About us
Our Story
McCabe & Barton was founded by Gillian McCabe, who has over 25 years’ experience delivering technology, and change recruitment solutions, following a career working at C-Level within financial services. What started as a specialist technology search firm has grown into a trusted recruitment boutique for clients across financial services, insurance, legal, and consulting.
We’re proud of our track record in placing specialist talent at all levels who drive transformation and lasting impact.
Our Values
Integrity
We act with honesty, transparency, and long-term trust at the centre of every relationship.
Precision
We deliver carefully targeted processes, connecting clients and candidates with the best possible fit.
Speed
We move quickly without sacrificing quality, ensuring our clients don’t miss out on exceptional talent.
Our Team
Our consultants combine deep sector knowledge with practical, honest, recruitment expertise. Each brings a specialist focus, from leadership search to technology and transformation resourcing, ensuring clients work with people who truly understand their world.
Why Choose Us
Specialist Expertise
Decades of experience in leadership, technology, and change recruitment.
Seamless Extension of Your Team
We embed ourselves in your business to act as a true partner, not just a supplier.
Market Intelligence + Tailored Service
Data-driven insights combined with a personalised, hands-on approach.
Proven Track Record
Our candidates and clients say it best: “I have been incredibly impressed, as a candidate and client, with McCabe & Barton. Fiona Eddy and Connor Donaldson have been nothing but professional in all of our dealings and I would highly recommend the company’s services.“
Gillian McCabe
Managing Director & Founder
Gillian McCabe founded McCabe & Barton more than 25 years ago with a simple ethos that still guides the business today: high-quality recruitment built on trust, deep sector knowledge, and long-term relationships. With broad and deep experience across leadership, technology, and change recruitment, Gillian has an extensive network of senior leaders across the City and beyond.
Gillian’s background, prior to founding McCabe & Barton, was in various senior roles for NatWest, Barclays and CitiGroup, delivering programmes and building technology teams in the UK and the US.
Caroline Goldie
Operations Director
Caroline is the Operations Director at McCabe & Barton, bringing over 25 years of experience in IT recruitment. She oversees the day-to-day running of the business, supporting the team and driving operational efficiency to ensure clients and candidates receive an exceptional experience.
With a background spanning all aspects of contract and permanent technology recruitment and operations, Caroline combines her deep industry knowledge with a focus on process improvement and people development, helping McCabe & Barton deliver consistently high standards of service and performance.
A Psychology graduate from the University of Hull, Caroline is passionate about creating a positive, collaborative environment where clients, candidates and colleagues can thrive. Outside of work, she is kept busy by 2 teenage boys and a teenage dog!
Fiona Eddy
Director
Fiona is an established Business Change and Technology Director with over 20 years of interim and permanent recruitment experience spanning Banking, Private Equity, Consultancy and FinTech sectors.
With deep expertise in the technology and change talent market, Fiona has built a strong reputation for forging robust, long-term relationships and consistently delivering successful hires at all levels – from C-suite executives including CIOs, through to Programme Managers, Business Analysts, Solution Architects and Developers.
Throughout her career, Fiona has advised clients on their recruitment strategies, providing strategic hiring guidance and career counsel with a recent focus on building teams within Cloud transformation, AI and Data initiatives, leveraging her extensive network and market knowledge to ensure exceptional outcomes for both clients and candidates.
Outside of McCabe & Barton, Fiona enjoys travelling and spending quality time with her two boys, dogs, and husband.
Darren Ball
Director
Darren has been placing mid-senior level financial markets technologists since February 1994 and is responsible for managing several of our key Preferred Supplier relationships with leading Investment Management, FinTech and consultancy organisations. He specialises in placing contract and perm Business Change people, Programme/Project Managers, Architects and Software Engineers at all levels (including I.T. Development Managers). Darren holds a BA(Hons) Degree in Business Studies and Geography from the University of Kent and is an avid fan of live music and England Cricket.
Steve Clayton
Primary Consultant
Steve’s primary responsibility at McCabe & Barton is as Executive Search and Business Development Lead. His 40 plus years’ global financial services IT and Operations executive recruitment experience spans a period of significant change from the deregulation of financial markets in the mid 80’s through to the current all-pervasive digital revolution.
During his four decades in recruitment Steve has managed to build an extensive global contact network, forged of long-term, deep relationships and shared goals. He can demonstrate a consistent track record of recruiting high calibre C-Level and senior executive talent on behalf of global financial services clients in London, Paris, and New York. He has successfully led both IT executive search Practices on behalf of premier financial services recruitment firms as well as managed his own executive search businesses. Steve has a BA Honours Degree in International History & Politics from Leeds University.
Outside of work Steve enjoys most sports, particularly racket sports and football (sadly only a spectator these days!), and is an avid reader of history and politics. He and his Finnish wife and children also enjoy regular trips to Finland.
Ben Gentle
Senior Consultant
Ben is a Senior Consultant at McCabe & Barton, specialising in technology and change recruitment across the financial services, insurance, and legal sectors. He focuses on specialist appointments spanning transformation, data, and technology leadership, partnering with clients to build effective teams that deliver lasting impact.
With close to a decade of experience, Ben brings a consultative and relationship-led approach to both contingent and search assignments — combining deep market knowledge with a focus on precision, pace, and fit. He has successfully supported clients across investment management, insurance, and legal industries, helping them secure exceptional talent in competitive markets.
Outside of work, Ben enjoys the gym, long dog walks, and exploring pubs across Buckinghamshire.
Justin Frankum
Senior Consultant
Justin is a Senior Consultant at McCabe & Barton, specializing in technology and business transformation recruitment for the financial services, professional services, and data centre industries.
Drawing on over 25 years of industry experience, Justin has worked across both private and public sectors, delivering contract, interim, contingent, and senior search solutions. While his primary focus is the UK market, he has developed extensive expertise across international markets, including Benelux, Central and Eastern Europe, mainland Europe, and the Nordic regions.
A trusted advisor to his clients, Justin is known for forging strong, lasting relationships and has been pivotal in nurturing and expanding key client partnerships throughout his career.
Outside of work Justin enjoys quality time with his young family, is a keen squash player, cook, and follower of Quins and England rugby.
Ben Cassel
Consultant
Ben is a seasoned IT recruiter who is genuinely passionate about how technology, data, and AI are transforming the way organisations think, operate, and grow. He works with clients across Financial Services, FinTech, and Consulting to help them find the right specialists to deliver transformation, data driven innovation, and complex change programmes.
With more than a decade of experience in the industry, Ben takes a hands on and collaborative approach, taking the time to understand each client’s ambitions, challenges, and culture before going to market to secure the best available talent. He takes pride in building strong, lasting relationships and becoming a trusted partner throughout every stage of the hiring journey.
In recent years, Ben has focused on building Data and AI Engineering teams that support a wide range of initiatives, from cloud migration and platform modernisation to advanced analytics and automation. He enjoys working on complex briefs and takes real satisfaction in connecting exceptional talent with programmes that drive meaningful change.
Away from the office, Ben is kept on his toes by his two young children.
Nicola Roche
Delivery Consultant
Nicola Roche is a Delivery Consultant at McCabe & Barton, specialising in technology and transformation recruitment across financial services. She focuses on the delivery side of the business—sourcing talent and managing the candidate journey from initial contact through to placement—while also building new client relationships.
She has successfully placed candidates for investment management, commodities, and banking clients, helping them source standout talent for critical technology and transformation roles.
Outside of work, Nicola enjoys Pilates, travelling, and music.
Le Nguyen
Delivery Consultant
Le is a Delivery Consultant with extensive experience in technology recruitment since 2017. She has successfully placed both contract and permanent professionals across IT, Telecom, and Banking & Finance sectors.
At McCabe and Barton, Le specialises in software development, infrastructure, cyber security for investment management, insurance, FS and FinTech clients.
Outside of work, she loves travelling and sharing her passion for cooking.
Bernadette Gepheart
Office Manager
As Office Manager, Bernadette focuses on the administration of the company with her role spanning contractor care, compliance, HR, finance and IT.
Prior to joining McCabe & Barton, she worked in public affairs at the BBC and casting for film and television.
Her interests include the arts, yoga and anything to do with nature, especially rewilding.
Connor Quick
Finance Manager
With over 3 years of experience working within the McCabe & Barton finance function focusing on budgeting, and strategic planning, Connor is dedicated to helping businesses achieve sustainable growth.
As Finance Manager at McCabe & Barton, Connor oversees financial reporting, risk management, and cost optimisation, ensuring every decision is backed by data-driven insights. Known for a meticulous approach and collaborative leadership, Connor has successfully guided the team through financial transformations.
Outside of Work, Connor spends his time staying active through hiking, gym and park runs.
