LACE Partners, Praesto Consulting and Ethos Farm bosses recognised by LDC ambitious leaders awards
LDC has released its annual list of the 50 most ambitious business leaders in the UK, and celebrated a trio of consulting bosses in the process. LACE Partners’ co-founder and CEO Cathy Acratopulo is joined by Praesto Consulting founder and CEO Jeremy Ranson, and Ethos Farm founder and CEO Sally Alington.
The Top 50 was created by LDC, the private equity investor that is part of Lloyds Banking Group, in partnership with The Times. Now in its eighth year, the programme continues to celebrate the drive and ambition of Britain’s best and brightest entrepreneurs.
The 2025 list showcases the diversity of the UK’s entrepreneurial talent, with representation reflecting the make-up of modern Britain. With a combined turnover of £1.2 billion and pre-tax profit of £140 million, the firms of the listed CEOs employ almost 10,000 people, from Port Glasgow to Crawley – with most expecting to at least double in size within three years.
John Garner, managing partner at LDC, commented, “In the eight years since we launched The LDC Top 50 we’ve had the honour of meeting some exceptional business leaders. This year’s cohort has shown drive and ambition in their growth journeys, proven remarkable resilience, and together they are making a real difference to their employees, the communities they work in and society at large. I’d like to congratulate them on everything they’ve achieved so far. Their success stories are only just beginning, and we’re excited to see where their journey takes them next.”
Consulting leaders
This year, the programme received almost 700 nominations, showcasing the exceptional individuals who are building successful, growing medium-sized businesses right across the UK. Among the cohort of ambitious bosses to have made the actual list is Cathy Acratopulo, chief executive officer of management consultancy LACE Partners.
The award comes at a time in which LACE has experienced record growth as a business, bucking the trend that has seen many organisations reduce headcount in the consulting sector. To that end, Acratopulo praised LACE’s staff, which reached a headcount of 125 this year.
She explained, “I’m extremely proud of our achievements at LACE Partners since co-founding the business with Aaron Alburey in 2014. I’m delighted to accept this award on behalf of the whole LACE team who work hard to deliver an amazing experience for our clients and our people.”
Also on the list was Jeremy Ranson, who founded Praesto Consulting, a data-focused IT consultancy, in 2009. Similarly, he attributed his presence on the ranking to the firm’s more-than 200 staff.
“The team and team spirit are the best thing about our business,” Ranson said. “Individuals here are incredibly bright, driven to be the best in the industry. Everything revolves around the team. We let the employees decide when they get promoted. They find a sponsor, persuade them to jointly present their case to the promotion panel. It’s an empowering meritocracy.”
Also representing the consulting sector was Sally Alington, who founded Ethos Farm in 2016. From the very beginning, she said she intended to build a global consultancy, which could one day “compete against the Big Four” – and with a headcount of 1,200 people and a turnover close to £40 million, that is something she believes is coming true.
“We’ve been in bids against consultancy giants – and we’ve won,” Alington added. “I read that only 80 women in the UK have built a business beyond £50 million in revenue. I’d love to add my name to that list.”
