Chas Dowton

As head of First Choice Staff, Chas Dowton has over 30 years’ experience as a recruitment specialist serving clients in freight forwarding, shipping and logistics.

He began his career in 1977 working in the import department of the DC Andrews Ballantyne cargo agency. Moving into the commercial environment, he later worked for both OCL and Alltransport.

In 1980, he took his first post in recruitment, soon becoming Branch Manager in London and using his freight industry knowledge to source new staff for customers in the sector. This ultimately led to the creation of his own business with a partner, TAC Recruitment, headquartered at Heathrow Airport that was to open five branches over a six-year period.

In 1989, he formed the successful Chas Dowton Associates and three years later was approached by a national group that wanted to add a niche freight service to their portfolio. Recognising the special requirements of shipping, forwarding and logistics clients, in June 1994, he launched First Choice. The company has grown significantly in recent years and is highly regarded by its blue chip client base as the leading name in freight recruitment. Today, the company has branches in Ashford (Middlesex) - Heathrow, Essex, Birmingham and Manchester serving customers and jobseekers across the whole of the UK for all of their permanent and temporary recruitment requirements.

Simon Ward

Simon Ward heads up First Choice Corporate, providing a full consultancy solution for businesses looking to buy, sell or merge.

Before becoming a director of First Choice in 2000, Simon had spent over 30 years in the freight forwarding industry. He began his career with EMG Air Services, a subsidiary of P & O. The business later became Pandair, the number one IATA freight agency.

After Pandair, he joined Hudson Freight Services, a specialist in the oil and gas sector during the time of major development for the industry in the North Sea. Later joining Mercury Airfreight – another leader in the UK market – he once again focused on the development of vertical industry sectors, this time healthcare and publishing.

In 1974, he joined Guestair, a subsidiary of the Harris & Dixon Group, as Branch Manager in Norwich. After successfully building the company’s presence in the East Anglia region, he returned to London as Operations Director for Guestair to develop its ocean and airfreight business.

He became a shareholder and Managing Director of Guestair in 1985. Growing the company to a £20 million turnover, it was sold in 1994 to a US-based Public Company. In 1996, Fritz Companies, the San Francisco-based global logistics specialist purchased the UK business and Simon was appointed MD of Fritz Companies in 1997.

Lesley Dowton

Position: Accounts Controller responsible for managing all First Choice branches in the UK

Joined First Choice: 1994

Interests: Fine dining, keeping fit, music and travelling.

Kealey Dowton

Position: Credit Controller

Joined First Choice: April 2011

Experience: I previously worked for a Fine Arts Shipping Company handling Credit Control, Invoicing & Bought Ledger for 5 and a half years.

Interests: I enjoy spending time with my daughter, socialising with friends & visiting new restaurants with my partner.

Richard Edwards

Position: Office Manager

Joined First Choice: July 2002

Experience: Worked in the freight forwarding industry for 19 years

Interests: Following my football team all around the country and Europe, all sports, holidays abroad, reading and TV.

Zoe Calver

Position: Manager - Freight Division

Joined First Choice: January 2002

Experience: Worked in the recruitment industry since leaving school.

Interests: My two sons, going to the gym, walking my German Shepherd, socialising, going to Royal Ascot and watching Eastenders.

Kellie Buckley

Position: Senior Recruitment Consultant - Freight Division

Joined First Choice: November 2010

Experience: I have worked in Freight Recruitment for just over 10 years, re-joining First Choice in November 2010

Interests: I have 2 young boys who I adore and love spending time with. I love all kinds of shopping especially at Westfield!, eating out with my husband and look forward to family holidays.

Steve Carter

Position: Recruitment Consultant - Freight Division

Joined First Choice: September 2011

Experience: Worked in the Freight industry for more than 10 years including Cargo Airlines. Have also worked for a brewery in the export sales department

Interests: I enjoy holidays, watching and playing football, spending time with my friends and family and nights out with my girlfriend

Ed Harte

Position: Senior Recruitment Consultant - Warehouse Division

Joined First Choice: January 2006

Experience: Worked in the recruitment industry for the last 5 years. Prior to that worked in Warehousing and Security

Interests: Rugby, going to the gym, watching DVDs, playing my Xbox, rustling up a great meal, looking after my son and drinking with friends.

Gemma Morrison

Position: Senior Recruitment Consultant - Warehouse Division

Joined First Choice: August 2010

Experience: I started my working life as a Customer Services / Sales Executive within a corporate environment then moving into Recruitment, I have gained excellent account management experience in all sectors and enjoyed a successful career.

Interests: Travel, socialising and shopping.

Gary Prangnell

Position: Senior Recruitment Consultant – Driving and Transport Division

Joined First Choice: September 2000

Experience: Worked in recruitment since 2000 and, prior to that, in the Driving/Courier industry

Interests: Drinking with friends, driving, spending time with my son and daughter, camping, Brentford FC and eating out.

Adam Smith

Position: Senior Recruitment Consultant - Industrial Division

Joined First Choice: February 2010

Experience: Worked in the recruitment industry for the last 5 years within Industrial and Construction prior to that worked in the construction industry

Interests: Playing Cricket and Hockey, socialising and drinking, and spending time with my partner and daughter.

Elaine Baxter

Position: Senior Recruitment Consultant - Industrial Division

Joined First Choice: January 2012

Experience: Worked in Driving and Industrial recruitment since 1993 and qualified as a Level G aviation security manager including recognition of firearms and explosives. Like a lot of people, I fell into the industry by accident, after being made redundant from a previous job as a call centre manager. Now I can't think of anything else I would rather do.

Interests: I have a busy family and social life. I enjoy going to the gym and I love to travel. especially to the Caribbean and Egypt. I have a passion for driving and love fast cars and motor bikes.

Emma Turner

Position: Senior Recruitment Consultant - Commercial Division

Joined First Choice: July 2009

Experience: Worked in recruitment for 9 years within various sectors

Interests: I enjoy spending time with my daughter and partner. Love visiting new attractions, watching football & shopping!

Gemma Chandler

Position: Branch Administrator

Joined First Choice: October 2011

Experience: Worked in administration and customer service in various sectors for the last 5 and a half years

Interests: Travelling, shopping, spending time with my boyfriend, friends and family.

Rhonda Ferteklis

Position: Branch Manager

Joined First Choice: 2007

Experience: Worked within Recruitment between 2001-2007 for Contact Recruitment specializing in Freight, Shipping, Logistics, Industrial and Commercial

Interests: Travelling, fan of Blue Water Sports and socializing

June Kelly

Position: Recruitment Consultant

Joined First Choice: Oct 2010

Experience: Worked In the Freight Forwarding Industry for 22 years.

Interests: Silver-smithing ,designing jewelry, reading and loves animals = (“3 border collies-2 rabbits-1 husband”)

Marcus Christie

Position: Trainee Recruitment Consultant

Joined First Choice: July 2011

Experience: Worked in Debt Management on a high level. Extensive knowledge of the Industry, prior to that has worked in a Call Centre environment, where he was running his own Sales Team.

Interests: Following Sale Sharks Rugby, socialising with friends, driving and travelling, mainly to America.

Tracey Di Valentine

Position: Branch Manager

Joined First Choice: June 2005

Experience: Tracey specialised in shipping recruitment for a number of years.

Interests: Reading and is a massive fan of concerts and theatre musicals.

Leigh Jeffries

Position: Recruitment Consultant

Joined First Choice: April 2011

Experience: Worked in recruitment since 2007 before that worked in shipping and freight forwarding for 5 years.

Interests: Going out with friends – eating & drinking and restoring my VW campervan

Lorne Jennings

Position: Recruitment Consultant

Joined First Choice: May 2011

Experience: Worked in both Commercial and Industrial Recruitment and before that worked in International Removals.

Interests: Into sports, especially football and golf and like to keep fit by running. Also enjoy films, cinema and eating out.

Kirsty Barrow

Position: Branch Manager

Experience: Worked within Recruitment for many years, specialising in Freight, Shipping and Logistics.

Interests: Meeting with Friends and Family, eating out, shopping, travelling and relaxing in the Sunshine!

Michelle Clinton

Position: Senior Branch Administrator

Joined First Choice: May 2008

Experience: Previously spent many years in commercial recruitment in Birmingham

Interests: Socialising with family and friends and cooking and looking after my young son