How do you match candidates to the right opportunities?

Our priority is fit, not speed. We take time to understand your background, goals, and motivations, then provide clear insight into each opportunity so you're only considered for roles that truly align with your experience and ambitions.

What types of roles and industries do you specialise in?

We specialise in senior, specialist, and leadership appointments across the markets we serve. Our focus is on roles where experience, judgement, and cultural alignment are critical — typically mid- to senior-level management through to executive and board appointments.

How does working with Irving Knight benefit me?

You'll gain honest market insight, access to high-quality opportunities, and clear guidance throughout the process. Our aim is simple: to help you make the right move, at the right time, with confidence.

Do I need to pay for your services?

No. Our services are completely free for candidates. We are retained by our client partners to manage their hiring processes, meaning there is never a cost to you at any stage. Our role is to represent your interests professionally, provide guidance throughout the process, and help you assess opportunities objectively — without any financial obligation.

Will using your services put me at a disadvantage compared to direct applicants?

No — if anything, it gives you an advantage. We provide context, insight, and advocacy that ensure your experience and motivations are clearly understood from the outset. Our role is to strengthen your candidacy and guide you through a transparent, well-managed process.

What makes Irving Knight different from other recruitment firms?

We operate as a retained, partnership-led search firm rather than a transactional recruiter. That means fewer searches, deeper engagement, and a far higher level of commitment to outcomes. By combining sector specialism, market intelligence, and a disciplined search methodology, we deliver hires that are aligned not only to role requirements, but to culture, strategy, and long-term growth plans.

How do you find and assess candidates?

We don't rely on databases or job advertising alone. Our searches are driven by proactive market mapping, targeted outreach, and insight gained from long-standing sector networks. Candidates are assessed on capability, leadership style, cultural alignment, and long-term potential — not just CV fit — ensuring a robust and well-informed shortlist.

How do you approach confidential searches?

Confidentiality is fundamental to how we operate. Every search is handled with discretion, clear communication, and controlled market engagement. As your representative in the market, we protect your brand, manage messaging carefully, and ensure sensitive information is only shared when appropriate — safeguarding both your business and your candidates throughout the process.

What is your success rate in filling roles?

Our retained model is designed to deliver outcomes, not volume. Because we invest the time to fully understand the role, the business, and the wider context, we achieve a consistently high completion rate across our searches. More importantly, our focus is on long-term retention and impact, not short-term placement metrics.

What happens if a hire doesn't work out?

While our process is designed to minimise risk, we recognise that circumstances can change. In the rare event a placement doesn't succeed, we work closely with our client to address the situation and agree the most appropriate next steps. Our commitment is to the partnership and the outcome — not just the initial hire.

For more information on our Lubricants, Oil & Gas services, get in touch with

Luca Dowdell

Principal Consultant

Hundreds of 'Excellent' reviews

Lubricants, Oil & Gas Executive Search

Helping Lubricants, Oil & Gas companies unlock their next stage of growth

Specialisms We Cover

Automotive Lubricants Downstream Oil Gas Food-grade Lubricants Fuel Specialty Chemicals Heavy Duty Lubricant Additives Industrial Lubricant Additives Industrial Lubricants Lubricant Speciality Chemicals Marine Lubricants Metalworking Fluid Metalworking Fluid Additives Midstream Oil Gas Oilfield Chemicals Passenger Car Lubricant Additives Petrochemicals Refinery Chemicals Upstream Oil Gas

The global lubricants market is valued at approximately USD 150–180 billion and is projected to grow steadily toward USD 220–270 billion by 2035. Specialty oilfield chemicals are forecast to expand from roughly USD 16.8 billion in 2025 to over USD 26 billion by 2035, reflecting sustained investment in production efficiency and advanced chemical technologies.

Lubricants and oil & gas remain fundamental to global industrial output, transportation and energy security. From upstream exploration and drilling through to refining, fuels production and industrial lubrication, this is a market built on chemistry, capital intensity and operational resilience.

Performance is non-negotiable. Products must function under extreme temperature, pressure and mechanical stress while meeting increasingly stringent regulatory and environmental standards.

Leadership success requires a blend of chemical expertise, operational understanding and strategic commercial capability.

Growth in synthetic formulations, electrified mobility fluids, industrial automation and efficiency-driven maintenance programmes continues to reshape the competitive landscape. Technical leadership and innovation pipelines are central to market differentiation.

Despite ongoing energy transition discussions, hydrocarbons continue to support global transport, petrochemicals and industrial demand. Investment remains concentrated in efficiency, asset life extension and lower-emission fuel technologies.

Recruiting within lubricants and oil & gas demands more than functional alignment. It requires sector fluency, understanding of OEM approval frameworks, awareness of commodity cycles and access to technically credible leadership talent.

We partner with integrated energy companies, independent producers, refiners, specialty chemical manufacturers and additive technology providers to secure senior leaders and technical specialists who can drive innovation, operational efficiency and commercial growth in complex, performance-critical environments.

Download the Lubricants, Oil & Gas Brochure

Download our brochure

Learn more about our services, approach and the sectors we operate in.

Did you know?

Hiring the wrong candidate costs more than just time—it can waste salary, training resources, and opportunities. The Department of Labour estimates a bad hire can cost up to 30% of the role’s first-year earnings.

We hire right

Organisations are often reluctant to use external recruiters due the percieved cost. Think about it like this - what financial benefit could a top candidate bring to your business unit? You could make a 100x return on your investment.

97% Placement Rate 1
1.78:1 CVs Sent to Interviews 2
Avg. 32 Day Engagement to Placement 3

1. Based on all roles engaged on by a client on an exclusive basis from Jan 4 2025 - Dec 31 2025.

2. All CVs Sent from Jan 4 2025 - Dec 31 2025.

3. From Jan 4 2025 - Dec 31 2025.

Stats

387 active opportunities

1,908 placements made across 25 sectors

262,736 companies in our CRM

"At Irving Knight, we don't just fill positions; we build lasting partnerships. Our commitment to understanding your unique needs ensures that we deliver leaders who drive success and embody your company's values. When it comes to identifying the high-performers of tomorrow, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Our bespoke approach ensures every search is personal, diverse, and tailored from the ground up — delivering an individual, unrivalled experience for both clients and candidates. "

- Joe Davey, Group CEO of Irving Knight Group

Valeria Pozzi

Procurement Category Manager, Italy

Working with Oliver has been a real pleasure!His highly professionalism and transparency made me comfortable to consi...

Oliver Kiddy

Flavors & Fragrances

Keith Parvin

Automation Division Director

I found Joseph to be extremely professional in every way when going through a recent recruitment process, always doin...

Joseph Davey

Group CEO

Kaitlin Lammers

Account Manager

Oliver made the hiring process smooth from start to finish. He was consistently responsive, understanding, and suppor...

Oliver Kiddy

Flavors & Fragrances

Ashley Maclean

Systems Sales Engineer, South Carolina

Jack Purnell with Irving Knight was the best recruiter I’ve worked with - by far. He communicated clearly, was respec...

Jack Purnell

Material Handling & Automation

Guillermo Leal

Global Director of Pricing, US

I've worked with a few recruiters in the past but Oliver surprised me not only for his professionalism, excellent com...

Oliver Kiddy

Flavors & Fragrances

Todd McBroom

District Sales Mgr, US

Great Experience!! This was my first time dealing with a recuiter and could not have been a better experience. Jack ...

Jack Purnell

Material Handling & Automation

Rania Metwall