Boardroom Architects — Behind the Scenes with Ned Capital’s Leadership Matchmakers

Welcome to Governance Unplugged, the podcast where we explore how boards are built, how leaders are chosen, and what it really takes to shape effective governance that drives long-term success. I’m your host, Jamie Parker, and today we’re diving into the people behind one of the UK’s specialist firms dedicated to non-executive director recruitment — Ned Capital.Sound Transition🎧 Who is Ned Capital?At its core, Ned Capital is a specialist recruitment and advisory firm focused on placing non-executive directors (or NEDs), board chairs, and senior fractional executives into organisations that need independent strategic insight and strong governance.Transition Music🤝 Meet the People Behind the SearchAdrian Lawrence — Founder & Director Leading the charge, Adrian Lawrence brings a wealth of experience in senior finance and governance-focused executive search. What makes him unique is his first-hand boardroom exposure — from buy-outs to restructuring, exits to accelerated growth phases. Adrian believes the right NED isn’t just a title — they’re a strategic partner who truly moves the needle when it comes to performance, risk oversight, and culture. Adrian’s Takeaway: Great board appointments should be aligned with an organisation’s long-term vision — they’re never transactional.Jodie Garrington — Joint Founder & Director Alongside Adrian is Jodie Garrington, who shapes Ned Capital’s recruitment philosophy and client delivery standards. Jodie specialises in deep candidate assessment and relationship management — meaning she doesn’t just fill roles; she matches people to the behaviours, cultures, and dynamics that matter most in a boardroom setting. Jodie’s Insight: Understanding the people behind the CV is as important as technical credentials.Support Team — The Engine Behind the Matches Behind the scenes, the Ned Capital team keeps the engine running smoothly:Sarah Partridge ensures the internal governance and operational frameworks are robust — crucial for delivering a seamless search process. Sacha Tunks brings market intelligence and research insight to build diverse candidate shortlists across sectors. Jessica Lawrence focuses on the client and candidate experience, coordinating interviews, onboarding, and ongoing engagement with professionalism and clarity. Each of these roles may seem behind the scenes, but it’s this orchestration that allows Ned Capital to operate with discretion, quality, and impact for their clients.Sound Transition📊 Why This Matters — The Bigger PictureSo why does this matter for listeners?Non-executive directors play a critical part in modern governance — offering independent oversight, challenging assumptions, and helping organisations navigate complexity. From private equity-backed businesses to owner-managed companies and NGO boards, the board’s composition can be the difference between stagnation and acceleration.Closing ThoughtsWe hope today’s episode gave you a window into how a specialist firm like Ned Capital operates — not just as recruiters, but as trusted advisors helping to strengthen governance and strategic leadership across sectors.Outro Music BeginsIf you’d like to learn more about today’s guests — and how to prepare for a non-executive path yourself — check out the show notes for links to resources and the Ned Capital team page.Visit https://www.nedcapital.co.uk/our-team/