our team

About Our Experts

Preston & Company is proud to be a veteran-owned executive search firm servicing our great clients leading talent in financial services. The boutique nature of our firm allows for a closer level of partnership and collaboration to successfully complete high-level, high-impact searches. Over the years, our team of professional search consultants has built robust networks of talent, and provided exceptional consultation for our partners throughout every step of the search process.

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Joe Preston

President & CEO

Joe Preston

President & CEO

About Joe

Joe Preston began in the Executive Search business in 1985. He worked for two small recruiting firms that covered the Financial Services industry. The beginning of his recruiting career was covering Banking with Branch Managers and Commercial Loan officers. Preston & Company was formed in 1992 and the focus then changed to Private Investment Banking with its significant growth in the 90s. This led to the Investment business and focusing on Portfolio Managers, Analysts and Distribution in the late 90s and early 2000s. Retirement and Insurance coverage came into focus as well during this time frame and still is today.

Joe served in the US Navy first as a mechanic on A-6 Intruders on the USS Nimitz and then flying as a flight engineer in a P-3 Orion. He then graduated from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and worked in Corporate aviation for a few years. Joe received his Private Pilot certificate in 1995 and Commercial Pilot Certificate in February of 2020. He is also a certified Aviation Technician. Aviation is and always has been a passion. Antique aircraft restoration is a big focus with a number of projects completed and one underway. Joe is also the chapter coordinator for the Ray Aviation scholarship program from the Experimental Aircraft Association. This scholarship program provides funding for young people between 16 and 18 to acquire their Private Pilot certificate.

Kristin Richardson

VP of Business Development

Kristin Richardson has more than 17 years of search experience in recruiting top level talent, spending her first 8 years in IT and Telecom. She has successfully spent the past 9+ years in the financial services and insurance industries, working with top tier firms, as well as rapidly expanding industry rising stars. She has also worked as a Corporate Director of HR for an international telecommunications firm. Her core strength lies in her ability to see beyond what is written on paper and to look at both candidates and positions to identify a match that will benefit the firm and the individual from a skills and future growth potential. Her internal HR experience is a welcome bridge to partner with our client’s internal HR teams in identifying the most critical, diverse and challenging candidates.

Kristin’s years of experience coupled with Preston & Company’s 28+ years of executive search and consulting experience create the perfect blend of industry knowledge and strong recruiting expertise. Kristin attended Salisbury University where she studied Communications and Journalism. She also volunteers time to her local high school FRC robotics team, where she mentors the media and marketing team.

Kristin Richardson

VP of Business Development

About Kristin

Kristin Richardson has more than 17 years of search experience in recruiting top level talent, spending her first 8 years in IT and Telecom. She has successfully spent the past 9+ years in the financial services and insurance industries, working with top tier firms, as well as rapidly expanding industry rising stars. She has also worked as a Corporate Director of HR for an international telecommunications firm. Her core strength lies in her ability to see beyond what is written on paper and to look at both candidates and positions to identify a match that will benefit the firm and the individual from a skills and future growth potential. Her internal HR experience is a welcome bridge to partner with our client’s internal HR teams in identifying the most critical, diverse and challenging candidates.

Kristin’s years of experience coupled with Preston & Company’s 28+ years of executive search and consulting experience create the perfect blend of industry knowledge and strong recruiting expertise. Kristin attended Salisbury University where she studied Communications and Journalism. She also volunteers time to her local high school FRC robotics team, where she mentors the media and marketing team.

MELANIE BRACKEN

Office Manager

MELANIE BRACKEN

Office Manager

About Melanie

Melanie is the glue that holds us together. She started with the company in 2005.  As the office manager, her areas of expertise include payroll, database management and special projects, candidate research, vendor management, and any other challenging task that comes across her desk.  Melanie works with candidates and clients to facilitate schedules and interviews, travel and making sure nothing falls through the cracks. 

Melanie began her career in publishing. She spent time as a sales director selling printing to large and small magazine and catalog publishers, and worked in publishing as a Vice President of Production Services, maintaining production deadlines for 31 publications as well as P & L responsibility for a department of 19 employees including yearly budgeting and reforecasting.

Melanie also is a fully certified medical technician in GI Endoscopy. She graduated from Fashion Institute of Technology with a degree in Advertising and Communication.

"I have worked with Preston & Company, and Joe and his colleagues since 2005 on numerous senior leadership searches in both insurance and investment management across the C-Suite realm. One of the most remarkable legacies of Joe’s involvement has been that each of the hires is still in the roles we recruited them for, going back to 2005 in some cases. This speaks to the thoroughness of his approach, his ability to understand the needs of the hiring organization and ability to find the right cultural match result in talent for the long-game. Joe is always easily acceptable and often pushes you to think about context and considerations that might not have been apparent. Ours is not a transactional relationship, he has become a strategic business partner and a friend."
Executive DirectorFortune 250 Global Financial Services Firm
"We have worked with Preston & Company for many years and have been impressed with their superb attention to detail and focus on diversity. They show consistent creativity, thoroughness and flexibility during the process and are able to identify the right cultural fit for our organization. Their custom developed process is different than any other competitor and has been very successful."
Head of Distribution
Head of DistributionTop 10 Global Asset Manager
Preston & Company has partnered with us for over 12 years. They took the time to truly understand our unique culture and what our business requires. As a result, they have placed five members of our executive leadership team who continue to excel and are still with the organization today. Preston & Company is my first resource when it comes to finding qualified senior-level candidates who fit.
Head of Human Resources
Head of Human ResourcesTop 5 Global Insurance Company
I have worked with Joe and the group at Preston & Company for over 10 years. They take a deep, thoughtful approach to bringing together the best fit for candidates and the hiring organization. Joe and his team have always understood how important diversity is to our searches and continue to deliver excellent results. I have been impressed with their thoroughness and attention to detail as they source candidates, always putting forth strong quality individuals.
Head of Intermediary Distribution
Head of Intermediary DistributionTop 50 Asset Manager
Preston and Company got to know our team, values, and the traits required for success in the roles they helped me fill. In each engagement I felt like he brought us a slate of pre-screened qualified candidates, including out of the box candidates, which allowed us to find solid long-term fits for our team.
Managing DirectorTop 50 Global Asset Manager
"It was a pleasure working with Joe on an assignment to hire a Managing Director for one of our teams. He was professional and very responsive to all requests. His due diligence process is thorough, and he served up excellent candidates. Having as much experience as Joe does makes a big difference in a competitive marketplace."
Managing Director – Global Consultant RelationsFortune 250 Financial Services Firm

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  • 12 Lower Center Street, Suite 2
    Clinton, NJ 08809

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Photography by Jim Koepnick

Jim is a world renowned independent digital journalist and photographer specializing in aviation, sports, and street photography, and is a former Chief Photographer of the EAA. His photos have been published in magazines such as Life, Time, Men's Journal, People and Popular Mechanics.