Leading UK accountancy and business advisory firm Johnston Carmichael has appointed a new Partner and Head of Consultancy to bolster its consulting offering to clients. 

Bringing more than 20 years of expertise, Zoë Hodge will lead the 20 strong consulting team alongside Partner Ewen Fleming, who leads the company’s London office and is Head of Financial Services.

Zoë has a proven track record of designing and delivering complex business change programmes with a focus on revenue growth, efficiency savings, and improved customer experience. Based in the firm’s Edinburgh team, but working across Johnston Carmichael’s UK offices, including London, Zoë will lead the team to enhance its approach to consulting.

Importantly, Zoë will help to design and implement new change strategies for clients, converting strategic goals into tangible actions and outcomes. With expertise across people, process and technology-led change, she will serve the broad range of Johnston Carmichael clients across a wide variety of sectors. This includes financial services, technology, property and construction, food and drink, and energy.

Zoë said: “Johnston Carmichael is a much-respected firm and I am really looking forward to building on the strong roots established by Ewen and the senior leadership team over recent years.

“My biggest driver is enabling positive change and that has been a fundamental element in previous leadership roles. Organisations across the board are struggling to navigate complex business challenges such as changing client demand and expectations, response to regulatory change, or the need to simplify and drive efficiency. I am sharply focused on steering clients through these times with insight, strategy and practical solutions.  

“The values and ethos of Johnston Carmichael came across very strongly throughout the onboarding process, across all roles within the firm – from the HR team to fellow Partners. Joining the team at an exciting period of change and growth, I am excited to explore new opportunities to aid this.”

Zoë started her career in management consultancy at Accenture, before moving to work at Standard Life as Head of UK Strategy. She joined Johnston Carmichael from abrdn where she worked in the investment business, having previously undertaken leadership roles in integration, transformation, ESG and regulatory programmes.

Lynne Walker, CEO at Johnston Carmichael, said: “Zoë’s energy and passion for executing change is exactly the positive force for good we encourage within Johnston Carmichael. Ewen and the wider consulting team have built a fantastic reputation for our consulting offering through their continued, high-quality delivery of services, and Zoë’s appointment will diversify the added value we bring to our clients.”