Our Key People

The team at Piedmont possess a genuine enthusiasm and enjoyment for their chosen career. They have a deep allegiance and commitment to the success of their clients and candidates; they are driven to match both parties' needs. Please click on their names to read about their backgrounds.

KARLA DORSCH - Chief Executive Officer

Before establishing The Piedmont Group in 1999, Karla spent a number of years at a major international search firm specialising in financial services. Building on her professional experience, she has a unique breadth of recruitment experience, which encompasses corporate finance, global markets, investment management, private equity, and real estate.

As well as her extensive exposure to recruiting in the UK, Karla has handled assignments throughout Europe, the Middle East and the United States. Her in-depth knowledge of the financial services, together with her recruitment experience, enables her to quickly understand and provide expert advice on how to solve complex recruitment problems. This value added service has enabled her to build long term business relationships with clients.

Karla was educated at Columbia University graduating with Honours. She also studied for an MSc degree from London School of Economics in Economics and received an MBA in Finance from New York University.

After receiving her MBA, Karla worked as a Regulatory and Policy Analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York concentrating on assessing the capital, assets, equity, liquidity and management of member banks. She then joined Merrill Lynch Investment Bank, providing advice to private clients on foreign exchange, fixed income and equity investment decisions, as well as trust and fiduciary services.

SUSIE LEE - Principal

Susie brings over 20 years' executive search experience to Piedmont thereby equipping her with an enviable wealth of knowledge and understanding of the industry.

She began her career working closely with John Stork at John Stork International followed by Korn/Ferry International and latterly a leading UK Executive Search firm specialising in financial services during the 1990's before joining Piedmont early in 2000.

Susie has handled a wide range of assignments within private equity, investment banking, investment management, and hedge funds in the Middle East and Africa.

Canadian-born, Susie lived in Montreal and Atlanta before arriving in the UK. She completed her education at the International School and later attended Bennington College in Vermont. She retains dual Canadian/British citizenship.

TIM WILKES - Principal

Tim Wilkes has over 25 years experience in global human resource capital consulting. He has worked as a consultant with a number of international search firms, including AT Kearney, the Bird Moore Partnership as well as his own firm. He has extensive consultancy experience in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

At Piedmont Tim is responsible for consulting with the equity markets businesses of investment banks and fund managers, helping them to successfully hire key management and revenue earning professionals.

Tim was educated at The Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and served twelve years as a British Army Officer in Europe, North and Central America, and the Near East. He is a past chairman of the fund raising committee at his local hospital and trustee for a number of service charitable organisations. He is a passionate sailor and is to be found racing his yacht on the east coast most weekends.

CHARLENE DELEON-JONES - Consultant

Charlene joined Piedmont in 2010 and focuses on Management Consulting and Change roles within Banking across EMEA and North America. Charlene began her career at Accenture as a Management Consultant within their Financial Services practice, coordinating business development initiatives across Europe and North America. Charlene has an in-depth knowledge of the skill sets within the consulting sector and a commitment to identifying candidates to fit the unique requirements of each client.

Charlene graduated from New Hall, Cambridge University with an MA in Social and Political Sciences

ALEXANDER DORSCH – Consultant

An American-trained lawyer, Alexander joined Piedmont in 2004. Alexander's extensive experience in handling complex legal tasks makes him uniquely qualified to handle myriad search and consultancy duties for the firm.

Born in California, Alexander received his Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from New York University, and his Juris Doctorate from Tulane University in New Orleans. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Colorado, and the 10th Federal Judicial Circuit Court of the United States.

RAFFAELE FLACKETT - Consultant

Raff joined Piedmont in September 2009 from a boutique City search firm. He specialises in senior hires within the UK and European Wealth Management and Private Banking sectors where he has developed an intimate network and strong expertise over the last few years. Prior to this, his diverse career included spells with KPMG Uzbekistan and the International Centre for Accounting Reform in Moscow.

He studied at Eton College and holds a BA in Russian from The University of Durham.

HOWARD FOSTER - Consultant

Howard joined Piedmont in 2009. He has worked in senior level executive search since 1997, helping clients with a range of leadership and functional appointments to Board level.

He has recruited across Financial & Professional Services, Industrial and Consumer sectors. This includes having worked with clients in the UK, as well as numerous European locations.

Clients comment that Howard ensures assignments are concluded successfully and that appointed individuals have been rigorously assessed by him to ensure a close fit, both from an experience viewpoint and, importantly, a cultural perspective.

Howard’s early career was in the accountancy profession before a period teaching Economics and Business. This was followed by 20 years in recruitment, including having worked for the UK’s largest executive search group prior to joining Piedmont. He has a first degree and a post graduate certificate in Economics.

KURT JENKINS - Consultant

Kurt Jenkins has over 13 years of professional experience. After graduating from Cardiff University with a 2:1 (honours) BA in Business Management Studies, he spent 8 years as a Consultant within the Financial Service Sector, specifically the Insurance Industry. Kurt has spent the most recent 5 years within Executive Search sourcing candidates for Global Media. Successfully employing sophisticated recruitment techniques, he currently focuses on C-Suite, Director and ‘Head of’ – level assignments, from a variety of disciplines within Media including Finance & Accountancy, Marketing & Sales, Law, HR, IT and Property.

Kurt has worked for some of the worlds most well-known and respected organisations – including Legal & General, Zurich Financial Services and Odgers. This, coupled with effective people strategies, has meant he has been able to understand and keep pace with the rapidly changing seismic shifts affecting businesses today and has enabled him to solve the complex talent challenges faced by his clients by attracting the best and brightest individuals.

CLAIRE LEACH - Consultant

Claire joined Piedmont in 2006, after moving to London from Sydney, Australia. Claire joined the firm as a Senior Researcher and moved to a consultant role in 2008. Prior to joining us, Claire worked as a Senior Researcher for Talent2 in Sydney, the executive search firm launched by Andrew Banks and Geoff Morgan (ex Morgan & Banks) in 2003 which was lauded Australian Executive Recruitment Firm of the Year in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Claire has performed executive search work on a range of national and international assignments including CEOs, CFOs as well as for more technical financial services positions in corporate and investment banking, private equity and asset management. Her client focus is predominately Middle East and UK, sourcing candidates globally to meet their resourcing requirements. With her research background Claire brings a robust and disciplined approach to all her searches enabling her to continually deliver results to clients. Prior to Talent2, Claire worked in various research and production roles in film and television, after five years as a change management consultant with Accenture in Melbourne. Claire holds a Bachelor of Commerce.

ROBERT PUGH - Advisor

Robert Pugh brings over 25 years real estate experience to Piedmont.

A qualified Chartered Surveyor, he has worked extensively for real estate consultancies, property companies/ developers and investors. His clients range from global consulting firms and full-service real estate sector providers to niche specialists with specific market sector focus.

Robert's wide ranging consulting experience meets the diverse needs of real estate investors, corporations and "end users" assisting them in consolidating their clients or their own real estate services and functions.

His expertise includes asset management, portfolio reviews and valuations, corporate services, landlord and tenant representation, investment sales and the disposal of "legacy portfolio's, treasury budgeting and property/facilities management.

Robert holds a BSc. in Estate Management from De Montfort University and is MRICS.