What we do
Inspiring diverse cultures
We’re experienced executive search consultants with over 15 years’ experience working with leadership teams across diverse global organisations. Our focus on diversity and inclusion is born out of a return to the UK, after working in Asia for over a decade, and recognising the need to address the glaring issue of inequality in the workplace.
We offer clients a unique evaluation framework, designed to go deep and strengthen their organisation from the inside out. We know from experience that when a workplace practises inclusive leadership and inclusive recruitment, they’ll naturally build inclusive high-performing workplaces where people feel content, valued, and like they belong.


What we do
Our Specialisms






Want to inspire culture?
I have no hesitation in recommending James Carss and Castle Peak Group to anyone seeking support in the recruitment of Senior and Executive Officers and non-Executive board Directors. James is fantastic to work with, he goes the extra mile to understand your business and its needs, his approach is exceptionally professional and responsive, and he has an enviable reputation and business network. All of this means James always presents exceptional candidates for consideration, as well as being a pleasure to work with!
John JohnstonChief Executive
Bernicia
Bernicia
I’ve known James for several years through various recruitment processes and I have always found him very easy to work with… whether looking to recruit or are a potential candidate, James is a good listener which always means he quickly grasps a situation and is good at working to find the right candidates with the required skills and talents to interview… all of this, while approaching recruitment processes in a highly professional manner. I’ve worked with James on both sides of the table and as a candidate I have discovered that he is good at identifying the best candidates and has an exceptional talent for putting people at their ease helping ensure they are fully prepared for any recruitment process.
Lesley Moody OBEManaging Director - AES Digital Solutions
Vice Chair Board of Directors – North East England Chamber of Commerce
Vice Chair Board of Directors – North East England Chamber of Commerce
Castle Peak is highly professional and experienced in its field, providing insightful briefings and succinct and timely communication. The whole candidate process is smooth and considered with real attention to detail while being very responsive and adept at giving beneficial feedback. In combination, this results in an excellent client service, setting a very high standard.
Steve CroslandNon-Executive Director
Crosland Consulting Ltd
Crosland Consulting Ltd
When I wanted to establish a business with a brand new team of Executive level founders, James Carss was the natural partner to help us identify and recruit the wide range of skill sets we needed to ensure our success. They took the time to understand our requirements, timing and budget considerations to make sure we brought the right people in board.
Craig IleyFounder
Finance Nation
Finance Nation
Castle Peak Group was an invaluable partner in our recent board recruitment. James and the team demonstrated a deep understanding of our organisation's unique needs, identifying and presenting a pool of highly qualified candidates who aligned seamlessly with our vision. James's efficient, professional and caring approach ensured a smooth process, and we are confident that the new board member will make a significant contribution to our future success.
Dean Titterton (He/Him)Chief Executive Officer
Castle Peak Group was an invaluable partner in our recent board recruitment. James and the team demonstrated a deep understanding of our organisation's unique needs, identifying and presenting a pool of highly qualified candidates who aligned seamlessly with our vision. James's efficient, professional and caring approach ensured a smooth process, and we are confident that the new board member will make a significant contribution to our future success.
Dean TittertonCEO | North Tyneside YMCA
Castle Peak Group offer a fantastic service for the recruitment of non-executive roles. At Keelman we had two Board vacancies, for a Chair and a Trustee, and in a very short timescale both vacancies were successfully filled thanks to James. He was professional in his approach, supporting us with the development of a recruitment pack, which led to a longlist of very highly experienced candidates for us to consider. The process was straight forward, with James frequently communicating with all parties. I would definitely use Castle Peak Group again in the future.
Anne-Marie PearceManaging Director | Keelman Homes
Insightful and Engaging Expertise in Recruitment.
As a senior professional, James and Castle Peak demonstrate a deep understanding of the recruitment landscape and strategic approach to talent acquisition providing a positive experience.
James’s ability to identify top-tier talent with a challenging brief, coupled with his insight into industry trends, equality diversity and inclusion exceeded our expectations. James not only brings a wealth of knowledge but also leads with integrity, transparency, and a genuine passion for equality, connecting the right people with the right opportunities.
Susan FultonExecutive Director | Gentoo
It has been a pleasure to work with James Carss, on the search and recruitment, for a new Director of Finance for Bernicia Group. James took his time to understand the brief and sought out candidates that not only met the technical brief, but also, and equally importantly, were a cultural fit for Bernicia. We are delighted with our appointment into this role. James operates in a highly professional manner and delivers excellent results. I would have no hesitation to recommend James and Castle Peak as a recruitment partner.
Janette LongstaffExecutive Director | Bernicia Homes
Working with James at Caste Peak has been a pleasure. When we met, I’d expressed an interest in becoming a Board member but was struggling to find the right role and organisation that would align to both my values and experience. James understands the needs of both company and candidate and essentially provides a “match making” service that benefits both parties. For me, having the confidence that James really understood what I was looking for meant that when he approached me about the role, I knew it was worth exploring.
James was able to bring the recruiting organisation to life – sharing his take on their ambition, culture, and customer focus. The knowledge of the organisation and background he shared was fantastic, as was the support, advice and guidance throughout- keeping in touch with regular check-ins to keep me in the loop. I would thoroughly recommend working with James to anyone looking to explore their first, or next non-exec role.
Elaine MiddletonStrategic Consultant
Castle Peak Group has been great to partner with for our recent Committee Member Recruitment campaign. James sourced a diverse range of candidates with exceptional skills and backgrounds. A comprehensive search that extended beyond traditional networks, with open communication with candidates throughout the process to manage expectations, conducting multiple candidate interviews to provide comprehensive evaluations of candidates’ skills, values and potential contributions and more importantly assessing organisational culture fit, reinforcing James outstanding professionalism from start to end.
Charlotte Burnham Director of Governance | Thirteen Group
James and Castle Peak have been excellent to work with on the recruitment of our three new senior property roles at gentoo. James invested lots of time with our senior team at the outset to gain a detailed understanding of our requirements, our culture, and the calibre of candidates that we wanted to attract to take our service forward. I would personally recommend James to any peers in the sector seeking to recruit talented people and wouldn’t hesitate to use Castle Peak in the future.
Marc EdwardsExecutive Director of Property