Who are dSb?
dSb was founded to create an environment where everyone always has the ability to make the right decision based on what is truly best for our candidates and clients, without the complications of big organisational politics. Our service is bespoke and personal to our clients and candidates, and highly proactive in its methodology.
What do we do?
We only employ experienced, specialist Recruiters who focus on the sectors and roles which they extensively know, and have a large network in.
As well as Contingency assignments we are extremely experienced in dealing with complex Executive Retained Searches. We support clients and candidates throughout the UK and Internationally across multiple specialisms.
Perks of working with dSb?
Check out our Candidates and Clients pages. In short, dSb‘s main aim is to use proven experience and knowledge gained in our specialist markets to offer a proactive recruitment service which is specifically tailored to your needs at the time.
Sophie Bubb
Managing Partner International Product
Sophie was the founder of dSb in 2016 after over 11 years at Michael Page International (MP) within their Retail & Fashion business. Working her way up from Consultant through to Director level, she was instrumental in the start-up of MP’s Buying & Merchandising and Design & Development divisions, as well as driving these roles Internationally across the business.
She now focusses her efforts entirely outside of the UK & Ireland, on Internationally based Commercial & Creative product roles for the General Merchandise & Fashion sectors.
As the in-house entertainment planner and incentive trip travel agent, the motto ‘work hard, play hard’ is something which she ensures is an inherent part of the dSb business.
Annabel Plowman
Business Director – Product (General Merchandise & FMCG)
Apart from being our Social Media queen, Annabel is our highly knowledgeable and experienced General Merchandise (GM) & FMCG Head Office Product specialist. She had a prior career in Retail Management before starting in Recruitment in 2014. She trained within a global corporate Recruitment Agency, followed by a team management for an SME Agency, before joining dSb Recruitment in 2020. She recruits within the Retail/Wholesale/Supplier sectors across all roles which take product from concept to delivery.
With the ability to fit it around our flexible culture, Annabel started couch to 5k in 2022 and is still going running 3 time per week, which helps keep her sane and fit enough to run around after her gorgeous son Dexter.
Dee Byrne
Business Manager Product (Fashion)
Aside from her other passion as a Sports Massage Therapist working with a number of rugby league clubs such as Salford Red Devils & St Helens, Dee has been a specialist Retail & Fashion Recruiter since 2004, so you can imagine the strength of her network after that number of years.
After working for two prior specialist Recruitment Agencies, she joined us at dSb in 2022. Her knowledge is unrivalled in this sector, so she really needs to be your Recruiter of Choice for all Fashion Product roles in the Midlands and North of England.
As a hard core Liverpool fan, she can also talk a very good game of football with you.
Victor Shih
Business Manager Sales & Commercial (SaaS)
Following a very successful career within Account Management in the SaaS sector, Victor transitioned into the realm of Recruitment in 2014. With an unrivalled commitment and a relentless yet meticulous approach, Victor has forged long term relationships with his International network of clients and has established a strong reputation as an Industry expert who consistently exceeds expectations. He joined dsb in 2023 and focusses on finding the best Sales & Commercial talent in SaaS and Technology businesses. His expertise spans a diverse array of sectors, including Finance, Retail, Healthcare, Manufacturing, and the Public Sector.
Victor finds his work/life balance through the practice of martial arts and hot yoga, helping ensure he mirrors his passion for excellence in all aspects of life!
Rachel Martinez
Business Manager Sales (General Merchandise & FMCG)
Rachel Martinez joined dSb in 2024, leveraging her expertise in sales roles within FMCG and consumer goods, as well as marketing and digital positions across London and the South. After a successful retail career as a National Merchandise & Promotions Manager, she transitioned to recruitment, focusing on FMCG, consumer goods, and luxury sectors for both boutique and global businesses. As a Business Manager at dSb, Rachel is adept at identifying top talent and providing exceptional consultancy services.
When she’s not navigating the corporate jungle, Rachel whirls into action as a mom to her whirlwind daughter. Hailing from South Africa, she thrives on outdoor adventures and keeping active—basically a born explorer!
Nick Bubb
Managing Partner - Operations Management
Nick is the other half of the partnership with Sophie, both professionally and personally. Similarly at Michael Page for a number of years where he lead their retail offering across the South, Nick then joined two ex-colleagues’ recruitment business and, as Director, was instrumental in growing it from 8 heads into a leading National Retail focused agency of 40. He joined Sophie at dSb in 2019.
Nick’s recruitment focus has remained the same over the years, People Management and Field Operations roles across Retail & FMCG, with a particular interest in enabling retail management candidates to shine in other Consumer sectors. This has included rail, airports, healthcare, care and the employability sector.
Nick’s passions in life are his bikes (road, mountain, watt….pick any) and his family (in that order?!)
Francesca Hedger
Business Manager – Creative & Marketing
Fran has worked within recruitment since 2012 having joined Michael Page International on the Graduate Scheme where she was in the same team as Sophie, so they love having the chance to work together again! Since then she has been highly successful within two other recruitment businesses and been with dSb since 2021, bringing her extensive network, expertise, and passion with her. She is our Creative and Marketing specialist in London and the South of England, across a range of consumer related industries.
Not only does Fran give her all to her work, she also volunteers on a regular basis for the Samaritans helpline, and they are very lucky to have her.
Emma Hourston
Business Manager – Shared Services (HR, Legal & Finance)
Emma has that great mix of both Agency and in-house Recruitment experience, so really understands the process from all angles, a skill which she puts to good use.
She started in Recruitment in 2011 and has worked within the Consumer sector all this time for either Global Agencies or International Fashion brands. Since 2022 Emma has been our specialist in Consumer Shared Services recruitment across HR, Finance & Legal.
A certified life coach and huge yoga enthusiast, Emma has more chat than just recruitment…and her winning smile will never fail to brighten your day!
Alex Graham
Senior Consultant – Product (Fashion)
After 9 years as a Fashion & Beauty Merchandiser for ASOS, River Island and QVC, Alex decided to make the change in career to Recruitment to use her in depth knowledge of the sector to help other Fashion companies try to find product people as good as her!
She joined dSb in 2023 to look after our creative, development, technical and commercial Fashion Product positions within London and South of England.
She’s recently found herself becoming a bit of a fitness lover (that’s taken her by surprise!) so you’ll find her at an F45 class most days.
Sophie Bubb
Managing Partner - International Product
Sophie was the founder of dSb in 2016 after over 11 years at Michael Page International (MP) within their Retail & Fashion business. Working her way up from Consultant through to Director level, she was instrumental in the start-up of MP’s Buying & Merchandising and Design & Development divisions, as well as driving these roles Internationally across the business.
She now focusses her efforts entirely outside of the UK & Ireland, on Internationally based Commercial & Creative product roles for the General Merchandise & Fashion sectors.
As the in-house entertainment planner and incentive trip travel agent, the motto ‘work hard, play hard’ is something which she ensures is an inherent part of the dSb business.
Nick Bubb
Managing Partner - Operations Management
Nick is the other half of the partnership with Sophie, both professionally and personally. Similarly at Michael Page for a number of years where he lead their retail offering across the South, Nick then joined two ex-colleagues’ recruitment business and, as Director, was instrumental in growing it from 8 heads into a leading National Retail focused agency of 40. He joined Sophie at dSb in 2019.
Nick’s recruitment focus has remained the same over the years, People Management and Field Operations roles across Retail & FMCG, with a particular interest in enabling retail management candidates to shine in other Consumer sectors. This has included rail, airports, healthcare, care and the employability sector.
Nick’s passions in life are his bikes (road, mountain, watt….pick any) and his family (in that order?!)
Annabel Plowman
Business Director – Product (General Merchandise & FMCG)
Apart from being our Social Media queen, Annabel is our highly knowledgeable and experienced General Merchandise (GM) & FMCG Head Office Product specialist. She had a prior career in Retail Management before starting in Recruitment in 2014. She trained within a global corporate Recruitment Agency, followed by a team management for an SME Agency, before joining dSb Recruitment in 2020. She recruits within the Retail/Wholesale/Supplier sectors across all roles which take product from concept to delivery.
With the ability to fit it around our flexible culture, Annabel started couch to 5k in 2022 and is still going running 3 time per week, which helps keep her sane and fit enough to run around after her gorgeous son Dexter.
Francesca Hedger
Business Manager – Creative & Marketing
Fran has worked within recruitment since 2012 having joined Michael Page International on the Graduate Scheme where she was in the same team as Sophie, so they love having the chance to work together again! Since then she has been highly successful within two other recruitment businesses and been with dSb since 2021, bringing her extensive network, expertise, and passion with her. She is our Creative and Marketing specialist in London and the South of England, across a range of consumer related industries.
Not only does Fran give her all to her work, she also volunteers on a regular basis for the Samaritans helpline, and they are very lucky to have her.
Dee Byrne
Business Manager – Product (Fashion)
Aside from her other passion as a Sports Massage Therapist working with a number of rugby league clubs such as Salford Red Devils & St Helens, Dee has been a specialist Retail & Fashion Recruiter since 2004, so you can imagine the strength of her network after that number of years.
After working for two prior specialist Recruitment Agencies, she joined us at dSb in 2022. Her knowledge is unrivalled in this sector, so she really needs to be your Recruiter of Choice for all Fashion Product roles in the Midlands and North of England.
As a hard core Liverpool fan, she can also talk a very good game of football with you.
Emma Hourston
Business Manager – Shared Services (HR, Legal & Finance)
Emma has that great mix of both Agency and in-house Recruitment experience, so really understands the process from all angles, a skill which she puts to good use.
She started in Recruitment in 2011 and has worked within the Consumer sector all this time for either Global Agencies or International Fashion brands. Since 2022 Emma has been our specialist in Consumer Shared Services recruitment across HR, Finance & Legal.
A certified life coach and huge yoga enthusiast, Emma has more chat than just recruitment…and her winning smile will never fail to brighten your day!
Alex Graham
Senior Consultant – Product (Fashion)
After 9 years as a Fashion & Beauty Merchandiser for ASOS, River Island and QVC, Alex decided to make the change in career to Recruitment to use her in depth knowledge of the sector to help other Fashion companies try to find product people as good as her!
She joined dSb in 2023 to look after our creative, development, technical and commercial Fashion Product positions within London and South of England.
She’s recently found herself becoming a bit of a fitness lover (that’s taken her by surprise!) so you’ll find her at an F45 class most days.
Victor Shih
Business Manager – Sales & Commercial (SaaS)
Following a very successful career within Account Management in the SaaS sector, Victor transitioned into the realm of Recruitment in 2014. With an unrivalled commitment and a relentless yet meticulous approach, Victor has forged long term relationships with his International network of clients and has established a strong reputation as an Industry expert who consistently exceeds expectations. He joined dsb in 2023 and focusses on finding the best Sales & Commercial talent in SaaS and Technology businesses. His expertise spans a diverse array of sectors, including Finance, Retail, Healthcare, Manufacturing, and the Public Sector.
Victor finds his work/life balance through the practice of martial arts and hot yoga, helping ensure he mirrors his passion for excellence in all aspects of life!
Rachel Martinez
Business Manager Sales (General Merchandise & FMCG)
Rachel Martinez joined dSb in 2024, leveraging her expertise in sales roles within FMCG and consumer goods, as well as marketing and digital positions across London and the South. After a successful retail career as a National Merchandise & Promotions Manager, she transitioned to recruitment, focusing on FMCG, consumer goods, and luxury sectors for both boutique and global businesses. As a Business Manager at dSb, Rachel is adept at identifying top talent and providing exceptional consultancy services.
When she’s not navigating the corporate jungle, Rachel whirls into action as a mom to her whirlwind daughter. Hailing from South Africa, she thrives on outdoor adventures and keeping active—basically a born explorer!
