Richard Ashcroft- Director

Almost two Decades of Recruitment, A Lifetime of Passion for Music.

Richard brings 16 years of recruitment and executive search expertise to the intersection of finance and the music industry. 

Having partnered with everything from AIM & FTSE-listed entities to agile, private-equity-backed firms, he has built a reputation for sourcing mid-to-senior talent in the £50k–£200k+ bracket.

In 2018, Richard made a deliberate choice to focus entirely on the music sector. The industry was changing rapidly—shifting from static spreadsheets to massive, complex data streams. He realised that being a 'good accountant' was no longer enough; the market needed 'Hybrid' specialists who understand an ISRC as deeply as a P&L.

This isn't just a desk specialism. Whether he’s digging through DJ sets or catching an up-and-coming local Hanwell band, Richard is as much a fan as he is a headhunter. This boots-on-the-ground perspective drives the Ashcroft Associates mission. 

He understands that a successful catalogue valuation or a clean audit requires more than a qualification—it requires an innate understanding of the culture behind the numbers.

Operating with a 'Relationships over KPIs' mindset, Richard eschews the high-volume 'CV-slinging' model. 

He leads a boutique search firm that understands that in 2026, the wrong hire in a royalty role isn’t just a headache—it’s a financial leak.

He doesn’t just fill roles in the music business; he’s an active part of it.