Louise Raphael.

Global Managing Partner – Luxury, Beauty, Growth Brands & Private Equity

After graduating with a BA (Hons) in Business Management, I began my career in the fashion industry, starting with the Arcadia Group before moving to Emporio Armani as a Ladieswear Buyer. Over 25 years ago, I was invited to explore a new path in recruitment – and I’ve never looked back.

Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working with a wide range of businesses, from established bricks-and-mortar retailers to emerging e-commerce brands, helping to build high-performing executive teams and providing strategic talent advisory solutions. My experience spans across all key functions including product (buying, merchandising, design, sourcing/production), marketing, sales, finance, data and tech, and HR.

I spent a decade with Success Appointments, where I relocated to Leeds to establish and lead a new regional office. Following that, I launched my own consultancy, Raphael Recruitment, supporting multi-channel brands in placing senior talent at C-1 and C+1 levels across global markets. After a brief but enriching chapter co-founding a cybersecurity start-up, I returned to the industry I love, joining ORESA in 2018 to focus on executive search for consumer, digital, and private equity-backed growth brands.

I joined PartnerWise in 2023 to build and lead a new sourcing & delivery team and manage executive assignments. I now focus on business development and managing global client relationships across the fashion and beauty landscape partnering with both high-growth (founder-led and PE-backed) and major corporate brands, from luxury to mainstream—delivering strategic talent solutions at senior levels.

Consultative, commercial, and relationship-driven, I build lasting partnerships that go beyond recruitment.