LRQA announces strategic leadership changes for future growth

LRQA has today announced changes to its Executive Leadership Team (ELT) – the latest milestone in the company’s strategic journey to be the leading global assurance partner. Effective from Monday 15 January, these adjustments mark LRQA’s commitment to innovation, diversity and sustained growth.

The company is excited to welcome accomplished leaders who bring diverse perspectives, a shared commitment to client success and proven track records across their disciplines and LRQA’s four business units – Assessment, Advisory, Inspection Services and Cybersecurity. The changes strategically align with LRQA’s vision and are designed to ensure client experience and service excellence remain central.

Key changes include:

• Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
  We have welcomed Niall McCallum as our CFO. Niall is a chartered accountant and has worked in private equity and at companies including Capita plc, where he was Finance Director of its high growth commercial division, and Element Materials Technology, the global testing business, where he was Group Finance Director and interim CFO.  Most recently Niall was CFO at BrewDog PLC, leading the transformation of its finance and IT operations. 
• Chief Growth Officer (CGO)
  Kevin Franklin has been appointed CGO. He will continue to lead our Advisory business unit and EiQ supply chain intelligence platform, as well as taking accountability for our new commercial function and the marketing organisation. Kevin’s deep experience leading advisory, analytics, sales and product functions will accelerate our connected LRQA service ecosystem and ensure we continue to help clients navigate this new era of risk.
• Managing Director – Assessment
  Luis Cunha has been appointed Managing Director – Assessment. Prior to this appointment, Luis was the Assessment Regional Director and has an excellent understanding of the Assessments business unit, particularly when it comes to delivering an even stronger, more consistent client experience.
• Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)
  Stuart Kelly has been appointed to the new role of CCO to lead a combined sales and account management team for our Assessment and Inspection Services business units. Stuart has an exceptional track record of driving sales growth, delivering record sales as Assessment Sales Director, and will apply his client-centric approach within LRQA’s commercial function. Stuart and current marketing director Jeannie Ivanov will report into Kevin Franklin, and both represent the voice of the client on the executive leadership team.
• Managing Director – Cybersecurity
  As previously communicated, Karen Bolton, Managing Director for LRQA’s Cybersecurity division, has decided to step down due to a change in her personal circumstances last year. Succeeding Karen will be Simon Payne from our Inspection Services business unit. Before joining LRQA 18 months ago, Simon’s career involved leading and growing private equity-backed cyber and managed IT businesses as CEO or MD. From this experience, Simon has clear insight into the cybersecurity sector, commercially and operationally.

The new team structure ensures each leader possesses expertise crucial for navigating the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for both the LRQA business and our clients in the ever-evolving risk landscape.

Ian Spaulding, CEO for LRQA, said:

“I want to offer a huge welcome to LRQA’s new leadership team. These strategic changes reflect our vision for success – for both LRQA and our clients. This is about embracing fresh perspectives, realising LRQA’s full potential, and keeping our clients at the absolute centre of what we do.

“I’m proud of the meaningful action we’ve taken today, to accelerate growth, align our business to our clients’ challenges, and deliver results for our shareholders. Working hand-in-hand with our clients, we solve some of the hardest challenges the world faces and it’s with great pride that we will continue that work.”