Executive Assistant Recruitment London: How to Hire the Right EA for Your Business

Hiring the right Executive Assistant can be transformative. In London’s business landscape, where expectations are high and time is limited, an exceptional EA doesn’t just provide support, they enhance leadership performance, enable strategic focus, and become an integral part of the company’s success.

Yet, despite the importance of the role, many businesses underestimate what it takes to hire effectively. In a competitive market, finding the right Executive Assistant requires more than scanning CVs. It demands clarity, and a recruitment partner who understands the nuances of the role.

At Lily Shippen, we’ve supported hundreds of London-based businesses, from boutique firms to FTSE-listed companies in hiring Executive Assistants who drive real impact. Here’s how to get it right.

1. Define What You Truly Need

Every business has unique needs. The key to successful hiring starts with understanding what the Executive Assistant will actually be doing and what outcomes you’re looking for.

Are you searching for someone who can act as a strategic business partner to your CEO? Or do you need a steady, detail-driven operator to manage complex diaries, stakeholders, and logistics?

By identifying the core purpose of the role from the outset, you can align your recruitment process, salary benchmarking, and expectations around what success looks like.

At Lily Shippen, we often guide clients through this stage, helping to define a role profile that balances day-to-day needs with long-term business objectives. This clarity not only attracts better candidates but ensures alignment across the leadership team before the search even begins.

2. Look Beyond the Job Title

In London, the title “Executive Assistant” can mean very different things from one organisation to another. Some EAs are deeply strategic and embedded in business operations, while others focus primarily on administrative excellence.

When hiring, consider the level of autonomy, exposure, and commercial understanding your business requires. A strong EA in London’s market typically blends strategic awareness with strong communication, discretion, and the ability to thrive in ambiguity.

The most effective hires happen when businesses prioritise potential and alignment as much as experience. A candidate with the right mindset, professionalism, and adaptability will add long-term value far beyond their CV.

3. Partner with a Specialist Recruitment Agency

The London Executive Assistant market is highly network-driven. Many of the best candidates don’t apply to public adverts, they move through trusted recruiters who understand the profession and the people behind it.

Partnering with a specialist agency like Lily Shippen gives you access to this hidden network, along with genuine market intelligence on salaries, competition, and availability.

We act as an extension of your internal team, taking time to understand your company culture, communication style, and the leadership dynamics your EA will support. That insight helps us identify not just capable candidates, but the right match.

4. Collaborate, Don’t Compete with Your Recruiter

The most effective hiring processes are built on openness. Where partnerships falter is when agencies and clients work against each other instead of together.

It’s easy to spot from the very first briefing when there’s limited communication or reluctance to share insight. The best outcomes happen when clients invest time upfront, speaking openly about their culture, challenges, and what hasn’t worked previously.

In return, your recruiter can use their market expertise to guide, challenge, and refine your brief. At Lily Shippen, the clients who collaborate closely with us, treating us as a partner rather than a supplier, consistently hire stronger candidates and move through the process faster.

5. Think Long-Term

An Executive Assistant is often the constant in a growing business. They become the foundation that allows leaders to lead, the calm in the chaos and the connection point across teams.

When you hire the right person, you gain more than efficiency; you gain stability, insight, and someone who actively contributes to your success. That’s why it’s worth investing the time and expertise to get it right from the start.

Partnering with a specialist Executive Assistant recruitment agency in London doesn’t just save time, it brings depth, market awareness, and long-term impact.

If you’re ready to hire an Executive Assistant in London, our team would love to help.