Executive search for Private and Family Offices. Senior appointments in high-trust private environments.
We place Chiefs of Staff, Executive Assistants, investment professionals and senior household staff in the UK, the United States and internationally. Every search is senior-led.
Selected mandates
All current jobs- House Manager Private household, London Search closed
- Chief of Staff Private office, London Search closed
- Chief Executive Officer Luxury hospitality, London Search closed
- Finance and Operations Analyst Single family office, Italy Search closed
Not every search is advertised. Register in confidence
- 2018
- Founded in London
- Three functions
- Office & Administration, Investments & Finance, Household & Lifestyle
- Mayfair, London
- With a presence in New York and Dubai
Three functions in a Private and Family Office
Oplu places across all three functions of a Private or Family Office, and for the businesses a Principal owns.
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Office & Administration
The office around the Principal, starting with the Chief of Staff: executive and personal assistants, office leadership and private IT.
Office & Administration practice -
Investments & Finance
Investment leadership, finance and fund operations.
- Chief Investment Officer
- Investment Director or Portfolio Manager
- Analyst and Associate
- CFO / Finance Director
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Household & Lifestyle
Leadership for the household and the people closest to the Principal: residences, estates, kitchen, security and lifestyle. Full teams built on request.
- Director of Residences
- Estate Manager
- House Manager
- Private PA
- Lifestyle Manager
- Private Chef
- Head of Security
The businesses around the Principal
The hotels, members’ clubs and brands Principals own, and the firms that serve them: concierge and lifestyle management, private property management, private aviation, yachting and medical assistance.
Luxury & Private Client practiceSelected work
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Office & Administration
Chief of Staff to Principal, Single Family Office
Single family office, London · Retained search · 2026 In post; the client has since engaged Oplu on an investment hire into the same office. Read the case -
Investments & Finance
Chief Investment Officer, London Single Family Office
Single family office, London · Retained search · 2024 In post since 2024; the office has since engaged Oplu on an investment analyst hire. Read the case -
Household & Lifestyle
Estate Manager, UK Home Counties
UK, Home Counties · Retained search · 2024 Started ahead of the predecessor's retirement. In post since 2024; the client has since engaged Oplu on a further search. Read the case
What clients say
Attributed by role and household. Names withheld as a matter of course.
We engaged Oplu on a Travelling Personal Assistant hire. The experience was genuinely different. They were direct, relevant, and rigorous in screening. Communication was clear and the process was transparent from the outset. We went from brief to placement within weeks, which is unusual for this type of role.
Chief of Staff
Single Family Office, London
We worked with Oplu on a Group Chief Commercial Officer search. Their communication is sharp and well structured, and they keep the process outcomes-focused. It never feels transactional. They take time to understand the brief and represent it effectively to the market. The result is a shortlist you can trust.
Head of Group HR
Luxury Hospitality (5-Star Hotel Group), Global
- Google reviews Read them on Google
- REC Corporate Member Recruitment & Employment Confederation
- GDPR Confidentiality as an operating discipline
The Managing Directors
Every search is senior-led. On retained searches, a Managing Director stays involved throughout.
A team of research analysts and candidate consultants supports every search.
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Antonia Edwards
Founder and Managing Director
Founded the firm in 2018 after a decade at Quintessentially.
Leads Office & Administration and Household & Lifestyle, and Private Office Design with Firat.
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Firat Bay, CFA
Managing Director
CFA charterholder, after a decade in investments and portfolio management.
Leads Investments & Finance, and Private Office Design with Antonia.
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Brief
Agreed with the Principal or their representative before anyone is approached: the authority the role carries, access, boundaries, travel, language and rota.
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Search
We headhunt, with controlled disclosure: we agree what can be shared, with whom and at what stage.
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Shortlist
Three to five people who are ready to be met, each interviewed at length.
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Appoint
We support the offer, the negotiation and the first months in post.
Private Office Design
A short, structured engagement that sets out the office a Principal’s affairs require and who to hire first.
About the engagement- The diagnostic
- The structure
- The hiring plan
Compensation benchmarks
From Oplu’s 2026 salary guides. UK ranges shown; US ranges are in each guide.
- Private & Family Office Salary Guide 2026 Chief of Staff to a Principal, UK £80,000 to £150,000 Base in most offices. US $150,000 to $300,000 base. Full guide: UK, US and Dubai ranges by role
- Private & Family Office Salary Guide 2026 Family Office CEO or Director, UK £180,000 to £340,000 Base for mid-sized offices; above £365,000 in large single family offices. Full guide: UK, US and Dubai ranges by role
- Household & Lifestyle Salary Guide 2026 Estate Manager, UK £50,000 to £90,000 Base for a single property; £90,000 to £150,000+ for multi-residence or international portfolios. Full guide: UK, US and Europe
Questions clients ask
More on each practice page and in How we work with clients.
What does Oplu do?
Oplu is an executive search firm for Private and Family Offices. We place senior appointments in high-trust private environments: Chiefs of Staff, Executive and Personal Assistants, office and operations directors, finance and investment professionals, and the senior household staff who run a Principal’s residences. Every search is senior-led, in the UK, the United States and internationally. We also lead senior searches for the businesses around the Principal: the hotels, clubs and brands they own, and the concierge, property and aviation firms that serve them.
Do you work with the Principal or with the office?
Both. Briefs come from Principals and from the Chief of Staff, Executive Assistant, Personal Assistant or office director who acts for them.
How long does a search take?
It depends on the role, the salary and who is ready to move at the time. When we take the brief, we say what we expect for your search, and we tell you when that changes.
How do you keep a search confidential?
We can agree an NDA before you share the brief. Disclosure is staged: the market hears a role and a household type, not a name, until the shortlist stage, and we agree with you who may know and when.
Who runs our search?
Every search is senior-led. On retained searches, a Managing Director stays involved throughout.
Where does Oplu work?
Mayfair, London, with a presence in New York and Dubai. We take mandates across the UK, the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Call London +44 20 8164 2424 or New York +1 212 229 6226.
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Founder's Associate vs Chief of Staff
The two roles founders confuse most. What each one actually owns, which to hire first, and what it costs when the titles are swapped.
Read -
Building the First Hire in a Single Family Office
How to structure the first senior hire when setting up a single family office. Which role comes first, what it costs, and what to avoid.
Read -
House Manager vs Estate Manager vs Head of Household
The real difference between a House Manager, Estate Manager, and Head of Household at UHNW level. Scope, authority, salary, and how to decide.
Read
Candidates
Not every search is advertised. Register in confidence.
- Nothing is shared without your consent.
- References staged to protect you in a live role.
Will my employer find out?
Nothing is shared without your consent, and references are staged to protect you in a live role.
How do I hear about new roles?
Not all roles can be advertised. Register as a candidate and we will consider you for them. Advertised roles are listed under current jobs.
Hiring for an office or a household? Begin with a conversation in confidence.