About Us
Talent. Delivered.
At Northborn, we believe recruitment is the most important part of any business plan. Whether you’re building something new or strengthening what already exists, it all starts with the right people.
We’re not here to just fill seats. We partner with businesses that care about hiring well – leaders who know that capability alone isn’t enough without alignment, intent, and cultural fit.
As Mads Faurholt-Jorgensen said in his TEDx talk:
“Leaders spend just 10% of their time recruiting – and 90% making up for hiring mistakes.”
We’re here to change that.
How We Work
At Northborn, we don’t just take a brief and start sourcing. We take the time to understand your business today – and the one you’re building for tomorrow.
We ask the right questions early so we can truly understand:
- Your business goals and growth plans
- Your team dynamics and ways of working
- How your organisation makes decisions
- What success actually looks like in your world
- The culture you’re protecting or creating
- The kind of person who will thrive, not just survive, in your environment
On paper, skill sets might look the same. But people never are. Every candidate brings something unique. Finding the right match is never just about ticking boxes – it’s about aligning values, mindset, and long-term purpose.
Beyond the Hire
Hiring doesn’t end when someone signs a contract – and neither do we.
In any project, there’s always a retrospective – a chance to reflect on what worked, what could be better, and what to carry forward. But for some reason, that doesn’t happen in recruitment.
We’re out to change that.
We keep the conversation going
so each check-in becomes a moment to reflect and grow:
- What’s gone well so far?
- What feedback or insights have emerged that could shape future hiring?
- In hindsight, is there anything you’d approach differently – questions you’d ask, information you’d want, or signals you’d prioritise?
- How can we make the next hire even stronger, faster, and more aligned?
It’s a long-term partnership, not a one-off transaction.
Our Goal Is Simple
We’re here to eliminate bad hires — entirely.
Because when you hire the right people, your job gets easier.
Your team grows stronger.
And your business moves forward.
About Rob
Rob Keyworth brings 25 years of recruitment experience – including the last decade spent leading in-house talent acquisition for some of New Zealand’s most successful growth companies.
He’s built and scaled high-performing teams at Compac Sorting, Invenco, Xplor (TSG/DebitSuccess), and Cin7, where he was a key part of the team that won NZ Hi-Tech Company of the Year in 2023. His work spans product, engineering, customer support, and operational functions – always with a focus on quality, pace, and long-term impact.
Originally from Durham City in the North East of England, Rob is now a proud Kiwi. He founded Northborn to deliver the kind of strategic recruitment partnership that drives real business growth, not just quick hires. The name itself reflects both his roots and his belief in building from strong foundations.
