Security Check: Sam Gordon is the Executive Digital Recruiter and co-founder of Gordon & Eden, a boutique executive search firm based in Tech City. London native, part-time DJ, full-time father.
What’s your historical London and New York connection?
I moved to NYC in 2007 to start up the US CTO practice for a global exec search firm. Moved back to London in 2010 but stayed working between both cities ever since. I got married in NYC so it will always have a special connection!
Describe your experience in New York as a Londoner.
My lasting memory of early days as an ex-pat was that I loved the directness and positivity of doing business in New York. The English accent meant people remembered me but I had to work hard in first meetings to demonstrate that I understood the local market.
How can New York and London better engage with each other?
I believe London and NYC have more in common than they do with any other cities in their respective countries. Particularly in media, fashion and financial services – companies should look across the Atlantic first for partnerships. 3460 Miles is a great blueprint for how companies can work together and more initiatives like this are needed.
Favorite NYC secret spot: Ushiwakamaru Sushi. Under the radar, totally unpretentious, outstanding sushi spot. Book the sushi bar with head chef Hideo and you will not be disappointed. Turns into a Ramen bar from midnight until 4am, so the perfect place to start and end your evening.
Favorite London secret spot: One of the best things about living in East London is the constant flow of new independent bars and restaurants. Counter Cafe in Hackney Wick has been around for a few years now and remains one of my favourites. Tucked away a few blocks from the roar of the A12 in an industrial hinterland it is an oasis of calm: a cafe and art space on the River Lea serving amazing breakfasts and coffee to a hip but unaffected local crowd.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? For excitement, opportunity and general liveability I don’t think you can beat either London or New York. If I could live in a Brooklyn brownstone near Victoria Park with amazing local sushi or transplant the London music scene and British sense of humour to Fort Greene then I would never covet the other! I will never live anywhere apart from London or New York.
In flight entertainment:
- What’s playing in your headphones right now? The new Lockah LP “Yahoo or the Highway” is amazing: it’s like the soundtrack to an 80’s film with 2014 sonics.
- And what are you currently reading? I just finished Brett Easton Ellis “Imperial Bedrooms” which is a follow up to his classic Less Than Zero. Reading time is normally taken up with business books, but for rare downtime Vice magazine still nails it for their combination of irreverent humour and groundbreaking long form journalism.
