Non-exec recruitment practice launched

Ashton Penney, a UK recruitment agency, has launched a new practice aimed at finding and placing non-executive directors in public and private mid-market businesses.

The company believes that boards of all companies should regularly review the skills and number of their non-executives, both for corporate governance reasons and to ensure they have fresh and independent views on the board, particularly important when a business is growing and diversifying.

The practice is led by Neil Cameron, who established and led Ernst & Young’s non-executive search business. He said: “”We estimate that some 40% of small-cap companies fail to comply with the combined code in respect of their Board structures; in addition, many mid-market private companies could enhance their growth through the independent views and advice of additional or new non-executives.”