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The best recruiter ever to walk on God’s green earth

Graham Whelan is the best recruiter I ever met in 40 years, and one of the nicest human beings ever to walk on God’s green earth.

We met in London in the early 80s, he was my boss at Accountancy Placements in the mid-’80s, and we started Recruitment Solutions together in the late 80s – and we had the most magnificent recruiting adventures for 15 years.

A man of values, empathy and passion, he must have filled a thousand jobs. And he did it with professionalism, integrity and care for every person in the process.

Perhaps even more impactful is the fact he encouraged, helped, mentored and supported thousands of people. Clients, candidates and colleagues. Years ago I wrote this tribute to him and it is all true

A month ago, he called me to say he is retiring after 45 years on the recruiting tools. What magnificent timing my old friend 🙂

Graham is everything great about what we do. He is the antithesis of the negatives that get tossed around about ‘recruiters’. He is kind, sincere and selfless.

I will not let the current situation bury the recognition he deserves. He is, without doubt, the best recruiter I ever met and an outstanding human being to boot.

To my mate Wheels, I salute you and I bet thousands of others you have collaborated with do too.

So select the reds, chose the restaurant, because after this is over, we celebrate your magnificent contribution in the style it deserves.

We are going through recruiting hell right now, but lets not forget our heroes who make us proud of what we do. It’s a ray of hope for us all

************************************************************************************************************************************************************

  • Posted by Greg Savage
  • On April 3, 2020
  • 9 Comments
Tags: recruitment

9 Comments

Belinda Kerr
  • Apr 3 2020
  • Reply
Indeed, a lovely man
Jane Cullen
  • Apr 3 2020
  • Reply
The best! Having recently worked again with Graham in Sydney it was so sad to see him go. A retirement well timed and very well earned!
Jan van der Meer
  • Apr 3 2020
  • Reply
Yes - will be sadly missed.
Tim Musgrave
  • Apr 3 2020
  • Reply
Your words are perfect Greg, I couldnt have written anything better if I’d tried for days. Graham set the bar for me when I worked with you guys at RS in 89 and I have tried to match that standard ever since. A great professional but first and foremost a wonderful human being always with a ready smile.
    Greg Savage
    • Apr 3 2020
    • Reply
    Good to hear from you Tim, and thanks for your words of affimation for Graham. A special guy. Hope you are doing ok .
Ross
  • Apr 4 2020
  • Reply
This reminds me of when I was first recruitED nearly 30 years as a young accountant. Everything was so much more pleasant, you felt important, and recruiters were generally very professional. Fast forward to today, and candidates have so much more choice in terms of available jobs and application methods, but it seems that 99% of everything is run by algorithms and shadowy new graduates behind-the-scenes who are either unable or uninterested to dig any deeper than what the algorithms tell them. Your post reminds us of what we have lost.
Ross Clennett
  • Apr 6 2020
  • Reply
Graham is a man who certainly deserves his retirement and it looks like his timing was perfect. I was fortunate to work for, and with, Graham for many years and I am grateful for that experience. Enjoy your days of leisure ahead, Graham!
Michael Ng
  • May 19 2020
  • Reply
Well done Graham...all the best in retirement..!!
Francesca
  • May 28 2020
  • Reply
I missed this announcement first time round - such a wonderful read Greg. Very moving and I wish Graham happiness, good health and enjoyment in his retirement - truly deserved after such dedication to the industry. Like many others, you and Graham interviewed me for my entrance into the recruitment world and I always thought the two of you had a "good cop, bad cop" thing going, but shortly after I realised Graham was a genuinely compassionate and understanding person all of the time, no matter what situation. I learned so many soft skills that are important in building business relationships and have so many fond memories from both AP and RS to last the rest of my life.

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Greg is the founder of leading recruitment companies Firebrand Talent Search, People2People and Recruitment Solutions, and a current shareholder and director of several others, including Consult Recruitment. He is a regular keynote speaker worldwide and provides specialised advice for Recruitment, Professional Services & Social Media companies.





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