Our Story
The story begins with our Founder Paul Loftus, an Irishman born in Dublin in 1969. While studying Business and Marketing, he spent summers in the United States, working a variety of jobs—painting houses in Boston, waiting tables in Ocean City, and washing windows in San Francisco. He fell in love with America’s opportunities, and after earning his first “fortune” fishing commercially off the East Coast, he returned to San Francisco to pursue a corporate career. After working in commercial insurance and printing, a series of coincidences led him into recruitment, where he immediately felt at home.
Paul Loftus and Jennifer Bradford, Founders
Paul is social and gregarious, but not a networker in the conventional sense. He focuses on building authentic, long-term relationships, understanding people and their needs, and finding ways to be genuinely helpful. For Paul, business is not about closing deals; it’s about making meaningful, long-term matches. This philosophy is what defines Loftus Bradford.
In 2010, together with his wife Jennifer Bradford, Paul founded Loftus Bradford with a clear vision—an executive search firm built on trust, long-term relationships, and shared success. Jennifer played a critical role in setting up and running all enabling functions in the company’s early years. Growth was slow at first because we prioritised the long term. But over time, our placements became our brand, built on the success, development, and promotions of the outstanding candidates we placed. Many of them are still with the same companies, thriving in leadership roles.
Based on this reputation for making long-term matches, we have grown exclusively through word-of-mouth. Happy clients and candidates recommend us, opening doors across industries, functions, and geographies. Today, our clients include some of the world’s most recognised brands across CPG, Sporting Goods, Retail, Healthcare, Technology, Private Equity and Founder-led organisations. We operate globally—serving clients from South Africa to Vietnam, from California to Edinburgh—all from the heart of Barcelona.
zara english, managing partner
Loftus Bradford’s key leader today is Zara English Janmohamed. Zara; Kenyan born and brought up, lived in Nairobi, then educated in the United Kingdom joined us in 2011 as our second employee and has risen through the ranks to become Managing Partner. Zara has done it all—researcher, consultant, built and led the exec search team, Principal, and now, Partner and leader of the firm. She is a trailblazer known for her relentless commitment to ‘unreasonable hospitality’ and her ability to build deep and meaningful relationships with clients, candidates and colleagues alike.
Under Zara’s leadership, our diverse team (representing 10+ nationalities) continues to thrive with a focussed view on delighting our customers and upholding the LBES standards keeping our values at the heart of everything we do.
Excellence with Empathy
At Loftus Bradford Executive Search, we hold ourselves to the highest standards. We work hard, push through challenges, and never settle for less than the best. At the same time, we remain deeply human, empathetic, and committed to building long-term relationships. This balance makes us who we are—and it’s why our clients and candidates trust us, time and time again.
