Business support specialists

Our story

Siobhan and Jo first met whilst they were recruitment trainees at a top London agency, and became firm friends.

They both went on to carve out successful careers within the industry until they decided to combine their knowledge, experience & enthusiasm by creating Hatty Blue in 2008.

Jo & Siobhan Directors

Our Evolution

Since our inception both the role of the secretary and business support in general has dramatically changed with ground breaking development in Tech and the way we live our lives.

We have proven ourselves to be flexible enough to adapt to the ebbs and flows which drive our clients’ businesses and have been able to review and focus the way we work accordingly, withstanding the test of time.

We are proud that year after year we continue to serve clients old and new, building upon our foundations of excellence to flourish and thrive.

Our Team

Joanna Donelan

Jo studied English and French to degree level. After graduation she worked as cabin crew for Virgin Atlantic before launching her recruitment career in the London support and secretarial field.

She has over 20 years experience building loyal Client relationships across a wide variety of industry sectors, coaching and developing candidates and mentoring students and is passionate about Well Being.

Jo is a qualified practitioner in Neuro Linguistic Programming and Performance Coaching. She holds industry qualifications from the Recruitment & Employment Confederation, with post graduate qualifications in Communications, Advertising and Marketing. She loves theatre and Amdram, reading avidly and pushing her reluctant children up Britain’s most challenging mountain peaks.

Contact Joanna Donelan:: jo@hattyblue.co.uk

Siobhan Rourke

Siobhan graduated in Business with a major in Human Resources where she gained her CIPD Membership.

She began her career 21 years ago running a busy secretarial temps desk for a London media agency before gaining international experience in Sydney working for a fashion recruitment agency.

She went on to set up an in-house recruitment department for Budweiser, where she ran assessment centres and recruiting across the business spectrum. Siobhan then returned to agency side recruitment where she managed major accounts for leading international media and corporate organisations.

She spends her weekends spinning, chasing her children around the countryside and walking her labradoodle Bailey.

Contact Siobhan Rourke:: siobhan@hattyblue.co.uk

Joanna Leslie-Melville

After graduating from Oxford Media and Business School in 2014, Joanna started her career as an EA. She went onto being a nanny to two glorious families for 5 years before finding her passion within Recruitment.

She loves hiking, tennis and cold water swimming but most importantly, food & beer. Joanna lives with her partner and their gorgeous little Jack Russel, Basil. She has completed her Level 2 Reiki and enjoys taking time to herself, whilst also spending time with friends and family, and trying out new foods.

Contact Joanna Leslie-Melville:: joanna.melville@hattyblue.co.uk

Kate Yeeles

Kate started her career as a Medical Secretary at Charing Cross Hospital having obtained a Medical Secretaries Diploma.

She joined Hatty Blue after a long career as a senior Board level Executive Assistant, having worked in a variety of industries including advertising, media and marketing services, telecoms, management consultancy and pharmaceuticals. She is now using her considerable knowledge and experience in the world of recruitment.

Outside work, Kate enjoys Reformer Pilates, travelling and cooking. In work, Kate is lovingly referred to as Mission Control!

Contact Kate Yeeles:: kate@hattyblue.co.uk

Carmen Axinte

Carmen studied Marketing at the University of Brighton. After graduating she worked in various FOH roles in central London before pursuing Marketing and Social Media for an Facilities Management company. She then found her love for Recruitment whilst helping out in this buzzy and fast paced department. Carmen now works on the temps team, she loves the adrenaline of bookings and her candidates.

She spends her spare time making clothes, thrifting, cooking or moving to another country (currently she's living in Paris).

Contact Carmen Axinte:: carmen@hattyblue.co.uk