David Pickles

Chief Commercial Officer

David brings depth, curiosity and a long-standing passion for the beauty, wellness and private equity sectors to his work. With an extensive background in executive search, he has developed a strong understanding of how brand identity, leadership capability and market ambition come together to shape successful organisations. This allows him to engage confidently in conversations across global beauty, covering everything from product development and supply chain to commercial growth and senior leadership strategy.

He is driven by a genuine interest in each client’s world. David takes time to understand a brand’s DNA, its challenges and the opportunities that sit ahead. His approach is thoughtful and collaborative, with a focus on building relationships that are grounded in trust, clarity and long-term partnership. This commitment to understanding both people and organisations makes him a valued advisor to brands ranging from innovative start-ups to global market leaders.

David supports mid to senior level appointments internationally, with particular focus on North America, Europe, APAC and the UK. His specialist areas include:

  • Supply Chain, NPD and Packaging
  • Brand Development, Marketing, Creative NPD and Digital
  • Education, Training and Public Relations
  • Sales across UK, International, Domestic and Travel Retail
  • Field Sales and Retail Leadership
  • eCommerce, eTail and Digital Transformation
  • Senior Leadership, Board and Non Executive appointments
  • Private Equity backed growth roles

“The beauty and wellness industry is a space defined by constant evolution. I am committed to helping brands identify and attract the people who can shape that future. Building strong partnerships and understanding each organisation’s unique needs is what drives my work.”

Meet the rest of the team

Our team
  • Kirsty Fenella Smith

    Since founding Veblen in 2012 Kirsty has recruited for the beauty, cosmetics, medical aesthetics, retail, and personal care sectors, for a multitude of disciplines from the laboratory, through to retail, often working on complex roles with an international scope including C suite global relocation hires.

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    Kirsty Fenella Smith

    CEO

  • David Pickles

    David has extensive experience in global executive search within the beauty, wellness, and private equity spaces, working with high-growth, high-potential SMEs. David’s innate passion for driving forward change and innovation both within the beauty industry as well as executive search processes is unrivalled.

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    David Pickles

    Chief Commercial Officer

  • Georgina Mason

    Georgina has a natural flare and enthusiasm, having worked in-house for global cosmetic brands, she can provide strong and invaluable insight as to what drives the market, from product trends to specific functions in high demand.

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    Georgina Mason

    Head of Beauty

  • Lily Silcock

    With a background in luxury retail and cosmetic dentistry, Lily brings a refined understanding of high-end service, attention to detail, and client satisfaction to the Veblen team. Her experience in luxury retail has sharpened her ability to identify exceptional talent and anticipate client needs.

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    Lily Silcock

    Recruitment Consultant

  • Charlotte Jones

    Charlotte has joined the Veblen team with a unique blend of five years’ hands-on experience as a Retail Sales Assistant and an unwavering passion for the beauty industry.

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    Charlotte Jones

    Delivery Consultant

  • Emily Scoresby Smith

    As Marketing Executive, Emily combines creativity with strong brand intuition, bringing Veblen’s identity to life across digital platforms and client-
facing materials.

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    Emily Scoresby Smith

    Marketing Executive

  • Leia Kubas

    Leia has joined the Veblen team with a genuine interest in the beauty industry and a passion for working with people. She enjoys building strong relationships with both clients and candidates, taking the time to understand what they are looking for.

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    Leia Kubas

    Recruitment Consultant

Connecting Talent and Brands Worldwide

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