About Us
In 2025, we celebrated 25 years of assisting agri-businesses with their recruitment needs
The UK’s longest established agricultural recruitment consultancy
De Lacy Executive was founded in 2000 by John Davies, who experienced firsthand the difficulty of finding the right talent during his time in management at a large feed business. Driven by this challenge, he established the company to connect skilled professionals with leading agricultural businesses.
The company was named 'De Lacy Executive' to honour our Herefordshire roots, reflecting the influence of the prominent De Lacy family, whose name is woven into the histories of many villages in the area such as ‘Holme Lacy’ and ‘Stoke Lacy’.
In 2017, De Lacy Executive was purchased by Farms.com marking a new chapter in our growth and enhancing our ability to serve clients and job seekers on a global platform.
Full history of De Lacy Executive Recruitment
Agricultural recruitment by agricultural people
At the core of De Lacy Executive is a simple belief: our people are our greatest asset.
Each of our Recruitment Consultants brings a personal connection to agriculture, whether through growing up on a farm or working in the industry. This deep-rooted experience is complemented by our diverse expertise, with each team member specialising in their own area of interest, be it poultry, viticulture, or agronomy. This unique blend of personal background and professional focus ensures we truly understand the needs of the agricultural sector.
As a team, we are committed to staying at the forefront of the industry. We regularly attend events, visit client sites to gain firsthand insights into their operations, stay updated with the latest trade news, and engage in continuous training.
As a client of De Lacy Executive, you'll be assigned a dedicated Recruitment Consultant who will take the time to understand your business. They will personally manage every aspect of the recruitment process, from headhunting to the offer stage, ensuring a seamless and tailored experience.
Our commitment to training
Regardless of their previous background and experience, every new recruitment consultant must complete De Lacy Executive’s comprehensive ‘Recruiter Development Programme’ before they are assigned to lead a recruitment project for one of our clients.
Our Recruiter Development Programme provides training on all areas of the job including:
- De Lacy Executive values & processes
- In depth presentations on our main sectors
- How to take a job brief from a client
- Job advert writing
- Headhunting & recruitment mapping
- Interview skills & best practice
- Negotiation & counter offer training
All consultants take part in routine internal training to refresh their knowledge on the ‘basics’ as we believe mastery of the fundamentals is key to long term success. Additionally, we employ an external trainer on a regular basis to ensure we are keeping up with trends in the wider recruitment industry which is constantly evolving in line with society and the economy.
With regard to the agricultural sector, we consistently top up our knowledge by attending shows, events and industry specific training courses. In recent years, we’ve made it a priority to arrange team visits to key clients to learn more about their products, culture and the people they require.
Recruitment areas we specialise in
We recruit for businesses in farming, food production and the agricultural supply chain.
Job Type/Functions
Commercial
Sales, Business Development, Marketing, Consultant, Account Management
Farm
Estate/Farm Director, Farm Manager, Assistant Farm Manager
Technical
Agronomist, Engineer, Formulator, Nutritionist, Technician, R & D Manager, Trials Assistant
Operations
Operations Manager, Project Manager, Production Manager
Supply Chain & Procurement
Livestock Buyer, Commodity Trader, Supply Chain Planner
Senior Management
CEO, Managing Director, Director, General Manager, Sales Manager, Commercial Manager
Sustainability
Sustainability Manager, Regenerative Farming Specialist, Soil Health Specialist
Agricultural Subsectors
Livestock
Dairy, Sheep, Beef, Swine, Poultry, Genetics, Animal Health, Ruminant & Monogastric Feed
Growing
Arable, Horticulture, Fresh Produce, Viticulture, Vertical Farming, Agronomy & Arable Inputs
Ag-Tech & Machinery
Agricultural Machinery, Parlour Equipment, Ag-Tech
Food Production
Red & White Meat, Wine Production
Equestrian
Feed & Equipment
Bioenergy
Biogas, Anaerobic Digestion
Pest Control
Chemical Pesticides, Biological, Cultural and Physical
Testimonials
Harry and the De Lacy Executive Recruitment team recently assisted us in the recruitment of a Fam Business Manager; the candidates that were presented were all excellent and the co-ordination of the recruiting process was faultless.
I am thrilled to share my outstanding experience with De Lacy Executive Recruitment, who played a key role in my appointment as Managing Director of Tithebarn Limited. Their professionalism, insight, and dedication made the entire process seamless. Grace and her team took the time to understand my career goals, aligning them perfectly with Tithebarn’s vision and culture. Their industry knowledge and personalized approach gave me confidence throughout. De Lacy’s attention to detail and support from start to finish were exceptional. I highly recommend De Lacy to any professional seeking top-tier recruitment services.
I was happy with the level of service provided to me by De Lacy Executive Recruitment. I was provided with a good number of well qualified candidates in a reasonable timeframe. De Lacy were quick to provide a shortlist of suitable candidates, they listened to my feedback and adjusted their search accordingly.
I have always found De Lacy Executive Recruitment to be dedicated to helping us find new talent to add to our team, taking the extra time to truly understand our business and our values to help us find the right fit. We have made some really fantastic appointments over the years and in what are often really challenging recruitment areas.
De Lacy Executive Recruitment are my No.1 recruiter of choice, their service and expertise in the industry has continually impressed me. They are always on hand and committed to our success.
De Lacy Executive Recruitment is the cream in recruitment!
I discovered De Lacy Executive Recruitment because they had several marketing opportunities within the agricultural sector. I worked closely with Harry, who was outstanding—transparent about the roles, their suitability, and highly supportive throughout the interview process, from preparation to feedback. Thanks to his guidance, I successfully secured a position, and I couldn't be more pleased. De Lacy Executive Recruitment stands out as a top-tier firm with a personalised and professional approach.
As a recruiter sceptic due to past experiences, De Lacy Executive Recruitment had quite the mountain to climb. However, they took the time to understand us, our business, and exactly who we needed for the role. They actively sought out strong candidates, listened to feedback, and ultimately provided us with a number of excellent options. Given how niche our requirements were, we were genuinely impressed.
I would recommend the services of De Lacy Executive Recruitment across all areas of the agricultural and food chain industries. The caliber of knowledge within the team is extensive . The approach I received was exceptional and I would happily utilise the individual and the team again should I be in the position of needing a move or a contact /organisation were looking to fill a position.
Harry was absolutely fantastic and highly professional during the entire process. Always available and guided me through the process each step of the way.
Harry really worked hard and spent effective time to understand and fully comprehend what I wanted from my next role, and carefully selected an appropriate position to put me forward for.
I couldn’t recommend Harry enough for anyone looking for their next challenge. His hard work and dedication really shows and puts him head and shoulders above other recruitment specialists I have dealt with.
A big thank you to Harry!
I was contacted by Harry from De Lacy Executive Recruitment through LinkedIn and since then the whole process has been smooth and effortless. He has put me in a role I thoroughly enjoy and have begun to see a long future in my new company. Would highly recommend this recruitment agency.
Harry at De Lacy Executive Recruitment was brilliant. The process from application to placement was largely down to Harry's intuitive approach and being able to correctly gauge my suitability for the role and vice versa. A fantastic interaction overall with a professional recruitment company.
I had a great experience with De Lacy Executive Recruitment. Harry, was incredibly supportive and encouraging throughout the whole process. He really took the time to understand my qualifications and previous experience and helped me find roles that genuinely matched my background.
Harry stayed in regular contact, followed up with phone calls, supported me through the interview process, and guided me at every stage of recruitment. Thanks to his support, I’m now in a position that I’m very happy with and truly enjoy what I’m doing.
De Lacy Executive Recruitment clearly care about both their clients and candidates, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for a role in the agriculture sector.
George was brilliant at finding suitable roles for me that matched my skills and interests. He communicated brilliantly and supported me with planning interviews and liaising with potential employers
I signed up with De Lacy Executive Recruitment specifically to apply for a job I'd seen advertised, which was managed by George. He couldn't have been more supportive, the communication was brilliant and his advice for the interview process helped so much. I got the job and love it!
I would definitely recommend De Lacy Executive Recruitment to others.
Brilliant company, especially Ollie, who was very helpful in guiding me towards my new job, always keeping me in the loop and arranging things perfectly. Overall 10/10.
Good recruiter, very helpful!
I had the pleasure of dealing with Harry who communicated with me beautifully. I knew where I was at all stages. Harry understood what I wanted from a job and what I had to offer and found me my dream job! Big shout out to Rupert as well who was also very helpful.
De Lacy staff were very helpful all the way through the application and interview process. As someone who had not been in the job market for sometime. What employers expect and look for had changed . Being updated on this probably made all the difference at my interview.
