September 2026
After founding Latte Recruitment 10 years ago, Dean Connelly steps down to focus on Latte Australia and New Zealand. The business has been acquired by recruitment leader and entrepreneur Simon Brown, who will take an active, hands-on role in leading Latte’s next phase of growth.
Dean will continue to build and develop Latte’s business across Australia and New Zealand while supporting a structured transition of the UK operation with Simon and the existing Latte UK team.
The acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for Latte. Over the past decade, we’ve built a strong reputation within the PR sector through our specialist market focus and a passion for working with independent agencies. Our commitment to a transparent, ‘no BS’ approach to PR recruitment continues – alongside our focus on PR, communications and related talent markets.
Dean Connelly on the acquisition of Latte:
Why have you decided to sell Latte now?
“Anyone who knows me knows that building Latte and the relationships around it has been a huge part of my life for over a decade. Choosing the right time and person to hand the business over to was incredibly important to me. Being honest, I knew it was time to let Latte go, but I didn’t think I would find someone who would be willing and able to take the business in the spirit of how the business has been built over the last ten years. Simon is that person.”
Why is Simon the right person?
“Simon understands recruitment inside out. He is so passionate about it, understands what it takes to build and lead an agency, and sees the value in what Latte already is. He knows our sector and, importantly, has an incredible passion for PR. I am really excited to see where he and the team take the business next.”
What are you doing next?
“My life and business focus are now increasingly in Australia and New Zealand, and I wanted the UK business to have an owner who would be present, committed and genuinely excited about leading it. Latte Australia is going from strength to strength, and it’s where I want to build the next phase of my life.
I’m really proud of what Latte has achieved since 2016, and I’m confident that I’m leaving the brand, team, and clients in very, very good hands. I hope you will join me in supporting Simon and the team as they bring Latte UK into a new era. To all of the wonderful clients, candidates, industry partners, and employees who’ve been part of the journey – thank you. You helped me build Latte into what it is today and I could not be more grateful.”
Simon Brown on the acquisition of Latte:
Why did you decide to acquire Latte UK?
“I could not be happier to have been in the position to acquire Latte. Having built and led recruitment agencies previously that have specialised in the creative sector, I have been a long-time admirer of Latte, the team, style, values and ways in which they work. I knew when I met Dean for the first time 12 months ago that I wanted to buy Latte. Having sold my own agency and enjoyed some time building a consulting brand, I knew I was missing the day-to-day of running a recruitment agency.
In short, I made the decision to buy Latte because I want to be hands-on again. I want to lead, I want to be close to the clients, candidates and team, and I want to do this across PR, comms and marketing as they are markets I am genuinely passionate about and believe in.”
So, why did you want to buy Latte, and what can people look forward to seeing from the agency in the future?
“There is already a strong brand, great team, a loyal client and candidate community, a lot that has been built over the years. I am not coming in to dismantle that, but to build on what makes Latte special, protect those things, and then bring my experience, energy and ideas to help create what comes next. I am so excited about that; more services, more support, more insight, more locations, improved client and candidate experience, all underpinned by the same ‘no BS’ and transparent approach that has driven the business to date.”
How involved will you be in the day-to-day operations of Latte?
“This is not something I have bought to sit above at a distance. I want to be in it. The first thing I am doing, with the support of Dean and the current team, is listening. I want to understand the relationships Latte has built, what clients and candidates value most about the business, and where we have the opportunity to become even better. There will be investment and development, but the starting point is continuity. The team remains in place, the specialist PR focus remains, current client work continues, and we build from there.”
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Simon previously founded and led recruitment businesses and is also the founder of Richard Knows Best, a strategic growth partner working with recruitment agencies on positioning, growth strategy, commercial process, leadership and go-to-market development.
The transaction has now been completed, and Simon Brown has assumed 100% ownership and leadership of Latte Recruitment Limited and its UK operation.