What began as a leap of faith has grown into a remarkable journey of growth, impact, and leadership. From the first employee of 3R to the Director of Client Experience, Kim De'ath’s 10-year journey with 3R has been a reflection of hard-work, adaptability and unwavering commitment.
Through these years, Kim has worn many hats to fit what 3R has need at the time, be it an operations manager or a sales and marketing manager, she has gone above and beyond to ensure stability for a growing 3R. Today, we celebrate her achievements and personal and professional growth and thank her for the key role she has played in bringing 3R to where it is today.
“Kim has been a massive influence on everything 3R does and how we do it. She has created hundreds of strong and continually developing relationships not only with our amazing customers, but also with our strategic partners and the broader recruitment community.” says Mike Bowler, Founder of 3R.
“Ten years is a long time in one job and many people may start levelling off long before the milestone is reached. This is not the case with Kim, who is at the top of her game in 2025 and still growing!”
Join us as we mark this milestone with a special feature: 10 questions for 10 years, to reflect on Kim's journey with 3R, her insights on the evolving recruitment industry, and look ahead to what’s next.
What initially drew you to 3R, and what has kept you here for a decade?
“Looking back, my journey with 3R started years before the company existed. I worked closely with Mike Bowler at MatchTech (now Gattaca), where he was a director. From within his team, I had the opportunity to carve out a niche role, focusing on client engagement.
It was a new and exciting space, ensuring our largest clients felt valued, coordinating with specialist teams, and delivering exceptional service. Those years taught me a lot about relationship-building and the importance of client experience.
Eventually, I left MatchTech, started a family, and five years had passed since I last worked with Mike. During my second maternity leave, we caught up over a coffee. Mike shared his plans with his start-up - 3R. He looked re-energized and excited about the future, and I felt incredibly flattered that he saw a place for me in his plans.
I couldn’t ignore the feeling that what Mike was building was special, and I appreciated his willingness to wait six months for me to finish the role I was in - it spoke volumes about his commitment.
When I joined 3R in 2015, it was a leap of faith. We didn’t have an office yet, and I started working part-time from home around my family. But I trusted Mike, believed in the vision, and in our product. That belief kept me going in those early days.
What’s kept me here over the last decade is the people. It’s the team we've built - each person genuinely has a purpose, a role that matters, and we all share a common commitment to making things work for our clients and for each other. There's an authentic sense of shared success at 3R. No one stands alone; everyone chips in, supports one another, and believes in the bigger vision.
To see how far we've come and to know that I've played a part in building something so meaningful makes me incredibly proud. And even after ten years, I’m just as excited for what’s ahead as I was on that very first day.”
From the 1st employee at 3R to the Director of Client Experience, how has your role evolved?
“When I look back, it’s incredible to see just how much my role has evolved over the years. From day one, I wore many hats - marketing, sales, PR, branding, account management, partnerships - you name it. I was willing to jump in wherever the business needed me most. Those early days were all about learning, adapting, and doing whatever it took to help 3R grow.
I started part-time, working around my young family, but as my daughters grew, so did my capacity to take on more responsibility. Today, I’m proud to sit on the strategic board, shaping the direction and trajectory of the business alongside an incredible Senior Management Team and Board of Directors.
A huge part of that journey was the trust and autonomy Mike gave me from the very beginning. He allowed me to learn, to experiment and to actively shape the business with him. He built a team around us that complemented our growing needs, and as 3R matured, so did my role within it. Over time, I found myself increasingly involved in key decision-making, setting strategic goals, and making sure we were actively moving towards opportunities and growth.
What’s helped me immensely is my foundation in recruitment - I didn’t fall into this industry, I chose it! I trained, worked hard, and spent nearly a decade at MatchTech honing my skills. Coming from a family with a business background in recruitment also gave me a natural appreciation for the sector. I genuinely love learning about people, understanding what drives them, and cheering them on as they chase their dreams.
That genuine empathy, paired with years of industry experience, has allowed me to connect with clients and colleagues in a way that goes beyond just transactions. It's about relationships, trust, and helping people succeed."
How has the recruitment landscape changed in the last 10 years, and how has 3R adapted?
"Recruitment is fundamentally a people-driven industry, yet the landscape has changed dramatically over the past decade. Technology, candidate expectations, and client demands have evolved, expanding how recruiters deliver services, with models like MSPs and retained solutions becoming more common.
Despite this evolution, I believe there’s a greater need now more than ever for boutique-style agencies that can stay agile, deliver quickly, build real relationships, and prioritise their own values.
Our original mission was to help passionate recruiters start agencies, offering funding, back-office support, CRM systems, and essentials to empower them. Over time, we realised our core strength was our funding and back-office solutions. As we invested further into 3R’s tech, the platform grew, and so did our focus on delivering exceptional recruitment solutions. That shift wasn’t accidental; it came from listening to the market, understanding its needs, and continuously improving what we offer.
Today, our technology is one of the strongest in the market, designed by our exceptional UK-based Dev team and shaped by real recruitment experience. Every feature addresses agencies' current needs: flexibility, compliance, speed, and scalability.
At 3R, we're continuously evolving to reflect changes in the recruitment industry, so our focus remains on resilience, ambition, and seizing opportunities."
What is the most rewarding aspect of working with clients?
"For me, the most rewarding part of working with our clients is seeing their journey unfold, especially that moment when they send out their very first invoice. It usually happens faster than they expect, and witnessing that early success never gets old. It’s a real milestone, a tangible sign that their dream is becoming a reality.
Beyond that, I really value the relationships we build. It's not just about our clients, it’s also about the prospects we meet, our strategic partners, and the broader network of incredible people we meet with across the industry. Relationship-building has always been the part of my role I enjoy the most; it’s at the core of everything we do at 3R.
I have a genuine curiosity and positivity when it comes to people’s stories. It’s not something you can fake. I love hearing about someone's vision, getting excited about their journey, and being there to celebrate their wins. Equally, when times get tough and they inevitably do in any entrepreneurial journey, I take pride in being a steady, supportive voice, helping where I can and being a cheerleader when they need it most.
What makes it even more special is knowing that the work we do at 3R - the tech, the support, the structure we provide - plays a real, tangible part in their success. Being part of their story, even in a small way, is an incredible privilege - it’s what keeps me passionate!"
What does exceptional client experience mean to you, and how do you ensure it in your team’s work?
"Exceptional client experience, to me, starts with empathy and truly putting myself in our clients’ shoes. It’s about offering support, guidance, and understanding, but also having a genuine interest in who they are, what they’re building, and how we can help them scale and succeed.
I will never tire of hearing passionate, determined recruiters talk about the businesses they’re creating and the dreams they’re chasing. So for us, staying in touch with our recruiters, cheering them on from the sidelines - it all matters in building long-term, trusted relationships.
At 3R, we’ve built a culture where exceptional client experience is everyone's responsibility. It’s not about hierarchy; our senior management team leads by example, and no one is ever too senior to roll up their sleeves and get involved. Everyone understands the role they play in delivering an outstanding experience for our clients.
We keep our 3R values at the centre of our team's work, ensuring we're client-first in everything we do. We truly believe our clients’ growth is our growth, and when we stay true to that, exceptional client experience naturally follows."
You’ve seen the team evolve in the last 10 years, what inspires you about the 3R team today?
"The genuine care and passion the team has for delivering the very best, whether it’s our technology, our service, or the way we look after our clients. That level of dedication is infectious. It inspires me to want to do more, to keep raising the bar, and honestly, it makes getting out of bed every morning an absolute breeze.
I love seeing new ideas come to life. We’ve built a team that brings fresh perspectives, with people from different backgrounds - not just recruitment, which has added so much strength and creativity to what we do. We’ve managed to grow while still maintaining the fun, supportive culture that made 3R special from the beginning.
There's no Sunday night dread here, just excitement for the week ahead. We genuinely enjoy working together and having a laugh, because we all believe in what we’re building."
“Kim is one of those rare people who’s always up for a laugh, a good craic, but somehow still finds time for everyone – a proper good egg. She’s open, full of ideas, genuinely caring, and somehow manages to be the team’s mother hen too! Here’s to another 10 years of Kim magic – now it’s double trouble (Kim Squared!).” – Kim Pritchard, Head of Marketing at 3R
Do you have a favourite memory or funny story from your time at 3R?
"I've been lucky enough to make so many great memories at 3r over the years - it’s hard to pick just one!
Some of my favourite memories are from those early client parties at 100 Wardour Street. Those carefree evenings, filled with great conversations, delicious food and lots of dancing. Those evenings truly captured the energy and optimism of 3R as we built something special.
The Recruitment Expo has also been a real highlight over the years – we even hosted our own stand in 2019. Through the years of networking at the expo, I’ve met so many wonderful people - clients, partners, prospects - it’s always an insightful event.
I still laugh about the time I mistook a prospect for an existing client at the Broadbean cocktail bar stand and launched into a conversation with a hug, only to be kindly corrected! It’s moments like that which remind you how much this industry is built on human connections.
Most recently, it was our 2024 Office Christmas party that created some fun memories - Kai and Ryan dressed as santa and his elf was a highlight."
What are the biggest lessons you’ve learned over the past decade?
"Believe in yourself. Stay resilient, and don’t take business too personally. Like Chris Powell says, “What’s the worst that could happen?”
And most importantly, find a team that has your back 100% - and then some. Life’s too short to spend it in a job you don’t love."
What excites you most about the next 5–10 years, for 3R and yourself?
"When I look ahead, I feel genuinely excited! I can’t wait to see 3R continue to grow and absolutely smash our business goals. There’s an incredible energy in the team right now and watching everyone levelling up to take the business further, is something really special.
I’m focused on continuing to strengthen my understanding of business so I can support 3R, the team, and our growth even better. Having Dan Brogan as our Managing Director has been a real highlight - he’s someone I trust and learn from every day. We've built a great working relationship that’s grounded in mutual respect, support and a drive to see the entire business, thrive. I’m excited to continue growing alongside him and the rest of the leadership team."
“Kim has a natural ability to connect with People which is a real strength. In a world where personal touch and a real passion to build lasting relationships is often lost, this is a massive asset to her and 3R alike. It’s been great working with Kim as we are very much aligned in how we see the business evolving over time.” says Dan Brogan, Managing Director at 3R. “It is, and will remain, a people focused business that is underpinned by world class technology. She’s a vital part to the past and future of 3R, so the future looks bright!”
"I’m also really conscious of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Being present for my family, creating memories with my daughters, enjoying life’s experiences, that’s hugely important to me. I want to keep focusing on the things that make life worthwhile!"
If you could sum up your 10-year journey in three words, what would they be?
"Fun. Hard work. And worth it - a million times over!"
Here's to the Next Chapter🥂
Kim’s journey is a true reflection of what 3R stands for - commitment, adaptability, passion, and people-first values. We are incredibly proud to celebrate this 10-year milestone with her and are excited for everything still to come.