betting on a hit. Onward! 👊🏾
Congratulations on your achievements at EY and beyond Matthew, it's been wonderful to follow your growth over the years. You have inspired a generation of leaders and the world of work is a better place for everything you bring, your passion, talent, generosity and fun. Continue to live life to the fullest mate and hope to see you on 🇦🇺🦘 shores soon 🌞
Congrats on the move, Matthew. It's been a long time since we worked together at Electronic Arts (EA), but if you are taking votes I vote you go independent. Bring Recruiting 5.0 (4.0 came and went) to the industry, not just one company.
Missing you already...LEGEND xx
MJ- A man for all seasons and an EY icon!
Matthew Jeffery - You have been a Star at EY - I am sure they will miss you and who ever has secured you for consulting work is very lucky - I look forward to the writing being published - Good Luck in all that you do .
We were definitely ahead of our time MJ! Can't wait to see what's next for you, and I know you will continue to crush it. Congrats on all you accomplished at EY.
You are a legend! I wish you well in your new endeavors and do remember to sign up to be an EY Alumni. Although we don't currently have a Legends section, I am sure we will create one soon.
25 years + Recruitment & Talent Leadership Experience. Innovative Strategist. Dynamic Leader of 200+ people teams. Employer Brand Innovator and disruptor. Recruiter ‘Hall of Fame’ inductee.
10moThanks everyone. Your comments and 'Likes' mean the world to me. I am so blessed to know so many great people. The comments below made me feel quite emotional. Thank you. I get that it is rather mad to resign a job without an immediate one to go to. But its a decision I have been reflecting on for some time and feel really empowered now I have. Its really now or never for forming my own Consultancy. Or relocating to the Middle East for a period. Neither are tenable in a few years time. I have laughed this week with a couple of people saying to me 'Ooohh you must of been made redundant'. A strange comment when I have worked my full resignation period of 3 months, had no gardening leave, and that EY are announcing my replacement very soon, (hence no redundant position). I suppose people like a good conspiracy theory. Sorry to say nothing here. Boring I know. So, I will start some Consulting work next week. I am VERY excited. More lined up. I hope that goes well as I want to see if in the latter part of my career, I can share my experience, work on my terms and build a nest egg of money for a rainy retirement day in the future. Who knows? But now is the time. Thank you again for being in my corner. Means a lot.