Team

Rachel Johnston

Managing Partner

Rachel drives the company’s commercial strategy while cultivating strong, enduring relationships with key stakeholders internationally. Since joining the firm in 2014, she has established herself as a trusted advisor, delivering bespoke solutions to clients facing complex hiring challenges and critical executive search mandates. In addition, she provides strategic operational oversight, ensuring that SML operates efficiently and effectively at a global level.
Alex Badeni

Director, Business Development

Alex heads SML’s London-based consulting team and oversees the firm’s global business development strategy, ensuring alignment and growth across international markets. With expertise in financial recruitment, he specialises in senior finance, operations, and C-suite appointments, managing high-level briefs for clients across the UK and beyond.
Allison Therrien

Director, Client Advisory

Allison leads senior-level searches across the U.S. at the helm of SML’s New York consulting team. A trusted advisor to commercial and institutional clients alike, she takes a consultative approach to recruitment, providing strategic guidance on hiring needs, workforce strategies, and industry best practices.
Robyn Orovwuje-Forbes

Associate Director, Insights & Strategy

Robyn is responsible for SML’s global research function, combining industry expertise with data-driven analysis to enhance service delivery and optimise outcomes for client organisations. She also drives initiatives to amplify community impact, partnering with external experts to deliver on this mission.
Thomas Eilertsen

Senior Consultant

Thomas works on a wide range of searches for clients throughout the United States. His work spans a variety of functions, including administrative, operations, and communications positions, as well as any entry-level roles. Thomas also plays an active role in expanding and strengthening the firm’s candidate network across these areas.
Dina Solieri

Finance and Operations Manager

Dina joined our team in 2023, bringing with her a wealth of experience in managing finances for recruitment firms. She is in charge of the financial processing and reporting for our global operations. Additionally, Dina oversees the operational activities of SML on an international scale, managing the administrative team across our two offices.
Olivia Gillingham

Operations and Research Associate

Olivia supports the US team and manages the New York office’s day-to-day operations. She is responsible for registering new candidates and handles research projects to develop SML’s international candidate networks. Olivia project manages partnerships as part of SML’s candidate outreach with schools.

Board

Sophie Macpherson

FOUNDER

Sophie founded SML in 2002 and worked for 19 years at the helm of the business, diversifying into new geographies and services, and working with some of the art worlds’ leading organisations through times of growth and change. She advised art world businesses including most prolifically galleries, auction houses, art fairs, funds and advisory platforms, not-for-profits ranging from national galleries to smaller independent foundations, artists, collectors, and commentators. Sophie continues at SML in an advisory capacity.
Cathy Elkies

Non-Executive Director

For the past thirty years Cathy has held senior leadership positions in the auction space, overseeing Christie’s first West Coast expansion, serving as President of Christie’s East and later leading global teams from Business Development to Client Strategy to a portfolio of Specialist departments. More recently Cathy served as Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer and Global Managing Director at Phillips.

Rachel Johnston

Alex Badeni

Allison Therrien

Robyn Orovwuje-Forbes

Thomas Eilertsen

Dina Solieri

Olivia Gillingham

Board

Sophie Macpherson

Cathy Elkies