Hiring Cassie Cherry into Hawthorn One so early on wasn’t an obvious decision, at least not on paper.
Hawthorn One ultimately wasn’t planned. It was established in May 2025 following Lucinda’s resignation from a previous recruitment business, built with the same vision, where she had been a majority co-founder and key driver of growth through her market knowledge and professional network. The decision to step away wasn’t easy, but it was the right one.
Hawthorn One was registered two days later.
Launching a business in that way is very different to starting from a position of stability or investment. There was no extended planning phase or time to build infrastructure, just a clear direction and the need to move quickly.
Just a month later, Cassie Cherry joined the business.
At such an early stage, bringing someone into a new venture is a significant decision. The business was in its infancy, and there were clear reasons to delay hiring. However, Cassie’s decision to join, and Lucinda’s confidence in what she would bring, made it the right move.
It probably wasn’t the ‘right’ time on paper to hire, but I knew exactly what Cassie would bring. We’d stayed in touch over the years, I used to try and poach her at my previous business, but timing was never right. Sometimes the stars just align. I knew my business would be better with her in it, so I had to find a way to make it work.
Lucinda and Cassie first worked together in 2013, meaning this was not a hire based on process alone, but on a long-standing understanding of how each other works.
Over the years, Cassie has built a strong career across finance recruitment and executive search, working with high-growth, private equity and venture-backed businesses where quality and delivery are critical. What has remained consistent throughout is her approach. She is detail-focused, commercially aware, and highly relationship-driven, someone who takes genuine pride in delivering the right outcome for both clients and candidates.
I’ve always cared about doing the job properly, understanding the brief, the person, and what success actually looks like. That’s what made Hawthorn One such an easy decision for me. I know Lucinda works in exactly the same way, and I’d seen what she’d built in her previous business in such a short space of time. I fully believe in her vision and I’m excited to be part of the journey.
Cassie’s impact was felt quickly.
Since joining, Cassie has had a direct impact on the growth of Hawthorn One, strengthening client relationships, expanding the network and delivering high-quality finance hires across the region.
Her contribution has allowed the business to build momentum early on, creating the space to focus on developing the foundations, refining our approach and setting everything up properly from the outset.
Her addition has elevated both the depth and consistency of the service, ensuring clients and candidates receive a more informed, focused and high-quality experience.