Willo hires Jim Berrisford to lead global partnerships push

Willo has appointed recruitment technology specialist Jim Berrisford as Vice President of Partnerships as the Glasgow-founded HR technology company expands its partner network and international footprint.

The appointment follows a £3 million investment from Mimecast founder Peter Bauer, the largest single funding round in Willo's history. Willo has also opened new offices in Glasgow and Manchester as it grows its team across the UK and North America.

Willo sells video-led candidate screening and verification tools to employers in 195 countries. It reports 64-fold revenue growth since launch and counts easyJet, Toyota, Samsung, DPD Group and the NHS among its customers.

Partnership focus

Berrisford will lead Willo's global partner strategy and manage relationships across recruitment and HR technology providers. His remit includes integrations with applicant tracking systems, human capital management suites and other hiring platforms, as well as partner support and developer toolkits that help HR technology products connect.

He will also review existing arrangements and build new alliances with specialist providers. Willo is seeking deeper integration into customer technology stacks, which typically combine systems for applications, workflow, HR data and assessment.

Recruitment technology suppliers have accelerated product releases amid growing interest in automation and artificial intelligence in hiring. As a result, vendors are under more pressure to show how their tools fit established workflows and meet employer requirements for security, governance and user experience.

Industry background

Berrisford has more than two decades of experience across agency recruitment, in-house talent acquisition and commercial roles at recruitment technology vendors. His recent work includes consulting, as well as senior sales and partnerships roles at firms including Vonq and Reezomo.

He has worked with applicant tracking systems, HR technology platforms, job boards and recruitment process outsourcing providers, and was recently appointed to the board of the Association of RecTech Providers.

Berrisford began his career at a recruitment firm in London before moving to Scotland. He said his links to the country were part of the appeal of joining a Scottish-founded business with an international customer base.

Willo said the year ahead will focus on investment and expansion, with partnerships positioned as a key route to scale.

"I've spent my career on every side of the hiring fence - in agencies, in-house and inside HR tech vendors. As a buyer, I've been sold tools that promised everything and delivered very little, so I know how frustrating that can be. I've also helped vendors and ATS providers make their products more meaningful and usable for recruiters, ensuring they meet modern demands," said Berrisford.

"The acceleration of AI-driven change in recruitment has created huge uncertainty. While that brings opportunities, it has also driven confusion for employers who want a tech stack that works well together and helps them hire more effectively. What excites me about Willo is that it sits in the 'next system of productivity' space, giving partners and customers an embedded, best-of-breed solution that removes friction rather than adding to the noise," said Berrisford.

"My focus will be on building fully aligned partnerships - with ATSs, HRIS platforms, RPOs and others - where Willo is integrated, trusted and clearly adds value for candidates, buyers and vendors alike," added Berrisford.

For Willo, partnerships serve as both a distribution channel and a route to product adoption. Integrations with widely used applicant tracking systems can determine whether a new screening product is used consistently by recruiters and hiring managers. Technology buyers also tend to prioritise suppliers that fit existing procurement and compliance frameworks.

Willo co-founder and CEO Euan Cameron linked the hire to the company's broader commercial plans and its focus on integrations.

"Jim brings a rare mix of deep recruitment experience and a shared visionary view of how HR tech should work. He understands the realities for talent teams because he's been in their shoes, and he knows how to build partnerships that go beyond a logo on an integrations page," said Cameron.

"This is a pivotal year for Willo as we invest off the back of last year's support, and partnerships are central to how we scale. Jim will be a key figure in making sure Willo is the most trusted, integrated video platform in our space - and that we do it in a way that keeps hiring fair, efficient and human-led," said Cameron.

The partnerships function will work with Willo's product, sales and customer teams across the UK and North America, with additional hires expected during the year.