James Metzger

As Chairman and co-founder of Metzger Search and Selection, James has an enviable 30-year track record of building long-term close relationships with clients, based on mutual respect and trust. James is an industry leader, who is always looking to create new revenue streams for the business. This entrepreneurial approach has resulted, in recent years, in the development of the Interim Management Division and the establishment of associate company, Metzger Business Search. James is also committed to establishing effective partnerships with other respected businesses that will complement and integrate with Metzger’s broad range of services. James sits on the Court of a City Livery company (Environmental Cleaners) and is also an active member of a number of trade associations within the FM and business services sectors.

James trained as an hotelier and spent time in some of London’s prestigious hotels. This provided a great foundation for a role working closely with people and lead naturally to a career in recruitment.

What is the best part of your role?

I get a real buzz from constantly making new contacts and connections resulting in new business relationships and partnerships. Pooling business ideas and developing new channels to market keeps me fresh and helps to support the continuing success of Metzger Search and Selection.

What values do you look for in the workplace?

I need to see honesty, positivity, passion and confidence. I think ‘emotional intelligence’ sums it up – someone not just technically capable but also emotionally ready to meet every day challenges.

What would be your best career advice?

Be a team player and encourage others to do the same! Having worked through both boom and recessionary times, I have learnt that it is an absolute necessity to work as a team. It is vital that all team members draw on each other’s strengths to benefit their own personal development and for the success of the business.

Can you name one person who has really inspired you and why?

I really found great inspiration from my boyhood hero, Gary Sobers – in my opinion the best all round cricketer of all time – an incredible athlete and a real leader of people and a team player. Not many may know that he also played golf at an extremely high level and could have been a professional!

Tell me something that no one knows about you?

I’ve always enjoyed participating and watching many sports. The highlight of my cricket career, at the tender age of 10 years, was taking a double hat trick in one over and scoring 50 runs in the same school match, for which Barry Richards, a South African test player, presented me with a cricket bat.