About Us

Our Values

As a specialist boutique, our reputation is built entirely upon the manner in which we conduct ourselves and manage our assignments. For this reason we place Integrity at the heart of our value system and we are 100% committed to conducting our work in as ethical and honest a manner as possible. We choose to work with only a small group of clients at any one time, ensuring each of our engagements are conducted with the upmost attention to detail. We do not accept new engagements unless we can allocate both the resource and time necessary and we do not engage in work or conversations that may create a conflict of interest. As a small business we have the flexibility to be truly innovative in how we work, and every client and every assignment means something special to us.

We strive to be considered a Trusted Advisor by clients and candidates alike and wholeheartedly believe that the experience of working with us is just as important as the final outcome.

Alex Turner is a Director and the founder of Zander Search, a boutique executive search partner working simultaneously with the Advisory, Financial Service and Banking sectors on strategic hires.

Alex specialises in Financial Services with experience of working with Banks, Banking Services, Business Advisory and Technology Services firms. He has specific functional expertise in the Operations, Strategy and Client offices and has helped build both internal and external consulting capabilities. Alex is focused on recruiting individuals who specialise in the development and enhancement of new and existing product lines.

Alex has recruited leadership into both commercial and operational environments, including Managing Directors, Technology Leaders, Partners, Engagement Directors and Consultancy Directors in the advisory industry and Leaders in Operations, Sales, Technology, Risk, Compliance and Strategy in financial service and trading environments.

Alex began his search career with Mercer Gray, specialising in the recruitment of programme and technical management professionals for banking and financial services. He joined PSD International in the late 1990’s, where he identified and selected key management for consultancy and professional service expansion projects across Europe.

As a Managing Consultant and leader for the professional services team with Korn/Ferrys middle management capability, Alex continued to serve the banking and advisory space assisting vendor environments bridge the gap between product and services.

Most recently, Alex was a Principal Consultant and Partner with CTPartners where he specialised in Banking Strategy, Business and Technology Services.

Alex graduated from Sheffield Hallam University. He is based in the Home Counties.

Alex is hugely passionate about everything he does and this comes across in his day-to-day work.

Jay Fought is a Principal of Zander Search a boutique executive search partner working simultaneously with the Advisory, Financial Services, Trading and Technology, and Banking sectors on strategic hires. Jay specialises in Financial Services with specific experience working with Trading and Technology, Exchange, Banking, and Business Advisory clients. He has specific functional expertise in Operations, Strategy, Technology, and Banking Client offices and has built and managed both internal and external recruiting organizations globally.

Jay is focused on recruiting senior level executives who specialise in the development and enhancement of new and existing product lines. He has recruited leadership into both commercial and consulting environments, including Managing Directors, Trading and Technology Executives, Consulting Partners, and Finance, Operational, Sales, Risk, and Compliance professionals for financial services, exchange, and trading environments.

Jay began his search career with Harmer Associates, specializing in the recruitment of technology management professionals for consulting, banking and financial services clients. He joined Harmer Associates in the early 1990’s, where he identified and selected key talent for clients in Chicago.

As a Principal and Founder of Fought, Jameson Associates, Jay continued to serve the Technology and Advisory space while executing searches for Fortune 500 to Start-up Clients. Jay currently serves as the Senior Director of Recruitment for CME Group where he has built and managed global recruiting teams. He is also responsible for executing CME Group’s most senior and strategic searches globally.

Jay graduated from St.Mary’s College as a student athlete. He has resided in Chicago since 1989.

Janne Karppinen is a Principal at Zander Search, specialising in executive search and leadership advisory across fintech, payments, financial services, and technology-enabled businesses.

He brings more than 25 years of international commercial and leadership experience spanning payments, financial technology, loyalty, data, retail strategy, and consumer goods.

Prior to joining Zander Search, Janne built a successful leadership career at Mastercard, where he served as Vice President, leading strategic initiatives across the payments and fintech ecosystem. During his time at Mastercard, he partnered with banks, merchants, fintechs, and payment providers to drive growth, digital transformation, customer engagement, and product innovation across an increasingly dynamic payments landscape.

Janne has extensive expertise across payments strategy, fintech partnerships, loyalty, commercial development, and data-driven growth. Alongside his commercial leadership responsibilities, he has built and led high-performing international teams across the UK, Ireland, and Canada, developing leadership cultures and mentoring senior talent through periods of growth and transformation.

His move into executive search is a natural extension of a career spent operating within complex global organisations and growth-focused environments. Having hired, developed, and led senior commercial, strategy, product, and technology professionals, Janne brings a practical understanding of the leadership qualities required to succeed in modern fintech and financial services businesses.

Prior to Mastercard, Janne held senior roles across loyalty, big data, retail strategy, and FMCG sectors, helping organisations identify growth opportunities, strengthen customer propositions, and leverage technology and data to improve commercial performance.

At Zander Search, Janne advises clients on strategic leadership hiring, with a particular focus on fintech, payments, and digitally transforming businesses seeking leaders who can combine innovation, execution, and commercial impact.

Janne has an MA in Business from Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh. He is based in the United Kingdom.

Kate has spent 16 years in the recruitment sector and been involved in Zander Search for the last 6 years. Her role is to help others produce the results that our clients deserve and our consultants expect. Her job is heavily research based which allows Kate to challenge herself in finding out about new and diverse aspects of a role or sector.

The high levels of expectation at Zander make you push yourself that little bit more to achieve bigger and better things. The close network allows you to get involved in all aspects of the company and really get to know your clients and candidates. Kate enjoys the challenge of working globally and really believes that Zander Search focuses on what is best for the client and the candidate.

Kate has a BA in History of Art from Sheffield University.

As a specialist boutique, our reputation is built entirely upon the manner in which we conduct ourselves and manage our assignments. For this reason we place integrity at the heart of our business

Our Values

Alex Turner

Our Principal

Jay Fought

Our Principal

Janne Karppinen

Our Principal

Kate Tudor-John

Our Research Associate