Johnston Carmichael appoints new chair and vice chair

Johnston Carmichael, independent business advisory and accountancy firm, has appointed Mark Houston as its new chair and Lynne Walker as vice-chair, effective 1 June 2022.

The pair take up their roles as Sandy Manson, existing chair and a former CEO of Johnston Carmichael, retires at the end of the month after 31 years at the firm. Manson held the role of CEO for 12 years, seeing the firm grow from 350 people and revenues of £18m to £49m. He was appointed chair and head of Client Service in 2019.

Meanwhile, Houston is a partner and head of Johnston Carmichael’s Glasgow office, stepping up from his current role as vice chair. He joined the firm as a director in 2006, and was selected to lead the Glasgow office in 2011, before being appointed to the board in 2013.

Additionally, Walker is a partner and head of Business Advisory, based out of the firm’s Elgin and Inverness offices. She started as a newly qualified chartered accountant in the firm’s Audit team 17 years ago. She was then promoted to oversee business advisory services in 2017 and partner in 2019.

Johnston Carmichael said Houston and Walker’s promotions are part of the firm’s ongoing commitment to growing its own future leaders, and they will play a “key” role in helping it to retain and recruit the profession’s top talent.

Houston said: “Sandy’s retirement is the end of an era at Johnston Carmichael, and we wish him the very best for the next chapter of his life. He has been an extraordinary leader and inspiration to all in our business.

“In a fast-changing world where digitisation is increasing at pace and people are looking for a more rounded experience in the workplace, enabling our people to be leaders of their work and their learning, will support retention and recruitment and allow us to deliver the increasingly complex work we are undertaking to help our clients to thrive.”

Walker added: “I want to encourage more opportunities for our people to engage directly with the board, so we ensure a two-way flow of communications in order to provide the best possible environment for success.”

Manson said: “We have always believed in building and passing the firm on to the next generation so they in turn can take the firm to new levels. Mark and Lynne have outstanding leadership capabilities and their appointments will help ensure Johnston Carmichael goes from strength to strength as an independent firm.”