James Stafford is a global recruitment specialist with over 15 years of experience connecting top-tier talent with leading organizations across the hospitality and mining sectors. As the Founder and Managing Director of Stafford International, James brings a relationship-driven, industry-informed approach to executive search — built on legacy, global reach, and a deep respect for people.

 

In the hospitality space, James’s insight is personal as much as professional. Having grown up alongside close friends who have become some of Canada’s most acclaimed chefs, restaurateurs, and luxury hoteliers — including Michelin-recognized talent and owners of Toronto’s most iconic dining institutions — James developed a natural fluency in the language of hospitality leadership. That early exposure now informs Stafford International’s tailored approach to sourcing talent for luxury hotels, resorts, and global restaurant groups.

 

In the mining industry, James proudly continues the legacy of C.J. Stafford & Associates, a family-founded firm with over four decades of recruitment excellence in the global mining sector. He plays an active role in the industry today, serving as an executive member of CIM Toronto (Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum) — helping shape the future of the sector through thought leadership, professional development, and community building. Under James’s direction, Stafford International partners with mining operators, engineering firms, and EPCMs across North and South America, Australia, and Africa.

 

James is known for his strategic mindset, genuine approach, and ability to connect with both talent and clients on a deeper level. With roots in Toronto and a network that spans continents, he brings people and industries together through thoughtful, global recruitment.