Specialist Executive Search for Global Commodity Markets
Refined Search believes in putting the long-term view front and centre in building lasting relationships with both our clients and candidates.
What we do
Refined Search is a specialist executive search practice serving the global commodity markets.
We take a long-term approach by partnering with a core group of corporate and financial sector clients to help them identify, attract and retain the talent to help them grow and sustain their businesses.
Although we engineer a bespoke approach to account for the nuances of each project, our approach is one of pure search. We take pride in the meticulous nature of our work and the high quality appointments it produce.
Refined Search specialises in three main commodity market sectors.
Metals & Mining | Energy | Agriculture
Offerings
Executive Search
Metals & Mining, Energy and Agriculture are the markets in which we have unbeatable expertise, working front-to-back from trading, origination, sales and structuring through to risk, physical operations, finance, legal and technology.
In keeping with the evolution of the marketplace we have now developed strong track records in data analysis, e-sales and trading, trade finance, private equity and commodity equities.
Commercial
- Executive Leadership
- Sales & Marketing
- Trading
- Origination
- Technical Marketing
- Business Development
- Corporate Finance and M&A
- Structured Trade Finance
- Principal Investment
- Systematic Trading
- Data Science
- Quantitative Analysis
- Market Research
- Procurement
Market Research
Refined Search also provides research and consultancy solutions.
We deliver accurate and detailed insights, through primary research, to help our clients gain a better understanding of the competitive environment.
Business Analytics
- New Market Entry / Sector Analysis
- Competitor Analysis / Landscaping
- Business Contingency Planning
- Change Planning and Management
- Diversity, Compensation & Benefits
- Workplace Diversity and Inclusiveness
- Competitor and Market Benchmarking
- Incentive Plan Development
About Us
Richard Usher and Liam Hunter-Felton established Refined Search in 2013, using their experience and knowledge of how search is delivered in other markets and recognising that the bar can be raised in commodities search.
Richard Usher
Managing Partner Asia-Pacific
Global Practice Leader, Metals & Mining
Richard is responsible for managing Refined Search’s global Metals & Mining practice and local activities in Asia-Pacific.
Richard has over a decade of Executive Search experience, specialising in Metals and Mining. Over the course of his career, Richard has helped a core group of Mining, Commodity Trading, Financial Services and Investment Management companies grow, develop and resource their businesses. He has an extensive track record and has delivered searches in over twenty countries.
Richard holds a Masters in Engineering from the University of Nottingham. Prior to starting his career in Executive Search, he worked on several engineering projects in the UK and Australia.
Liam Hunter-Felton
Managing Partner EMEA
Global Practice Leader, Energy & Agriculture
Liam is responsible for managing Refined Search’s client base across the Energy and Agricultural markets.
Liam advises global trading groups, oil majors, utilities, risk managers and corporate clients about upskilling their existing talent, and broadening into new markets and geographies. He has built an extensive global network and has a track record of executing searches in North America, South America, Europe and Asia.
Liam places significant value in understanding a client’s culture. This is reflected in the long-standing client relationships he holds and the investment he makes in developing new ones. Prior to his career in commodities search, Liam worked in the fashion industry, a passion he maintains to this day.