Nicholas has two very distinct phases in his career, one in the City and the other in executive search.

Nicholas' City career began when he left the army and joined Williams de Broe in 1955, becoming a Partner in 1959. He then moved to Panmure Gordon as a Partner in 1965. He covered most areas, Market Partner, Institutional Sales and Corporate Finance. Nicholas' last position in the City was as a merchant banker with Worms & Co where he started an oil company that thrived for many years.

In the mid-1980's Nicholas was invited to join Wrightson Wood, which was the start of his career in executive search. In the intervening years he has been the Chairman of Stephenson Cobbold, and then a major shareholder and partner of Knight Wendling.

Nicholas joined Norman Broadbent in 1998. Over this period he has handled a number of varied assignments; City, Financial Services, Oil, Mining, Government work and very much slanting recently towards the Board Practice and Non-Executive Directors. Nicholas has a collaborative style, and has brought large projects to the firm which colleagues in other centres of excellence have been able to help deliver.

For a long time he has been a Non-Executive Director of a number of different concerns in the UK, US and Europe including: Non-Executive, Drayton Consolidated Trust, Second Consolidated Investment Trust, Power Investment Trust, The Exploration Company of Louisiana, Haussmann Holdings, Heliunion, Greenwich Insurance Holdings. Currently on Advisory Council of Princes Trust.