Current Eversheds managing partner Lee Ranson was automatically appointed into the chief executive role last month after his bid for the post stood uncontested for three weeks. He is replacing longstanding Eversheds CEO Bryan Hughes, who is departing in May next year following two consecutive four-year terms. Today, it has been announced that two other Eversheds executives will be joining Mr Ranson at the helm of the firm – international managing partner Ian Gray, and head of company and commercial Ian Froud.
New leaders, new structure
Mr Gray has been appointed to the role of executive partner, a broad role which will give him guardianship of firmwide client strategy. Mr Froud, on the other hand, has been selected to replace Mr Ranson as Eversheds’ managing partner. His current role as international managing partner has been dismantled and absorbed into his new position. Both partners are already members of Eversheds’ executive, international strategy group and senior management team. They will commence in their new roles alongside Mr Ranson in May next year.
Focus on performance
Ranson is expected to focus on improving partner performance during his tenure as CEO. In a recent presentation to the firm’s partnership, which he delivered alongside Mr Gray and Mr Froud, the CEO in waiting outlined a vision for Eversheds that included improving performance monitoring and metrics and working to ensure more contact time between partners and clients. One partner told Legal Week: ‘Partners will have to justify what they’re doing and how they’re doing it and what they bring to the practice.’ There have been no reports that a change to the firm’s compensation system for partners is in the works.
Sources: Legal Business; Legal Week
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