Leighton Howl on closing The Pond: “I’ve decided it’s time for change and more career focus”

The Pond Recruitment will cease trading this December after 20 years in the creative talent industry. In this piece, founder Leighton Howl looks back on the company’s two-decade journey and opens up about the personal shift that led him to close the business and pursue his long-held passion for racehorse selection and management.

After 20 years in the talent and Talent and Recruitment Industry, and in parallel 20 years in the Global Horse Racing Industry, I’ve decided it’s time for change and more career focus.

After many years of managing clients, candidates, fee deals, interviews, and day to day recruitment, it’s time I made a personal change and made the big move into something I’ve always had a passion for and want to do more of – selecting and managing the quality racehorses for high profile owners under the new umbrella of www.kingmakers.co.nz

Many may not be aware but it is something I have been doing as a side hustle with huge global success over the last 20 years – so now’s the time to make the move.

Inevitably that means, after a wonderful two decades in the New Zealand talent business, The Pond Recruitment will cease trading on the 18th December, but will continue its commitment to booked freelance contractors through to March 31st 2026.

I couldn’t be prouder of what The Pond Recruitment became, and what co-owner Will Gregory and I ran successfully together over the last 10 years, but it’s time I fully committed to my love for competitive sports.

I have slowly made the transition this year, including launching my new company, Kingmakers, soft launching nine months ago. Moving forward, I’ll be working with over a hundred current racehorse owners and many new investors and getting them into owning shares in horses across Australasia. Most of all giving them the best possible chance to experience ownership on some of the biggest days in horse racing.

With Hong Kong, Australian, and NZ Racing sector growing year on year, and the recent success I have had selecting and owning some of the best horses in Australasian racing (Ceolwulf, Lupo Solitario, Gaultier, Miss Keepsake to name a few), it’s time to rejoin the industry I started working in when I was in my early twenties in rural Waikato.

Thank you to all our incredible clients, both agencies and corporates, past employees, and my business partner Will Gregory, and of course the wonderful candidates we have placed in roles and found work for – it’s been a super 20 years.

The good news for New Zealand businesses? Will Gregory isn’t stepping away from recruitment — he’s doubling down. He is currently in discussions with industry leaders to take on an ownership and director-level position in Auckland. Will is energised for this next chapter. Watch this space, a formal announcement is coming in early 2026.

You can find Leigh at: leighton@kingmakers.co.nz

Ph: +6421702573

www.kingmakers.co.nz

The Pond will cease trading on December 18. It will continue its commitment to booked contractors through to March 31, 2026.

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