The Team
Oyster Search & Selection was established in 2008 by Michael Pickup and Rebecca Pickup. Together they have almost 60 years combined experience of recruitment, Human Resources, research and financial and economic consultancy primarily in the Legal, Investment Banking, Economic Consultancy and Utilities sectors.
Phone +44(0)1728 621012
Phone (Mobile) +44(0)7595793192
Email michaelpickup@oystersearch.com
Michael Pickup, Managing Director
Michael Pickup is co-Founder and Managing Director of Oyster Search & Selection.
He has an MSc in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management from the London School of Economics and qualified with the CIPD in the UK in 1993. He has 25 years HR and resourcing experience in the public and private sectors, working mainly for legal and professional services firms including PWC, Allen & Overy, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Clyde & Co. Michael also spent four years as Associate Director of a leading HR recruitment consultancy where he gained extensive experience of hiring legal and HR professionals, including HR Directors, for a range of companies, law firms and investment banks, together with Partners and Associates for a number of City law firms. His recruitment experience extends beyond the UK to the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and continental Europe. Michael previously sat on the committee of HR in Law.
He has an MSc in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management from the London School of Economics and qualified with the CIPD in the UK in 1993. He has 25 years HR and resourcing experience in the public and private sectors, working mainly for legal and professional services firms including PWC, Allen & Overy, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Clyde & Co. Michael also spent four years as Associate Director of a leading HR recruitment consultancy where he gained extensive experience of hiring legal and HR professionals, including HR Directors, for a range of companies, law firms and investment banks, together with Partners and Associates for a number of City law firms. His recruitment experience extends beyond the UK to the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and continental Europe. Michael previously sat on the committee of HR in Law.
Phone +44(0)1728 621012
Email rebeccapickup@oystersearch.com
Rebecca Pickup, Director
Rebecca Pickup (formerly Rebecca Reehal) is co-founder and a Director of Oyster Search & Selection.
Rebecca obtained a First Class BSc Degree in Mathematics and Economics (1989), and a Masters Degree in Economics (1990) from the University of Warwick. She has extensive experience in researching and advising companies and markets having worked as an economic consultant, an equity analyst in two City investment Banks and provided financial and business advice to a number of start-up companies.
Formerly a Director at Lehman Brothers, she had responsibility for research coverage of the global water and wastewater industry, including the French and UK water utilities, and had a global client base spanning institutional and debt investors, corporate finance and equity capital markets. She joined Lehman Brothers from Dresdner Kleinwort Benson where as an Associate Director and analyst in the global utilities team she also took a leading role in supporting corporate broker and financial advisory mandates. Whilst in this role she was voted in the Reuters Survey as the leading water industry analyst in the City by UK Finance Directors. Before moving to the City, she spent six years with NERA, the international economic consulting firm, providing economic and regulatory advice in the water and wastewater, transport and telecommunications sectors, often in association with lawyers. Her clients at NERA included utility companies, international financial institutions, various government departments and independent regulators.
Rebecca obtained a First Class BSc Degree in Mathematics and Economics (1989), and a Masters Degree in Economics (1990) from the University of Warwick. She has extensive experience in researching and advising companies and markets having worked as an economic consultant, an equity analyst in two City investment Banks and provided financial and business advice to a number of start-up companies.
Formerly a Director at Lehman Brothers, she had responsibility for research coverage of the global water and wastewater industry, including the French and UK water utilities, and had a global client base spanning institutional and debt investors, corporate finance and equity capital markets. She joined Lehman Brothers from Dresdner Kleinwort Benson where as an Associate Director and analyst in the global utilities team she also took a leading role in supporting corporate broker and financial advisory mandates. Whilst in this role she was voted in the Reuters Survey as the leading water industry analyst in the City by UK Finance Directors. Before moving to the City, she spent six years with NERA, the international economic consulting firm, providing economic and regulatory advice in the water and wastewater, transport and telecommunications sectors, often in association with lawyers. Her clients at NERA included utility companies, international financial institutions, various government departments and independent regulators.
Phone 07703498556
Email juliahale@oystersearch.com
Julia Hale, Associate Director
Julia joined Oyster Search & Selection as Associate Director in 2019 to spearhead the development of Oyster’s HR recruitment offering, particularly outside of London, supporting and advising our existing clients with their regional requirements and developing new clients in other sectors. Equally, Julia will be focused on developing her network of talented and experienced HR professionals, acting for and advising them on their next career move.
A true industry professional and Fellow of the Institute of Recruiters (FIRP), Julia has over 25 years’ experience working with exceptional talent across a corporate and high-profile client base. Having co-founded and developed a leading, professional recruitment company over 18 years, Julia subsequently retained her role as MD to help integrate her business following a successful sale in 2015. We’re delighted that Julia has subsequently decided to join Oyster.
Having known Julia for more than 15 years and having collaborated with one another in the past, we know firsthand what an exceptional recruitment professional she is, not least in terms of her unswerving commitment to client service and to best representing candidates in the market place. We also know that Julia shares our commitment to fostering long term relationships with clients and candidates alike and that she has the integrity, professionalism and human touch people tell us that they value about us.
A true industry professional and Fellow of the Institute of Recruiters (FIRP), Julia has over 25 years’ experience working with exceptional talent across a corporate and high-profile client base. Having co-founded and developed a leading, professional recruitment company over 18 years, Julia subsequently retained her role as MD to help integrate her business following a successful sale in 2015. We’re delighted that Julia has subsequently decided to join Oyster.
Having known Julia for more than 15 years and having collaborated with one another in the past, we know firsthand what an exceptional recruitment professional she is, not least in terms of her unswerving commitment to client service and to best representing candidates in the market place. We also know that Julia shares our commitment to fostering long term relationships with clients and candidates alike and that she has the integrity, professionalism and human touch people tell us that they value about us.