Cobalt Appoints James Wakefield as Executive Chair

Cobalt is delighted to announce the return of James Wakefield as Executive Chair, effective 1 December.

James is a highly respected figure in the recruitment sector with extensive global leadership experience. He previously played a pivotal role in Cobalt’s growth, building our Financial Services practice, spearheading international expansion, and serving as our first CEO. Since then, James has broadened his expertise through senior positions at Kernel Global and RBW Consulting, where he led significant organisational transformation initiatives across multiple sectors.

His appointment represents a key milestone for Cobalt as we sharpen our strategic focus, strengthen our platform, and accelerate momentum across our international markets.

James’s arrival coincides with the planned departure of Miles Hunt, who has served as Non-Executive Chairman for the past seven years. Miles has been instrumental in guiding Cobalt through a period of transformation, including the launch of the Comanos brand and a renewed focus on our core markets in Germany, the US, and the UK. His steady leadership, governance and counsel during some of the industry’s most challenging times have positioned Cobalt strongly for the future. We extend our deepest gratitude for his significant contribution and impact both personally and professionally to the business.

We are thrilled to welcome James back to Cobalt and look forward to the impact his experience and leadership will bring as we enter this exciting new phase of growth.

For any further media enquiries, please contact Cobalt Recruitment’s Head of Marketing, Chris Langan, via clangan@cobaltrecruitment.com.