Meet The Team

Jonathan Ellerbeck is the Managing Director and founder of Gravitas Recruitment Group. 

Jonathan joined Pathway Resourcing (part of SThree Group Plc) as a trainee consultant in April 2000, and quickly established himself as one of the firm's leading consultants. Jonathan maintained this personal success for a number of years, whilst simultaneously growing a team of almost 80 consultants, acting as a coach and mentor to trainee and more experienced consultants alike. Jonathan was promoted to Sales Director in 2008, assuming responsibility for all UK operations of Pathway Resourcing, including over 145 employees. In 2008, Pathway delivered the SThree Group over £17 million gross profit.

In 2010, Jonathan founded Gravitas Recruitment Group after recognising a niche in the market for an agency that could offer the specialisms of a boutique search and selection company, combined with the professionalism of a larger resourcing firm. In addition to his extensive market knowledge, Jonathan built Gravitas around four key values that continue to underpin all activity within the organisation: Respect, Integrity, Passion and Excellence.

Jonathan is dedicated to offering a marketing leading service to our clients, and retains a hands on role within the organisation, leading by example to ensure the highest levels of service to both candidates and clients.  Jonathan read Ancient History and Geography at University College London, and Kings College London respectively.

Alexandra is a founding Director of Gravitas Recruitment Group and is the Regional Director of Gravitas’ UK business.  With just over 13 years recruitment experience across contract and  permanent markets, she is responsible for the day to day management and growth of our UK based regional offices, whilst also having responsibility for the continued growth and development of the Internal Recruitment function, the Business Development function and the Learning & Development function.

Alexandra’s recruitment career started in 2001, shortly after graduating from Sheffield Hallam University.  She joined the SThree Group as a trainee recruitment consultant and very quickly became one of the top performers within the business.  Within 8 years she had become a highly successful Business Manager, with responsibility for a business unit generating £6 million GP, with over 60 consultants reporting to her.  She was influential in the re-development of the training and coaching programme, instrumental in implementing structure and process to sales teams, whilst working closely with the business development function to win a number of big client accounts and further developing the offering.  

Alexandra’s strong relationship with Jonathan and Daniel was pivotal to her decision to be a part of the Gravitas brand in 2010, alongside her ambition to want to grow and establish a recruitment business that was truly different to the norm!  Outside of work her hobbies include walking, running and anything that involves keeping fit in the outdoors. 

Jo Callaghan is a UK Business Manager at Gravitas Recruitment Group, heading up the UK Public Sector and NPO Team.

Drawing on her extensive experience of Public Sector recruitment, Jo founded Gravitas’ UK Public Sector/NPO Division.  Under Jo’s guidance, the team has established itself as one of the leading search and selection firms in the sector, working closely with government bodies, education organisations, the NHS, Housing organisations and other NPOs.

Before joining Gravitas, Jo was a Sales Manager at Real Staffing Group, part the of The SThree Group, where she initiated and managed many key accounts with large public sector bodies. During her time at Real Staffing, Jo won several accolades including Top Rookie and Top Team.

In 2013, Jo won Gravitas' Top Sales Consultant performance Award and mentored Gravitas’ Top Rookie.

Since joining Gravitas Jo has strived to add value to her team, her organisation and the market – and has excelled in this by opening up a Gravitas Manchester Office in 2014 which now acts as a hub for Public Sector and NPO.

Jo received a BSc in Politics and History at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, graduating in 2007 with a 2:1.

Ross Katz is a Business Manager at Gravitas Recruitment Group, heading up the permanent Banking & Finance team.

Drawing on his extensive experience of financial sector recruitment, Ross founded Gravitas’ permanent Banking & Finance team. Under Ross’ guidance, the team has established itself as one of the leading search and selection firms in the City, working closely with investment and retail banks, trading houses, hedge funds, asset managers and financial software houses.

Before joining Gravitas, Ross was a Principal Consultant at Real Global Markets, part of the SThree group, where he initiated and managed many key accounts with tier 1 investment banks. During his time at Real Global Markets, Ross won several accolades including SThree UK Top Consultant  2011, and Real Staffing Top Consultant 2010 and 2011.

Ross then moved to Cititec, where he quickly established himself as the leading permanent consultant, whilst managing the permanent IT Banking division.

Ross received a BSc in Management Studies at the University of Nottingham, graduating in 2008 with a 2:1.

Shilen Shah is a Business Manager at Gravitas Recruitment Group, heading up the contract IT Banking & Finance team.

Shilen founded Gravitas’ contract IT banking and finance division, bringing with him nearly eight years' experience of IT recruitment in the City. Shilen continues to work closely with his clients and candidates, but also acts as a mentor to the contract IT Banking team, where his experience, understanding of the market and professional manner have helped establish Gravitas as a market leader in financial sector recruitment.

Shilen started his career as part of the SThree graduate recruitment scheme, where he specialised in placing Microsoft developers.  During his time at SThree, Shilen  grew a team that consulted across various IT roles within the Investment banking market in London, setting up a highly successful contract IT Banking business. During his time at SThree, Shilen won many accolades including SThree UK Top Consultant 2009, and Real Staffing Banking IT Top Consultant 2007,2008,2009,2010.

Shilen received a BSc in Business Management and Public Policy at Aston University, graduating in 2006 with First Class honours. 

Taking his deep knowledge of recruitment from a FTSE 250 company, Joseph joined Gravitas as Principal Consultant, helping to develop and grow Digital Gravitas' brand and social networking approach to recruitment – he took his idea from a sheet of paper and wanted to make recruitment more interactive. He says “People assume innovation is about something new but it can be about just taking something that already exists and doing it better, just like Steve Jobs did with APPLE”. 

Wanting to make recruitment more interactive Joseph helped start Gravitas and founded DigitalGravitas, now a leading network event attracting passionate developers who love to drink and talk TECH. 
Having sponsored events at Droidcon, Mobile World Congress, Digital Dumbo etc…he’s determined to drive a more community approach to recruitment. ”People buy into People and good relationships breed further good relationships”.
As the Business Manager of Digital, he has grown what was initially a Native Group to a business promoting recruitment within Native | Web | Design | Testing Sectors.

Joseph attended University of Southampton and studied BioMedical Science.