Mark Farmer
Mark Farmer has stepped down as chief executive of consultancy Cast as part of a leadership shake-up.
Farmer, who co-founded the London-based consultancy in 2016, will continue to sit on the board with a remit to oversee the firm’s brand and long-term strategy.
He is succeeded by Joe Thornton, who becomes chief executive and will lead Cast’s next phase of growth.
Cast’s other owners, Lilly Gallafent and Neil Brearley remain as main as chief operating officer and client engagement lead respectively.
Farmer, Thornton, Gallafent and Brearley all remain shareholders in the company.
The shake-up comes after a two-year succession planning process, which also involved a transition to a wholly owned model enabling directors to become equity partners, the firm said.
Farmer said: “The last 10 years has seen Cast develop from a start-up to a highly respected and successful consultancy business whose brand is recognised all over the world.
“I am proud to have co-founded and led such a great business and I look forward to playing my part in the journey ahead, leveraging my position in the market to help shape growth and diversification.”
Outgoing chair Keith Brooks will retire and take a career sabbatical. Cast said it plans to appoint a non-executive chairman to provide external oversight to the board.
As part of its expansion plans, Cast will open a second office in Edinburgh, to be led by director Chris Kerr, who will relocate to Scotland to spearhead growth in the region.
In January, Farmer called for a “fundamental reset” to the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), and said the CITB should merge with its counterpart, the ECITB.
In his review of the bodies for government, he called for a “bold new vision” for the industry training board model.
He is also well known for his ‘Modernise or Die’ review of the construction sector, published in 2016.
Source: Cast press release
This story was written with AI assistance from Harmsworth
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