Hamlyn Williams.Now HW3.
HW3 was Meraki's first acquisition. It joined in July 2024 as Hamlyn Williams, an expert recruiter working out of London and New York. Fourteen months later it had a new name, a sharper focus and a third office.
The casefor the deal.
Hamlyn Williams was exactly the kind of business Meraki set out to back. Expert in its markets rather than general. Established, with a London office opened in 2011 and a New York office opened in 2015. And international by nature, with most of its London work delivered into the United States.
It was also a business with more potential than it was showing. Strong consultants and good client relationships, but a name that said where it started rather than what it did, and a structure that could make a sector expert look, to a client in Boston, like a small London agency.
It became Meraki's first acquisition, in July 2024. An expert recruiter with cross-border reach, and a base in London and New York for the group to build on.
From first dealto Day One.
HW3 carried on trading under its own name while the plan was worked through. Then Meraki put an operator inside the business. In September 2025 Andy Agar, now Meraki's Chief Marketing Officer, became Chief Operating Officer, overseeing London, New York and Cape Town and reporting to the Meraki investment board.
The same month, Hamlyn Williams became HW3, built on the power of three: candidates, clients and colleagues.
In late 2025 HW3 opened a resourcing centre in Cape Town. In just over a month the team had made 12 new hires, adding delivery capacity behind the consultants in London and New York so they could spend more of their time with clients and candidates.
Through 2026 the offer was sharpened to three markets and three ways of working. Banking and finance, life sciences, and automation engineering. Permanent, contract and statement of work. Recruitment, to the power of three. HW3 now leads with what it knows, not where it sits.
Meraki's first acquisition. The business carries on trading under its own name.
HW3 opens a resourcing centre in Cape Town, led by Terri Brand. It is a service rather than a market, supporting delivery behind the consultants.
A new name built on the power of three: candidates, clients and colleagues.
HW3 focuses on three markets: banking and finance, life sciences, and automation engineering, through permanent, contract and statement of work.
Where itstands today.
HW3 works with around 100 clients globally. London focuses on automation engineering, delivering mostly into the United States, with consultants recruiting control systems and automation engineers for projects from Louisiana to Houston. New York leads banking and finance, and life sciences.
The leadership is in place. Kellie Kwarteng leads HW3 as Managing Director, Ray Green leads the US business as Country Lead, USA, Emily Kirkpatrick leads banking and finance, Angie van Vuuren heads talent and delivery, and Terri Brand leads the Cape Town centre.
And HW3 no longer stands alone. Its London and New York offices are also home to Tessero's cybersecurity teams, so two group businesses share space, clients and knowledge on both sides of the Atlantic.
What we kept.What we added.
The first thing we ask a founder is not what we are going to change. It is what must not change. Then we put everything behind it.
Kept
- The people who lead it today. Kellie Kwarteng leads HW3 as Managing Director, and Ray Green leads New York as Country Lead.
- The expertise. London is still built around automation engineering, and New York around banking and finance, and life sciences.
- The clients. Around 100 of them, most of them outside the UK.
Added
- A name and a brand that say what HW3 does, not where it started: The Power of Teams, and recruitment to the power of three.
- A resourcing centre in Cape Town, so consultants spend their time with clients and candidates.
- Group finance, legal, technology and marketing, run once across the portfolio.
- Sister businesses to work alongside. Tessero's cybersecurity offices in London and New York share HW3's premises.
It was a pleasure working with HW3. They took the time to understand the company's needs, my expectations, and were able to provide resumes of highly qualified candidates who fit the criteria.Senior Vice President, Regulatory AffairsUS oncology biotech
HW3 were able to fill our role professionally and in good time with impressive precision and market knowledge. We continue to work with HW3 on many senior roles.Lead PartnerGlobal professional services firm
HW3 recently filled a critical role in my company's leadership team. They ran an efficient process, providing strong, well-vetted candidates, one of whom we successfully hired.Chief ExecutiveUS clinical-stage biotech
HW3 understood our very specific needs for candidates that would not just match the skillset but would be a cultural fit.Hiring managerGlobal trading firm
HW3today.
The Power of Teams. Find out more at hwthree.com.
More onHW3.
The announcements, and the people involved talking about it themselves.
More films
Automation engineering at HW3
HW3, London
MES, validation and control systems
HW3, London
Life sciences at HW3
HW3, New York
Retained search, explained
HW3
Statement of work, explained
HW3
Why work at HW3
HW3
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