DAVE RETFORD
dave.retford@dwsimpson.com
Director of Retained Search Services

Dave joined DW Simpson in October 1998 and is currently Director of Retained Search Services at DW Simpson. In his role, Dave is responsible for managing the recruiting and client management processes for DW Simpson's retained searches and clients.

Dave originally came to the firm in October 1998 to manage a fledgling division - On-Campus Resources (OCR). Over the next decade, the division grew into a separate business entity housed with and majority owned by DW Simpson.

OCR began serving the entry-level actuarial needs of DW Simpson's traditional client base. Over the years, OCR diversified and grew to serve the university recruiting programs at various companies including Toyota, Monsanto, Microsoft, Accenture, Maytag and John Hancock, to name just a few.

In January 2011, OCR was sold to a vendor and Dave moved into his current role as Director of Retained Search Services of DW Simpson.

Dave attended The Ohio State University and graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1987 with a BBA in Finance and a minor in Economics. His first position out of school was a Sales Manager based in Norman, Oklahoma for the pharmaceutical giant then known as Merrell Dow.

Dave's next move was to medical publishing with the global leader Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins. After eight years in progressively senior roles with the Baltimore-based organization, Dave was recruited to join DW Simpson.

Dave lives in the city of Chicago with his wife and two children. He is a sports fan particularly fond of (and generally disappointed by) the Chicago Cubs, The Ohio State University football, DePaul basketball, the Chicago Bears and his children's little league teams.