After 20 years in business, The Pond Recruitment is closing its doors.
Owner and talent director Leighton Howl says it’s time he made a personal change – he is closing down the recruitment firm and stepping full-time into the global horse racing industry.
The Pond will cease trading on December 24. It will continue its commitment to booked contractors through to March 31, 2026.
Couldn’t be prouder
“Thank you to all our incredible clients, agencies, corporates, past employees, my business partner Will Gregory and all of the wonderful candidates we have placed in roles and found work for. It’s been a super 20 years,” says Howl.
“I couldn’t be prouder of what The Pond Recruitment became, and what Will and I ran successfully over the last 10 years together. But it’s time I dived back into my love for competitive sport and something more challenging and more cutthroat.”
Howl first started working with horses while at university in the Waikato. He has been building his new company, Kingmakers, for the past 12 months. It will see him working with racehorse owners and investors to select and manage horses for competitions all over the world.
The next chapter
Gregory, The Pond’s co-owner, says he is staying on the recruitment world: “I’m energised for the next chapter. Watch this space – a formal announcement is coming in early 2026.
“I also want to give a special thank you to Leighton Howl for his mentorship in both recruitment and business. We’re more than business partners – we’re friends. I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve contributed to The Pond’s evolution over the past decade.”
The post The Pond closes doors as owner launches horse racing business appeared first on stoppress.co.nz.