Livingston James promotes Mark Lewis to Chief Executive

Livingston James Group has promoted Mark Lewis to Chief Executive Officer and appointed Founder Jamie Livingston as Chairman. Two new Managing Directors have also joined the Group Board.

Lewis takes over after 15 years with the Scottish executive search and recruitment group, where he helped build the Rutherford Cross finance recruitment brand. Livingston, who co-founded the business in 2010 and has led it for 16 years, will remain involved in strategic projects as Chairman.

The reshuffle marks the first time the board has made new appointments in more than six years. Sophie Randles has been promoted to Managing Director of Livingston James, while Hazel Wynn becomes Managing Director of Rutherford Cross. Both will join the Group Board.

Livingston James Group became employee-owned in 2023 and employs about 30 people across its two brands. The business focuses on executive search, senior appointments and leadership advisory work in Scotland and other markets.

The leadership changes come as the firm reports strong trading conditions after a period of economic and geopolitical uncertainty. The succession plan is intended to support the business through the rest of the decade as it pursues further growth in Scotland and overseas.

Livingston described the move as part of a longer transition in the company's development.

"This feels like the natural next step in the evolution of the business.

"When we founded Livingston James 16 years ago, the ambition was always to build a business that could thrive beyond any one individual. Mark, Sophie and Hazel have each played a hugely important role in our journey and I'm proud to see them step into these positions and lead this next chapter for the business.

"We have always believed in helping people realise their potential, and these appointments reflect the strength of the talent we have developed within the business and bring fresh energy, new perspectives and renewed ambition as we look to a future of further growth across Scotland and beyond," said Jamie Livingston, Chairman of Livingston James Group.

Internal promotion

Lewis joined the business shortly after its formation and has led Rutherford Cross as Managing Director. His promotion keeps the top role within the existing leadership team, a theme also reflected in the appointments of Randles and Wynn, who have each spent a decade with the group.

Randles now takes charge of the Livingston James executive search operation. Wynn assumes leadership of Rutherford Cross, which specialises in finance and accountancy recruitment.

Lewis outlined his view of the market and the company's position.

"It is an immense privilege to take on the role of CEO after spending the past 15 years helping build the business alongside Jamie and the wider team.

"We are entering this next chapter from a position of real strength. We have an exceptional team, a fantastic culture and strong momentum across the business. My focus will be on building on those foundations, continuing to develop our people and identifying new opportunities for growth and innovation.

"One of the things that makes Livingston James Group special is the opportunity it creates for people. Beyond these appointments, we want to continue developing the next generation of leaders and ensure the business remains a place where ambitious, talented people can build long-term careers," said Lewis.

Growth areas

The group plans to deepen its work in technology, energy, healthcare and the public sector. It also intends to build on existing areas, including private equity, family business and not-for-profit assignments.

Alongside that, Livingston James plans to expand its fractional offering and leadership advisory work. Rutherford Cross is set to sharpen its focus on specialist finance areas, including financial planning and analysis, automation, data analytics and AI-enabled finance.

The group is also looking beyond its traditional Central Belt base as it responds to demand from clients across Scotland and internationally. The push comes as recruitment firms navigate uneven hiring markets, with demand often concentrated in specialist roles where employers struggle to source experienced candidates.

Randles said her appointment reflected both continuity and change within the business.

"I'm incredibly proud to take on this role and look forward to expanding the team offering now and into the future," said Randles.

"One of the things that has always stood out about Livingston James is the opportunity it provides for people to realise their full potential, alongside a genuine openness to innovation, fresh ideas and diversity of thought at a senior level. Spending 10 years with a business is increasingly rare, and I believe that's a real USP for Livingston James. It reflects a strong culture built on challenging one another, continually seeking out new opportunities and embracing change - something I value enormously"

"We have built a culture that rewards ambition, performance and leadership, and I'm excited to help shape the next stage of the business alongside Mark, Hazel and the wider team," said Randles.

Wynn said the changes also highlighted the opportunities available to employees within the company.

"We have built a hugely experienced team with real depth and breadth of expertise, and I'm excited about what this means not only for our clients and candidates but also for the next generation of talent coming through the business.

"These appointments demonstrate what is possible when people are given the opportunity to develop, perform and lead, and I'm looking forward to helping drive the next phase of growth," said Wynn.

Lewis said demand remained firm in parts of the market despite wider uncertainty.

"While economic uncertainty remains a feature of the market, the best businesses continue to invest in leadership and specialist talent, and we will win in areas where it's hard to find it.

"We are seeing strong demand across both permanent and interim markets, particularly in areas where organisations are competing for scarce skills and experience. That gives us confidence about the future and creates a real opportunity for us to continue evolving the business while staying true to the values that have got us here," said Lewis.