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Johnston Carmichael Names New CEO and Senior Partner
Mark Houston and Lynne Walker
Johnston Carmichael has revamped its leadership team with the appointment of a new senior partner and chief executive officer.
Mark Houston, president, becomes senior partner, while Lynne Walker, the firm’s former vice president and head of corporate consulting, becomes CEO.
Mr Houston and Ms Walker will now jointly lead the business as it continues to expand its offering across the UK.
Ms Walker, who lives in Elgin, where the company was founded almost 90 years ago, succeeds Andrew Walker, who has decided to step down after five years as CEO.
Under his leadership, the company has opened an office in Newcastle, expanded its London team and grown its headcount from 800 to over 900 across the UK, including the company’s first Chief Information Officer and Chief People Officer. Turnover has also grown from £51.4m in the financial year ended 31 May 2020 to £67.9m in the financial year ended 31 May 2023.
Mr Walker, who spent 17 of his 20 years at Johnston Carmichael on the board, has handed over the reins as the company prepares to launch a renewed strategy.
Mr Houston, who joined the firm in 2006, became a partner in 2008 and was selected to lead the Glasgow office in 2011 before being appointed to the board in 2013. He became a vice chairman in 2019 before being appointed chairman in 2022. He also serves on Moore Global’s European board and drives the firm’s involvement in that network.
Mr Houston said: “Lynne and I have worked together for years and, with the support of the board and our excellent executive team, we believe that a joined-up and collaborative approach to leadership is what will help us deliver our refreshed strategy and continue our growth across the UK.
“Our business has grown significantly over the last few years, despite the difficult economic climate and the challenges brought on by a global pandemic. We have almost 1,000 people across our UK offices, and Lynne and I are looking forward to leading the business as we look to further expand our service offering.”
He added: “Andrew has played a significant role in our success story and I would like to thank him for his contribution on behalf of the company.
“We are incredibly proud of the progress we have made as a company, and at the heart of this is our desire to support our customers to succeed, create jobs, drive innovation and contribute to the broader economy.”
Joining the firm as a newly qualified chartered accountant 19 years ago, Ms Walker became audit director in 2014 and was promoted to oversee business advisory services, becoming head of business advisory in 2017 and partner in 2019. She joined the firm’s board in 2021 and became vice chairman in 2022.
Ms Walker said: “It is a great honour to be leading Johnston Carmichael alongside Mark at such an exciting time for the business.
“As a company, we continue to navigate complex societal changes that not only present opportunities for our business, but also for our customers.
“Over the past few years, we have embraced technology at pace and scale, and invested in new, highly skilled people to support our clients with high-quality consulting services. We have also taken great care to nurture our values-driven culture and develop our own leaders.”
She continued: “I began my career with our firm as a newly qualified chartered accountant almost two decades ago and I am so proud that we are bringing more students and interns into the business than ever before, many of whom are following in my footsteps into leadership positions.
“We are committed to building on this solid foundation as we deliver our vision for the future, ensuring Johnston Carmichael continues to deliver results for our clients, our people and the communities we serve.”
Johnston Carmichael also announced that Graham Marjoribanks, partner and head of audit, will become vice chairman of the firm, and Shaun Millican, partner and head of technology and life sciences, will become head of corporate advisory.