Market Specialist to Principal Leader: An Interview with Darryl Leigh – Head of WTG & Blade Repair

Building a successful recruitment career at a senior level isn’t just about billing well – it’s about owning your market, building trust, authority, and developing others along the way.

In this interview, Darryl, Principal Consultant and Head of Wind & Blade at Experts Group International (EGI), shares his journey into renewable energy recruitment, what separates strong senior consultants from true principals, how he develops junior talent, and why EGI was the right platform for him to step into leadership.

Having made the 2nd-most amount of successful placements across the entire company in the last year, Darryl is a great example of what can happen when you build out your own market at EGI.

Interviewed by Henry Prior, Marketing Manager at EGI, this conversation offers a candid look at what high performance really looks like in a specialist recruitment environment – and what experienced consultants should look for when taking their next career step.

How long have you specialised in your current vertical, and what drew you into it?

Darryl:

So I’ve been doing my vertical now, I’m going to say three years roughly. The reason as to why or what drew me into that market is I think it comes down to just how busy the market is and how busy the vertical is. I know there is lots of work, there are a lot of projects – a lot of wind farms across the UK and Europe – and a lot of top developers and manufacturers. I wanted to get involved in that, I wanted to understand how that works and essentially bring my expertise into play in terms of supporting these clients. This wasn’t an overnight success for me. It was hard graft and a lot of hard work that went into it. But if you have A-star candidates in the vertical and you’re able to position them in the right way, you will create openings. I think a lot of people make recruitment more difficult than it needs to be, especially in my market. If you’ve got an A-star candidate with the right experience, you can confidently put them in front of clients and they will speak to them.

In your experience, what separates a strong Principal Consultant from a Senior Consultant?

Darryl:

I’d say it comes down to how well you know your market. The ones that really succeed know it inside and out. They know when projects are coming up, they know what clients are hiring, and they have very good relationships. A lot about recruitment is building relationships and trust. Being a successful Principal Consultant comes down to how well you can build relationships with your clients, how well you can build relationships with your candidates, and also your processes. If you can nail all three of those and know a lot about your market, you will be a success.

What does it mean to be a true specialist in your vertical?

Darryl:

I think being a true specialist in your market is that candidates and clients see you as their go-to number one recruiter. It comes down to people you’ve already placed with them who have performed well – that creates trust. When clients trust you, they come back to you when they have new requirements. Being a go-to market specialist comes down to knowing a lot. When you’re speaking to clients, they want to know how much you know. If you can speak to them about projects that are coming up, what they’re looking for, what an ideal candidate looks like, and match that to a candidate profile, it shows you’re a market specialist – not just someone trying to fill a role to earn a placement.

How do you use that experience to develop junior consultants?

Darryl:

Number one, I look for someone willing to learn. They need a good work ethic, motivation, and energy. I like helping people, but I can’t force people to learn – they have to want it themselves. A lot of teaching junior consultants in my market comes down to speaking to candidates. You learn so much by doing that. Candidates love talking about themselves, so if juniors don’t know something, I tell them to ask. Capture that information, let it sink in, and then use it in future conversations. I’ve been in their position before. When I started as a junior consultant, I turned to more experienced people for help. I always say: look at who’s doing well around you, take ideas, don’t necessarily copy them, but apply the same formula in your own way.

What convinced you that EGI was the right place to take the next step in your career?

Darryl:

Number one was having my own resourcer to manage. In my last role, I had a lot of jobs but not enough support. At EGI, I could focus on building the market and new business, and then pass roles to a junior consultant to find candidates. That team structure works really well.

Number two was leadership and growth plans. From my interview conversations, it was clear EGI invest in their people and give you a platform to succeed. The growth plans – offices in Austin, Dubai – showed ambition. Ross and the directors are always looking at how to grow the business and the brand. For me, it was a clear indication that I wanted to be part of this.

What qualities do Senior or Principal Consultants need to succeed at EGI?

Darryl:

It comes down to how much you want to succeed. Everyone has their own goals, and the effort has to come from you. Someone senior coming into the business needs to put in as much (if not more) effort than the seniors and principals already here. You’re expected to generate revenue, provide extra value, support junior consultants, and be a leader. Juniors look up to seniors and principals – they want to follow in their footsteps. It’s also about bringing new ideas to the team. But ultimately, it’s about giving 100% and working hard.

How would you describe EGI’s culture to someone from a high-performance environment?

Darryl:

The culture here is brilliant. We have a great team, no egos, no unnecessary competition. It feels like collaboration because of the strong relationships, but it’s also high performing. Recruitment is naturally performance-driven – what you put in is what you get out. Sometimes that means early mornings or late nights, but you’re working towards something. Enjoying work comes down to who you work with, and everyone here wants to see each other succeed.

What does EGI allow you to do in your Principal role that you couldn’t before?

Darryl:

One word: freedom. EGI has given me a platform to make myself as successful as I want to be – with the tools, support, and autonomy to focus on my niche and generate new business. Leadership is another big one. I was able to manage someone from day one, take more responsibility, and develop as a manager. That’s opened doors to new clients while my junior consultant focuses on finding candidates. I didn’t have that opportunity in previous recruitment companies.

Why experienced consultants should start a conversation with EGI

Darryl’s journey is a prime example of what many experienced Senior and Principal Consultants look for next: ownership of a market, leadership responsibility, genuine support, and the freedom to build something purposeful.

At Experts Group International, senior recruiters are trusted to lead, backed with the tools and resources to succeed, and supported by a culture that values collaboration over ego.

Whether your goal is to be a Principal Consultant in London, Dubai, or Austin, EGI offers a platform to take the next step in your recruitment career.

👉 If you’re an experienced Senior or Principal Consultant and want to start the conversation with us, apply today.

Let’s talk about how you can own your market, build a team, and grow your career as you see it at EGI.

Lastly, If you’re a client looking for scaling or a candidate seeking work opportunities across WTG & Blade Repair, Darryl is who you’re after.

Be sure to add Darryl to your network for current or upcoming opportunities.