Last updated: April 2026
Alder Search Ltd is committed to protecting your personal information and being transparent about how we use it. This privacy policy explains what data we collect, why we collect it, and how we handle it in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Alder Search Ltd is a retained executive search firm registered in England and Wales. Our registered office is at 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ. We operate exclusively in the private equity sector, placing senior executives with PE sponsors and their portfolio companies.
When we refer to "Alder Search", "we", "us", or "our" in this policy, we mean Alder Search Ltd as the data controller responsible for your personal information.
We collect personal information in the following ways:
Directly from you: When you submit an enquiry through our website contact form, we collect your name, email address, and any other information you choose to provide, including your firm name, role, and the nature of your enquiry.
From publicly available sources: As part of our executive search work, we may collect information about professionals from publicly available sources, including LinkedIn, company websites, industry publications, and professional directories.
From referrals: We may receive your contact details from colleagues, clients, or other professionals who believe our services may be relevant to you.
Automatically: Our website uses standard analytics tools to collect anonymised data about how visitors use the site, including pages visited, time spent, and referring sources. This data does not identify you personally.
We use personal information for the following purposes:
Responding to enquiries: When you contact us through our website, we use your information to respond to your enquiry and, where relevant, to follow up on the conversation.
Executive search services: Where you are a candidate or potential candidate, we use your information to assess your suitability for specific roles, to present your profile to clients (with your knowledge and consent), and to manage the search process.
Client relationship management: Where you are a client or prospective client, we use your information to manage our relationship, to communicate about active mandates, and to keep you informed of relevant market developments.
Legal and regulatory compliance: We may use your information where required to comply with applicable laws and regulations.
We do not sell your personal information to third parties, and we do not use it for automated decision-making or profiling.
We process your personal information on the following legal bases under UK GDPR:
Legitimate interests: For most of our executive search activities, we rely on our legitimate interests (and those of our clients) in identifying and placing suitable candidates for senior roles. We balance these interests against your rights and interests when determining whether this basis is appropriate.
Contract performance: Where we have a formal engagement with you as a client or candidate, we process your information as necessary to fulfil that engagement.
Consent: Where we rely on your consent, you have the right to withdraw it at any time by contacting us at [email protected].
Legal obligation: Where we are required to process your information to comply with a legal obligation.
We share personal information only in the following circumstances:
With clients: As part of our executive search work, we share candidate information with client organisations. We do this only with the candidate's knowledge and, where appropriate, consent.
With service providers: We use a small number of trusted service providers to support our operations, including email and communication tools, and website hosting. These providers are contractually bound to process data only on our instructions and in accordance with applicable data protection law.
For legal reasons: We may disclose information where required by law, regulation, or legal process, or where necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of Alder Search, our clients, or others.
We do not transfer personal data outside the United Kingdom or European Economic Area except where adequate protections are in place.
We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, and in accordance with our legal and regulatory obligations.
For candidates: We typically retain candidate information for up to five years from the date of last contact, unless you ask us to remove it sooner or we have an ongoing relationship that justifies longer retention.
For clients: We retain client information for the duration of our relationship and for a period of up to seven years thereafter, in line with standard commercial record-keeping requirements.
For website enquiries: We retain enquiry data for up to two years from the date of the enquiry.
You may request deletion of your information at any time by contacting us at [email protected].
Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights in relation to your personal information:
Right of access: You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
Right to rectification: You may ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
Right to erasure: You may ask us to delete your personal information in certain circumstances.
Right to restriction: You may ask us to restrict the processing of your information in certain circumstances.
Right to data portability: You may ask us to provide your information in a structured, machine-readable format.
Right to object: You may object to processing based on legitimate interests, including for direct marketing purposes.
Right to withdraw consent: Where we rely on consent, you may withdraw it at any time.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within one month of receiving your request. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to improve your experience and to understand how the site is used. We use analytics cookies (via standard analytics platforms) to collect anonymised data about site usage. These cookies do not identify you personally.
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of the website.
We take the security of your personal information seriously. We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction of your data. These measures include encrypted data transmission, access controls, and regular security reviews.
No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. If you have concerns about the security of your information, please contact us at [email protected].
We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. The most current version will always be available on our website. We will notify you of material changes where we have your contact details and are required to do so by law.
This policy was last updated in April 2026.
If you have any questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us:
Ryan Ollerenshaw, Founding Partner Alder Search Ltd 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden London, WC2H 9JQ [email protected]
© 2026 Alder Search Ltd. All rights reserved.