I was born in England and took my undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland where I majored in medieval history. After university, I lived in London and Hong Kong working in international finance. In 1978, I was posted to the US and found my way to New York. This is where I met and married my wife and partner, Jean. We started Fergus Partnership Consulting in 1979 and now have offices in New York and London. In May, 1991, we were commended by the London Professional Recruitment Guide as having made the biggest impression as a foreign legal recruitment firm. But I was further pleased by a comment by a partner at one of the magic circle firms who described us as providing a Rolls Royce Service.

This brief synopsis doesn’t come close to telling you who I am and what I care about, so I will go further. I love what I do because I care about helping people. I view myself as a partner with my client helping them achieve their growth objectives as well as assuring that the lawyers we recruit attain their personal and professional goals. My British background and US experience give me a unique cultural insight when it comes to conducting searches for our US and UK clients.

But I also care about our society and those who are less fortunate. For the last several years I have been a member of St. Thomas’ Church Soup Kitchen. This is an out-reach program. Every Saturday a small group of volunteers gather at the Church and make over 350 lunches which we then distribute along selected routes. I usually take 9th Avenue, which includes the Port Authority. Meeting the homeless up-front and close and chatting to them each week makes one humble and grateful for the advantages one has. It also reminds us of our common humanity.

I also am on the US Board of St. Andrews University Development Fund. Our primary purpose is to help make it possible for gifted children, whatever their background, to share in the rich academic experience of life at St. Andrews. We were very happy to learn that St. Andrews was voted the University of the Year (UK Sunday Times, 9/15/02) and has consistently been voted as one of the top universities in the UK.

I find myself more and more aware of the privileges I have had and look for ways to share these privileges with others.

ADDITIONAL FACTS

Education: The University of St. Andrews, MA, medieval history, 1973

Married: Jean Marie Hardacre, September 21, 1978

Employment: Principal, Fergus Partnership Consulting, Inc.

Interests: History, Opera, Formula One racing, languages (German, Italian, and French)

Patron/Supporter: Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, Friend of Christ Church Spitalfield, Friends of Music St. Thomas Church Choir School, and Health Care Chaplaincy.

Member: St. Thomas Church Ordination Committee, Welcome Committee, and co-chair 2003 Every Member Canvass, St. Andrews Development Fund Board Member.

Accomplishments: Established London office in 1999.