Ruth Artmonsky, who has died aged 94, was a pioneer in the commercial use of psychometric testing. Together with her second husband, Roger Holdsworth, and their associate Peter Saville, she was a founder in 1977 of the consultancy Saville & Holdsworth (later SHL), which started in their living room and grew into a global corporation with offices in 30 countries.
Early Life and Education
Ruth and her identical twin sister, Naomi, were born in Blackpool to Samuel Rudmanski, a customs and excise officer, and his wife, Marie (nee Cohen). Growing up, both girls immersed themselves in culture, playing piano duets, attending concerts, and reading the latest novels. Ruth attended Blackpool Collegiate school and later earned a degree in economics and social work from Birmingham University.
Career in Psychology
In the mid-1950s, Ruth worked as a social worker at Wandsworth prison in south-west London. She then moved to an administrative role at the National Institute of Industrial Psychology (NIIP), where she gained insights into statistical and organisational psychology. This knowledge, combined with a second degree in psychology from Birkbeck University of London, led her to establish a careers and psychometric testing service for the Greater London Council in the early 1970s, an innovation at the time.
Founding Saville & Holdsworth
Following her divorce from first husband Norman Lancashire in 1977, Ruth married Roger Holdsworth, who also worked at the NIIP. They believed that personality assessments through psychometric testing could reveal key information about potential employees and help companies recruit more efficiently. This conviction led to the creation of Saville & Holdsworth.
Art Gallery and Writing Career
After selling her share in SHL in 1997, Ruth used her self-taught knowledge of the arts to set up and run her own gallery, Artmonsky Arts, in St John's Wood, north London, for five years. She then turned to writing, producing 36 books about art, design, and advertising, including Designing Women (2012) and Modern Design in 1930s Britain (2026).
Personal Life and Legacy
Ruth changed her surname to Artmonsky, a name from her father's birth certificate due to a clerical error. She lived in a loft apartment in Covent Garden, surrounded by design. Known for her silver hair and statuesque figure, she was a familiar presence in local restaurants and cafes. She is survived by her daughters Becky and Stella from her first marriage, granddaughter Sally, and sister Naomi.
