Client: Roger Bishop, Managing Director, John Crane Middle East, Africa, Asia

"First impressions count for a lot and the first meeting with Wayne left us feeling that at last we had met someone who was prepared to listen to our requirement, challenge us on our thinking and to collectively consider the broader picture.

Wayne was very clear as to the search strategy to be adopted and immediately set about local advertising, database search and mobilizing his own personal network. Our original projection was that the process could take up to six months to complete.

Within days a potential candidate already known to Wayne was put forward as a benchmark to ensure that we were all of the same understanding. This was an excellent move and from that moment forward everyone was clear as to the caliber of candidate we were looking for. This assignment brought with it an international dimension as the post was for a replacement MD in John Crane Australia Pty Ltd a wholly owned company within the Smiths Group plc.

What really impressed us was that Wayne was personally involved in all aspects of the brief. He undertook the preparation of the advertisement, personally went to Australia for the round of interviews, personally reported back on each and every interview both verbally and with written confirmation.

When we pressurised the process by saying that we wanted to circumvent one layer of interviewing and cut straight to the short listing to be recommended by Wayne, he rose to the new challenge. We then added that the final interviews would be by a panel over a video link to Australia. New ground for everyone involved and none of us too sure how it would turn out.

With good planning and co-ordination it went very well and a final selection was made and a contract negotiated. From the initial briefing meeting Wayne submitted the shortlist in six weeks, we hired in nine and the successful candidate joined us within 13 weeks - in our view an outstanding result.

Wayne rightly demands clarity to the brief and is then committed to the delivery, nothing appeared to be too much trouble and his personal involvement from start to finish ensured the highest of standards throughout the project, which came in well ahead of plan.

We are very pleased with the result and we will certainly be using WT Consulting as and when the requirement arises in the future.

I therefore have no hesitation in recommending WT Consulting and Wayne Thomas to other organisations."