Independent accountancy and business advisory firm Johnston Carmichael has appointed ecosystem expert Calum Purdie as its new head of technology and life sciences.
Calum, who joined Johnston Carmichael two years ago, succeeds partner Shaun Millican, who is now Head of Business Advisory and sits on the Board.
Initially appointed to the firm as technology and life sciences ecosystem manager, Calum brings 10 years’ experience of working with high growth businesses and investors. Previously, he worked in the advisory space supporting private equity and VC investors across the UK, Europe and US with technology due diligence services before working for Tech Nation, a government funded organisation, as scaleup engagement manager for Scotland.
Having gained in-depth expertise in growth capital from both sides of the funding divide, he is uniquely positioned to provide value and insight to founding teams as they scale. He also manages several partnerships with organisations that provide support to early stage founders and works with various university programmes to support their founders as they progress their commercialisation ambitions.
Calum works with a team of business advisory and tax experts, including partner Andrew Macmillan, who is Head of Innovation Taxes and an expert in specialist R&D reliefs, and Stephen Oates, partner and Head of Entrepreneurial Taxes, who advises on the delivery of venture capital schemes and share schemes.
Calum said: “Johnston Carmichael’s technology and life sciences practice has enjoyed exciting growth over the past few years. We have built a strong client base in Central Scotland, and we are seeing great businesses emerging across other regions including Inverness, especially in life sciences, and the North-East of Scotland, where there is a key focus on energy tech, as well as the North-East of England and its blue economy.
“The UK’s tech and life sciences businesses aren’t just helping our economy to grow by attracting investment and boosting jobs; they are also generating new solutions to some of our most significant and complex challenges as a society, from treating cancer to developing clean energy. I am proud to support the growth journeys of this vital new generation of business leaders.”
Shaun Millican, partner and head of business advisory, Johnston Carmichael, added: “With almost 90 years behind us, and ambitious plans for growth, it is vital that we develop our next generation of leaders.
“Calum has made a fantastic contribution to the firm since he joined, and I can’t wait to see how he develops his new role.”
Johnston Carmichael partners with and supports a number of key events and activities, including Scottish Edge AccelerateHER and Glasgow Tech Week. It also founded its own Tech Advisory Board to provide strategic guidance to support Johnston Carmichael’s growth in the sector and enhance its ability to advise and encourage the tech ecosystem.
Among the senior figures who sit on the Board are Colin Macdonald, video games entrepreneur and former Grand Theft Auto producer; Les Gaw, adviser and director to early-stage technology companies; Alisdair Gunn, project director of the Glasgow City Innovation District; and Brendan Waters, an experienced finance professional and passionate supporter of tech-growth. Rachel Jones, founder of online brand protection company SnapDragon, and Elizabeth Pirrie, CEO of AccelerateHER, also joined earlier this year.