JC recruits major names in Scots tech
Accountancy firm Johnston Carmichael has assembled a “ground-breaking” tech advisory board including top names in the sector in Scotland – with a view to helping clients expand globally.
The group includes seven external advisers, with seasoned entrepreneurs, business leaders and investors, and it will help the business’ clients access “expert advice on achieving growth”.
High-profile sign-ups encompass former Scotlandis chief executive Polly Purvis; life sciences business ODX Innovations’ boss Giles Hamilton; and Alisdair Gunn, a founder of the Turing Festival and boss of Framewire, Scotland’s advisory practice for tech and digital start-ups.
Johnston Carmichael said the board will provide its existing in-house team with help on strategy and delivery, and, where appropriate, directly connect group members with clients and contacts of the firm.
It also includes Hazel Mcintyre, a consultant financial director and adviser with a background in fundraising, acquisition and disposals; Grant Smith, board member at The Data Lab, and consultant to third sector organisation ONE Digital & Entrepreneurship; and Les Gaw, a non-executive director and early-stage adviser, whose current roles include chief executive of financial software firm Contigens.
Also joining the board’s ranks is Brendan Waters, corporate finance advisor to tech businesses including sports betting tech giant Fanduel, and founder of Cruachan Advisory.
The external experts are joined by Shaun Millican, partner and head of technology and life sciences at Johnston Carmichael, and Andrew
Holloway, corporate tax director and head of the firm’s entrepreneurial taxes team.
Johnston Carmichael said the board will boost its expertise in the technology sector, adding that it acts for a wide
range of such companies, “from start-ups to international corporates”, and is a sponsor of major events such as Future X’s Start-up Summit and Scottish Edge.
The accountancy and business
advisory firm also noted that Scotland’s digital economy adds £7.5 billion to gross domestic product every year. It also cited research.