Dubai, United Arab Emirates, September 2025 – St. James’s Place (SJP), a FTSE-listed global financial advisory firm with over one million clients and $245 billion in assets under management, has appointed Richard Garfield as Head of Talent Acquisition – Middle East. The appointment signals the firm’s continued commitment to expanding its presence in the region and building a trusted adviser-led community focused on long-term, client-centric financial solutions.
In his new role, Richard Garfield will lead the end-to-end hiring strategy across the Middle East, working closely with business heads to align recruitment with SJP’s growth priorities. He will be responsible for strengthening talent pipelines, enhancing candidate experience, and attracting experienced financial advisers who reflect the company’s values of integrity, trust, and long-term relationship building.
“I am delighted to be joining St. James’s Place at an exciting time for the business in the region. The Middle East has a deep pool of experienced financial advisers who share SJP’s focus on trusted, long-term client relationships. My priority is to bring the very best of that talent into the firm so that clients across the region continue to benefit from high quality advice and financial planning,” said Richard Garfield.
Daniel George, Head of Business – Middle East at St. James’s Place, added: “Richard’s appointment is a clear step in our growth agenda for the Middle East. Our client proposition has developed significantly in recent years, and we offer advisers a platform to build true, long-term value in their businesses. Richard will help us attract experienced, values-driven advisers who share our commitment to integrity, professionalism and lasting client relationships.”
Richard Garfield brings over 18 years of talent acquisition experience across the GCC, Europe, and global markets, with deep expertise in banking and financial services recruitment.
Prior to joining SJP, he served as Head of Executive Hiring & Resourcing at RAKBANK, where he led strategic leadership hiring aligned with the bank’s “WAVE” strategy, with a focus on Emiratization, workforce planning, and DEI initiatives.
Before that, he was Vice President – Talent Acquisition at First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), managing recruitment across Corporate, Commercial, and Investment Banking functions in the UAE, GCC, and international markets. He built and executed strategic hiring plans and provided advisory support to senior leadership.
His earlier roles include Head of Talent Acquisition at Insignia Group, where he managed global hiring and HR projects, and Permanent Placements Director at Adecco Middle East, overseeing banking and fintech recruitment. He also led the Banking & Financial Services vertical at Cooper Fitch, and previously served as Managing Director at Bentley Cohen Ltd and Acquisition Executive Search in London, offering bespoke recruitment solutions in finance and IT.
He began his career with Cameron Kennedy, where he worked across risk, operations, and technology hiring mandates in the financial sector.
About St. James’s Place – Asia & Middle East
St. James’s Place (SJP) is one of the UK’s leading wealth management companies and a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. With over $245 billion in assets under management, SJP offers personalized financial advice through its extensive Partnership network across the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the UAE.
Having entered the Middle East market through its UAE operations, SJP has become a trusted name among high-net-worth individuals and expatriates. The firm focuses on building long-term client relationships and supporting advisers through advanced platforms, technology, and a values-driven culture.
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