Richard Gray-Smith in

Richard Gray-Smith

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Director - Executive Leadership and Executive Search at INSIDE Recruitment
📍 Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

Richard Gray-Smith is a Director at INSIDE Recruitment with over 18 years of experience in executive search. He specializes in senior leadership appointments for sales, marketing, and commercial functions. People who have worked with him describe him as tenacious, customer-focused, and astute, and he holds degrees from the University of Otago.

Outside of work, Richard is an avid follower of New Zealand rugby, supporting the Highlanders and the All Blacks. He enjoys reading non-fiction, particularly biographies and history, and listens to podcasts on history and politics. His university studies included a focus on the Japanese language and culture.

He was a two-time finalist for New Zealands Recruitment Leader of the Year award in 2020 and 2021.

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Experience
21 Years
Current Role
Director - Executive Leadership and Executive Search
Job Level
Senior
Location
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Personality Overview

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Communication Style
Decision Approach
Work Preference

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Priorities

Topics Richard cares about

Executive Recruitment
Specializes in connecting businesses with top-tier executive leaders to drive growth and transformation, particularly in sales and marketing roles.
Diversity and Inclusion
He is passionate about delivering recruitment solutions that foster diversity and inclusion within leadership teams.
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Career

Work history

3-2026
Director - Executive Leadership and Executive Search
INSIDE Recruitment
10-2024 - 3-2026
Director - Sales & Marketing
INSIDE Recruitment
8-2022 - 10-2024
Associate Director
INSIDE Recruitment
10-2019 - 8-2022
Division Manager - Sales, Marketing, and HR
Consult Recruitment
2-2019 - 10-2019
General Manager
Gaulter Russell Numero (NZ) Ltd
In the press

Media appearances

Introducing Richard Gray‑Smith. Featured in Consult Recruitment Blog
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Evolve Recruitment: the death knell for Consult?. Featured in Rice & Co (industry news article)
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Education
1998 - 2002
B Com (Marketing Management) B A (Japanese) PG Dip Art (Japanese with Distinction)
University of Otago
2001 - 2002
Graduate Diploma
Hirosaki University
Social presence
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Behavioral profile

DISC profile (public)

DISC behavioral profile

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