Our Client
Eton College is one of the world’s most prestigious educational institutions, located in Berkshire, UK.
Founded in 1440, it is renowned for its academic excellence, historic legacy, and commitment to developing young people through a broad and enriching curriculum.
The Background
Eton College needed to appoint a Director of Health and Safety to lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive safety strategy.
The role required a senior leader with experience in complex environments, strong stakeholder engagement skills, and a deep understanding of safeguarding and regulatory compliance.
Our Approach
We applied our Executive Search methodology, combining deep sector knowledge with a research-led process. We...
Conducted briefings to understand strategic goals and cultural fit
Mapped market across education, public sector, and high-compliance industries
Assessed candidates via structured interviews and benchmarking
The Outcome
We successfully placed a highly experienced Director of Health and Safety with a strong track record in higher education and estate management.
The appointment has strengthened Eton’s safety governance and embedded a proactive safety culture across the College.
Safeguarding and Compliance: Aligned policies with education sector standards and regulatory requirements.
Strategic Leadership: Led transformation across health, safety, and sustainability functions.
Stakeholder Engagement: Built trust across academic, operational, and governance teams.
Why Us?
At Irwin and Colton, we understand that executive hiring is about more than just qualifications; it’s about finding leaders who can shape culture, drive performance, and deliver long-term value.
Our Executive Search service is tailored, discreet, and built on deep industry insight and a robust, research-led approach. Whether you're hiring for a board-level role or a critical leadership position, we act as a trusted partner, bringing clarity, confidence, and expertise to every stage of the search.
For support with Executive Search recruitment, please contact us.