About Fairmont Crest

 30+ years of HR leadership, trusted by businesses of every size.

About Fairmont Crest

Founded in 2024 by Richard Cowlishaw, Fairmont Crest is a strategic HR consultancy built on deep experience, commercial understanding, and a commitment to people-first performance.

We work with organisations at all stages of their journey - from early-growth SMEs to mature enterprises - helping leaders build stronger teams, better culture, and clearer strategy.

Our consultancy is built around relationships. We embed ourselves in your business, understand your challenges, and deliver real results through practical, tailored solutions.

About Richard Cowlishaw

Richard is a former Chief People Officer and C-suite director with over three decades of HR leadership experience. He’s led global teams, delivered complex change programmes, and advised Boards across a range of sectors.

Richard is a commercial, creative thinker - known for helping businesses navigate transformation, embed culture, and develop future-ready leadership.

“I’ve always believed that great businesses are built by great people. Our role is to help you find them, develop them, and lead them with purpose.”
— Richard Cowlishaw

  • "Working with Richard is a privilege. Working together with him transforming businesses, people and culture is incredibly exciting. His vast global experience and measured, considered approach genuinely creates change for good, enabling businesses to thrive and grow. He’s sharp, clever and heaps of fun too."

    Kate Eady, CEO & Brand Strategist, Wrapped Agency

  • "I've worked with Richard in both DFS Group where I was CPO and Topps Group where I was interim Group HRD. Richard supported me on a social responsibility plan and higher apprenticeships in DFS. And in Topps a Group wide Organisational Design review. Richard has, in my view, the best blend of corporate skills and knowledge in his area of expertise, translated and delivered in a relatable, supportive and authentic way. This style and skill create a trusted relationship and delivers pragmatic results in a super quick time. I hope to work with a Richard on more projects to come and would/have recommended him to colleagues in my network."

    Joanne Shawcroft, Group HR Director, Topps Tiles

  • "Richard brings a wealth of strategic HR knowledge and experience to our business which has enabled us to undertake a complete organisational re-design to position us superbly for business growth. Richard has become an integral part of our business and continues to support me and the wider team on key strategic HR matters."

    Ray Evans, CEO, Hela Brands Limited

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