Our Executive Outplacement Team

Paul Connor
Fraser Silvey
John Ling
Kevin Howes
Jackie Smith

Paul Connor - MCIPD - Managing Director

 Paul established Connor in 1992 with the aim of helping businesses and people reach their full potential. Paul remains a frontline outplacement practitioner and is highly regarded in the marketplace for providing outplacement support that is practical, relevant and communicated in plain English. His extensive network of contacts combined with his understanding of the job market allows Paul to offer practical outplacement guidance. Paul has gained a reputation for caring about the people he works with offering a personal and responsive outplacement service. This aspect of Paul’s personality is well summarised below where he personally delivered an Outplacement programme for South Central Connexions Partnership: I have been very impressed with their ability to be equally accessible and supportive at senior executive level as well as to the most junior members of staff. The feedback I have received from staff in many different roles is a great tribute to their professionalism and humanity. I would highly recommend Connor to those organisations who want their people to receive a practical outplacement service that is highly personable.” Pamela Charlwood Chief Executive, South Central Connexions Paul is married with two children. His main hobby is running and he is a member of his local running club, the Marlow Striders. The next time you are driving through Marlow that man in the black peaked hat that you have just passed, could well have been Paul!

Fraser Silvey - BSc (Hons) MA MCIPD - Commercial Director

Fraser has over 10 years Outplacement experience with a proven track record of success at all levels, from junior employees to Senior Executives and business leaders. He is committed to building outplacement programmes that are driven by the needs of the individual and not by a set process, or the ego of the consultant. His highly personable and pragmatic style has delivered results both in workshops and via one-on-one support and he is particularly proud of the number of successful businesses he has launched over the last 10 years and the number of people he has placed directly within his own substantial network of decision makers throughout the country. He is passionate about applying his excellent commercial skills during the salary negotiation stage to the obvious benefit of the people he is working with. Fraser is a keen cricketer and plays for the Royal Ascot CC. He is married with two children Aidan and Lara.

John Ling - Senior Executive Outplacement Consulting Director

John is a Consulting Director at Connor with specific responsibility for the Senior Executive Practice within the company. John works primarily with Board and Senior Management teams in the provision of outplacement services and executive coaching. 

Having held several board level positions, John is able to get the best out of senior executives by rapidly understanding their world from individual motivations to career aspirations and the day to day challenges they face.

He has worked with all sizes of organisation, from sole traders to global plcs, as well as the public and third sector.

Kevin Howes - Chartered MCIPD - Senior Outplacement Consultant

Kevin has more than 25 years delivering bottom-line results in blue-chip companies and SMEs. Most of his experience and successes have been in the financial services IT, telecommunications, automotive, and, pharma sectors. People tell him they like his informal, practical, straight-talking approach and his knack of quickly pinpointing what needs to be done. With some eight years outplacement experience, Kevin has developed distinctive skills delivering outplacement support and guidance that is both practical and caring. He has an extensive network of contacts and a detailed insight into the job market, both key ingredients in offering successful individual and group outplacement support. Kevin will quickly roll up his sleeves and get dirt under his nails and build enduring relationships at all levels based on mutual trust, personal credibility and a passion for achieving agreed results. Testament to his approach is many people retain Kevin in their trusted business network, long after the outplacement assignment is completed. In his spare time Kevin and his family built a 50 foot steel narrow boat, renovated a 16th century mud hut in Devon and attempts to play the bass guitar - luckily he has no direct neighbours.

Jackie Smith - Senior Outplacement Consultant

Jackie has had a diverse international career background working 1:1, with groups and at organisational level, both in line and consulting positions. With a passion to make a difference, an understanding of organisational challenges and wide ranging tool-kit of models and approaches, she is able to deliver effective outplacement solutions for individuals and teams. She brings pragmatism, creativity and fun into all her outplacement assignments. Her breadth of business experience, ability to gain rapport and credibility quickly, open and direct approach have all enabled her to build strong, productive relationships which achieve results. With 8+ years’ outplacement experience, Jackie offers practical support, keeps people on track, and helps build personal confidence and impact to fast-track clients to achieve career goals.