About

Our Story

Irvine Stewart was founded to provide a more considered, partner-led approach to executive search and critical hiring.

Founder Dan MacNeill brings more than 16 years of international search and recruitment experience, partnering with founders, leadership teams, boards and investors across technology, engineering and investor-backed businesses.

Having delivered appointments ranging from highly specialised technical hires through to executive and board-level leadership roles, Dan established Irvine Stewart to offer a more consultative, relationship-led alternative to transactional recruitment.

Today, Irvine Stewart supports organisations navigating growth, transformation and critical hiring decisions across the UK and Europe.

Track Record & Expertise

Over the past 16 years, Dan has supported executive, leadership and business-critical appointments across technology, deep-tech, engineering and investor-backed businesses throughout the UK and internationally.

Selected Assignments

  • CEO | VC-backed photonics scale-up | Spain

  • CTO | Space technology manufacturing business | UK

  • CFO | Venture-backed deep-tech company | UK

  • Chief Commercial Officer | International VC-backed deep-tech company | USA

  • Chair | Venture-backed quantum technology company | Netherlands

  • VP Operations | Fabless semiconductor business | Netherlands

  • Global Head of Supply Chain & Logistics | International space & defense company | Finland

  • Commercial Director | Photonics scale-up | UK

  • USA Sales Director | Nanotechnology scale-up | UK

  • Finance Director | PE-backed international manufacturer | UK

Critical Hires & Specialist Appointments

  • Semiconductor, Photonics & Quantum Engineering

  • Hardware, Electronics & Embedded Software Engineering

  • Systems Engineering & Technical Leadership

  • Engineering Managers, Team Leads & Functional Leadership

  • Manufacturing, Operations & Supply Chain Leadership

  • Programme, Project & Delivery Leadership

  • Commercial Leadership, Sales & Business Development

  • Specialist Technical & Hard-to-Find Talent

Areas of Expertise

  • Semiconductors

  • Photonics

  • Quantum Technologies

  • Space & Satellite Technologies

  • Advanced Manufacturing

  • Industrial Technology

  • Software & Digital Technology

  • Defense & Dual-Use Technologies

  • Venture & Investor-Backed Businesses

Representative appointments completed throughout Dan's executive search career prior to the formation of Irvine Stewart and subsequently through Irvine Stewart Talent Partners.