A new business that aims to help organisations in Wales recruit, retain and maximise the potential of top executive talent has been launched. Goodson Thomas Executive Search and Corporate Insight, headed by Sian Goodson, will provide executive search and talent development services to organisations in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.
Mrs Goodson, a former principal consultant with global headhunting firm Odgers Berndtson, will spearhead the business, supported by non-executive directors Professor Laura McAllister and Chris Brindley, managing director of Metro Bank.
The firm, based in Cardiff and London, will target organisations across the UK, offering a bespoke range of talent-related services to help clients maximise their competitive advantage.
With a wide range of experience in executive search, leadership development, change management and strategic communications, Mrs Goodson has delivered multiple award-winning campaigns for a variety of organisations spanning the sport, professional services, arts, heritage and education sectors.
Before joining Odgers Berndtson, where she appointed chairs, non-executive directors, CEOs, and several other top-level executive and senior management roles across a range of industries, she spent four years as a corporate director at Sport Wales.
She has also undertaken senior communication and policy roles with National Museum Wales, Colegau Cymru and the Federation of Small Businesses.
Mrs Goodson said: “More and more organisations are waking up to the fact that securing the right talent and boosting the potential of their people is the key to success and sustainable growth. It is an area I am passionate about, and it inspired me to launch Goodson Thomas with the aim of helping organisations across Wales and beyond improve the way they source and manage talent.
“Through my experience delivering executive search assignments for an international blue-chip organisation, I am aware of the growing demand for a results-oriented, strategic and flexible service that can help organisations bridge the gap between talent sourcing and talent maximisation."
She added: “It has always been my dream to work for myself, and I am extremely pleased to be working with Laura McAllister and Chris Brindley, whose experience and ideas have been invaluable in turning my vision into reality.”
Laura McAllister is Professor of Governance at the University of Liverpool’s School of Management as well as being chair of Sport Wales, a UK Sport board member, a trustee of the Institute of Welsh Affairs and a member of the National Assembly for Wales Remuneration Board.
She said: “I sit on a number of boards and I understand the realities and challenges faced by leaders, including the growing pains of change, turnaround, growth and the significance of cultures and values.
“I’m excited about being involved with a business that will help organisations challenged by all of those issues to achieve their full potential.”
Prof McAllister is joined on the board by Chris Brindley, who has since 2011 been managing director of Metro Bank, the first high street bank to open in the UK for more than 170 years. During his tenure he has grown the business to 36 branches, £4bn of deposits and £2.5bn of lending.
Mr Brindley has worked extensively with academics from leading business schools as well as executives, managers and team leaders within global plcs. Also the chair of GreaterSport, he partly attributes his success in business to his experience working with Olympic athletes, and is passionate about using sport as an inspirational learning model.
Mr Brindley said: “As a board we have extensive experience of working in senior positions as well as undertaking complex and challenging assignments on behalf of clients. This equips us with a deep appreciation of our clients’ needs and what it takes to achieve success through strong senior talent.”
A version of this article was originally published in Wales Online
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