Claire Burden – partner and head of advisory consulting at Evelyn Partners in Bristol – has been elected chair of The Institute For Turnaround (IFT).

She succeeds Andy Leeser as chair of the national membership organisation, which brings together professionals working in turnaround and transformation.

Claire spent ten years in interim company advisory and director roles, with a particular focus on financial turnaround. She has been a statutory director for nearly 50 entities and has experience as both an independent and corporate adviser across a range of business sizes and sectors with specialisms in energy, renewables, professional services, manufacturing and technology.

Claire joined Evelyn Partners in Bristol in 2020 and became a Fellow of The IFT this year.

She said: “I am thrilled to have been elected to the position of Chair of The IFT, having been an accredited member since 2013 and a Board Director since 2022. I look forward to working closely with all members of The IFT to continue to develop its membership and profile at a really exciting time.”

Milly Camley, CEO of The IFT, said: “Claire has been an active member and Director of The IFT, having served on our West & Wales Committee and as Chair of our membership committee.

“We are delighted that she will bring her extensive experience as an independent and corporate adviser to the role of Chair. We’d also like to thank Andy Leeser for his experienced leadership and contribution to The IFT during his time as Chair.”

Andy Leeser is stepping down as Chair and Board Director at the end of his three-year term, having overseen a successful re-branding process, extension of The IFT’s thought leadership and stakeholder engagement activity, as well as significant development in relation to The IFT’s next generation programme.

“I have been delighted to see the development of the profile and importance of The IFT over the last three years,” he said.

“In the future I believe our independent and corporate members will be working together ever more closely to further raise the profile of our profession. I think that Claire has exactly the right balance of skills and experience to deliver this and I wish her and Milly every good fortune. They have my full support as a member and Fellow of the Institute.”