BDO appoints Jeff Randall and Russell King Independent Non-Executives

BDO has appointed industry experts Jeff Randall and Russell King to the role of Independent Non-Executives. Randall brings more than 35 years of business journalism skill to the firm, while King has extensive Non-Executive Director and business strategy experience under his belt.

Advisory firm BDO have hired two new industry experts as Independent Non-Executives (INEs) in a big\b to diversify their team, as clients seek to adapt to the disruption of multiple industries.

Jeff Randall spent more than 35 years in journalism, filling prestigious positions at some of the industry’s biggest names over that career. Most recently, he acted as Editor-at-large for the Telegraph newspaper between 2005 and 2013 while concurrently anchoring 'Jeff Randall Live' four times weekly on Sky News between 2007-14, before stepping back from full-time media duties to pursue new projects. Earlier in his career, he also worked as the BBC business editor between 2001 and 2005, and City editor of the Sunday Times between 1989 and 1993.

Beyond journalism, he was previously a Non-Executive Director at Babcock International, and is also an incumbent Director at the Sandown Park racecourse. A beneficiary of honorary doctorates by Anglia Ruskin University, Nottingham University and BPP University College, Randall holds a degree in Economics from Nottingham University, where he remains a member of the institution’s council.

Russell King meanwhile recently held various board and advisory level positions for businesses across the UK, among others, including Non-Executive Director at Aggreko, Non-Executive Chairman at Hummingbird Resources, Non-Executive Director at Spectris, Fellow at Windsor Leadership, Non-Executive Chairman at Sepura, and Chairman at Sorrett Advisors.

King, who holds a Bachelor of Arts from Durham University and attended the Harvard Business School, spent his earlier career in high-level business strategy, turnaround, HR and people development roles, at a number of companies including Anglo American, where he was Chief Strategy Officer and Group Head of HR, Business Development and Sustainable Development; and ICI, where he held various roles of increasing seniority.

BDO has also appointed Randall and King to the role of INE at the middle-market professional services firm. The appointment sees considerable independent experience added to the top rungs of the firm’s governance as it seeks to compete in a dynamic business environment – the company faces risks, and opportunities, from the effects of Brexit as well as more fundamental changes, from technology to compliance, across the globe.

The appointments, which are effective from 1 July, see the number of INEs at the firm boosted to three; the two join Simon Figgis, who has been in the role since 2013.

Commenting on the appointments, Mark Bomer, Senior Partner at BDO, said, “The world in which we live and work is changing at rapid speed. Developments in technology, regulation and globalisation, combined with an uncertain relationship with the EU and the ever-increasing war on talent, means that many of the boundaries that once governed the way organisations do business are changing or disappearing altogether.”

The appointment of Randall and King are in part to fill a space left by Lesley MacDonagh, who is stepping down from the role of INE following a nine-year tenure, and Bomer added, “Lesley has made an outstanding contribution over many years, drawing on her deep understanding of professional services and wider business experience to support and positively challenge the leadership team to think and act differently. We thank Lesley for the exceptional advice and guidance she has given us during the last nine years and we are sorry to see her go.”