Insight that makes a difference
Our Team
James Martin
Co-Founder & Partner
Before co-founding Partners in Leadership, James was at Rio Tinto, the £80bn, 60,000 employee metals and mining group. He was initially Chief People Officer and, in his final year, was Advisor to the CEO.
Prior to Rio Tinto, James was a Partner of Egon Zehnder, the leadership advisory consultancy. In his 21 years with the firm, he held several leadership roles, including leading the Global HR Practice, the Global Assessment and Development Practice and the firm's alliance with Mobius, an individual and organisation transformation specialist. He led the Consumer practice and the Industrial Practice Group in the London office at various times.
His professional focus was on assessment, individual and team development, senior level succession planning and ExCo and Board effectiveness.
He started his career as a pilot in the Royal Air Force before working in consulting and then investment banking, where he was an equities analyst.
James has a BA from the University of Leeds and a MBA from London Business School.
James is also an Affiliate of the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital, part of Harvard Medical School.
Alison Beckett
Co-Founder & Partner
Before co-founding Partners in Leadership, Alison had an executive career in industry and consulting. She is now a Non-Executive Director with experience in UK and Canadian Public Limited companies and the Charity sector. In her last executive role, she was Group Talent Director of Ardagh Group, the sustainable packaging business.
Prior to Ardagh Alison was with Egon Zehnder for over 19 years, in Board and Executive search, as well as focusing on leadership assessment and development in the industrial sector. She was also a specialist in Procurement and Supply Chain, and HR, leading the practice groups in London.
Alison started her career in Procurement at Davy McKee, the EPC contractor and then as a production buyer at Ford Motor Company. She then became a strategy consultant at Arthur D Little before moving to Conoco Ltd where she worked as a Finance manager and in functional roles in gas regulatory affairs and latterly as a commercial manager In Conoco Europe Gas Ltd.
Alison is an Independent Director of First Quantum Minerals, the C$20bn market cap, TSX listed copper producer with 16,000 employees. She is Chair of the HR Committee and a member of the Audit Committee. She was also a Governor and then was elected Chair of Governors at Sevenoaks School (2020-2025). Previously, she served a term as a co-opted member of the Finance and General Purposes Committee at The Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
Alison has a MA from the University of Cambridge and a MBA from London Business School.