In a significant move to bolster its leadership advisory services, Midlands-based firm Champions (UK) plc has announced the appointment of Amir Qureshi as its new Managing Partner. The appointment, confirmed on 17th November 2025, will see Mr Qureshi take the helm of both The NED Advisor and Board Champions divisions.
A Strategic Leadership Appointment
This strategic hire marks a major step for the Loughborough-headquartered company in strengthening its leadership offering to investors, boards, and C-suite executives across the globe. Mr Qureshi brings over two decades of executive experience to the role, with a distinguished international career spanning global corporations, private equity-backed growth firms, and entrepreneurial ventures.
In his new position, he will focus on growing these flagship divisions, which are dedicated to transforming how boards and investors access, engage, and empower leadership talent.
Vision for Modernising Board Leadership
Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Amir Qureshi stated: "I'm delighted to be joining Champions as Managing Partner to lead both The NED Advisor and Board Champions. These two divisions serve distinct but complementary markets."
He elaborated on the distinct functions of each division, explaining that The NED Advisor primarily serves the Private Equity and investment community. It provides a high-calibre leadership network and comprehensive support, ranging from pre-deal due diligence to post-deal value creation, including fractional and interim leadership solutions.
Conversely, Board Champions partners with corporate and growth businesses to enhance board and C-suite effectiveness, governance, and overall performance.
"Our mission is to modernise how boards and investors access and engage leadership, moving from passive oversight to active partnership," Mr Qureshi added. "By aligning the right people with the right opportunities, we aim to help investors, CEOs, and boards unlock greater performance, growth, and long-term value creation."
Backing from Champions Leadership
Matthew Hayes, the Managing Director of Champions (UK) plc, endorsed the appointment, highlighting its significance for the company's future. "Amir's appointment marks an exciting and major step in the development of The NED Advisor and Board Champions," he said. "His arrival will strengthen both divisions' leadership offering to investors, boards, and C-suite executives worldwide. Amir will build on an exceptional career which has seen him lead transformation, governance, and performance across multiple sectors."
A Track Record of Executive Success
Mr Qureshi's impressive career began at The Coca-Cola Company, where he held senior leadership roles from 2001 to 2012, progressing to positions such as Sales Director, General Manager, and Managing Director – EMEA. In these roles, he oversaw operations across 25 countries and was responsible for multi-million-dollar P&L accounts, leading major business transformation programmes.
He later joined Lebara Mobile as Managing Director in Switzerland and subsequently as Global Sales Director, helping to accelerate rapid revenue growth across European telecom markets.
In 2014, he moved into leadership assessment as COO and later CEO of Thomas International, the world's largest independent assessment provider. During his nearly six-year tenure, he oversaw global expansion, digital transformation, and the business's transition to investor ownership, achieving 98% recurring revenue and completing eight strategic acquisitions.
His most recent executive roles include Chief Commercial Officer at Drax Executive, supporting private equity firms, and Chief Executive Officer at Protocol, a UK-based education and training solutions company.
The Future Under New Leadership
Under Amir Qureshi's leadership, The NED Advisor and Board Champions are set to align more closely, creating a modern, connected ecosystem for board and leadership talent. This ecosystem is designed to be flexible and responsive to client needs, supporting performance at every stage of the business lifecycle.
Both divisions offer a flexible suite of services designed to adapt to varying client requirements. These include:
- Board Appointments: Permanent placements for long-term capability.
- Fractional Appointments: Part-time engagements with specialist expertise.
- Interim Leadership: Experienced executives for key transitions.
- Contract Hire & Consultancy: Specialist experts for defined projects.
- Day Rate Appointments: On-demand advisory access for immediate input.
This hybrid, client-centric model reflects Mr Qureshi's long-standing belief that effective leadership depends on agility, alignment, and delivering measurable outcomes, positioning Champions (UK) plc for its next phase of growth.
