Strategic and Operational Recruitment Advisory Services

Helping staffing businesses reset, refocus and rise

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About Ascentia Advisory


I partner with staffing leaders and senior leadership teams to accelerate growth, strengthen leadership capability, and build resilient, high-performing businesses.

I work closely with founders, boards, and executive teams to navigate the complexities of scale bringing clarity to strategy, structure to operations, and focus to leadership. Combining deep industry expertise with a practical, hands-on approach, I help organisations unlock performance, build stronger cultures and position themselves for sustainable, long-term success.

Russell Thompson


I am a trusted advisor to founders, boards, and senior leadership teams across the staffing industry, known for my pragmatic, results-driven approach to leadership and growth. With over thirty years of recruitment agency experience, I have deep sector expertise and a strong track record of supporting businesses through periods of scale and transformation.

Working closely with leadership teams, I help organisations navigate complexity, unlock performance, and build the structures, capability, and culture needed for sustainable growth. My style is direct, commercial, and grounded in real-world experience focused on delivering tangible outcomes rather than theoretical advice.

  • I am an approved Advisor to APSCo (The Association of Professional Staffing Companies).
  • I am an approved advisor to The TEAM Network
  • I am Chair of Judges for the APSCO Awards for Excellence

Full strategic and operational advisory services including:

Practical CEO Support

Hands-on support to help CEOs navigate growth, make confident decisions, and lead with clarity.

ENQUIRE CEO SUPPORT
NED Services

Independent, strategic oversight that challenges thinking, strengthens governance, and drives performance.

ENQUIRE NED SERVICES
Consultancy Advice

Targeted, practical advice to solve key business challenges and unlock sustainable growth.

ENQUIRE CONSULTANCY
Leadership & Team Development

Building high-performing leadership teams that drive culture, accountability, and long-term success.

ENQUIRE TEAM DEVELOPMENT

Trusted by Founders & Leaders

I have known and worked with Russell for over twenty years.  For almost 10 of those years he worked with me at Empresaria where he was responsible for building a successful professional and financial services recruitment operation in both the UK and Asia.  More recently, he has been advising one of the Benula Capital portfolio companies as a strategic advisor, demonstrating an ability to help define strategy and drive operational improvements.  He is high in emotional intelligence and experience, low in ego, but also assertive/persuasive when he needs to be.  I would highly recommend him as an advisor to APSCo members.
 
Miles Hunt Company Name
Russell is a highly personable and relatable advisor who brings both credibility and genuine support to SMT’s he works with. He is diligent, goes the extra mile, offering both constructive challenge and trusted guidance. 
 
Alongside his sound board-level experience and strong commercial insight, Russell provides valuable coaching and professional support to leaders, helping them think clearly, build confidence, and make well-considered decisions. His extensive network and practical approach add further value, making him an effective and trusted Non-Executive Director who genuinely invests in the long-term success of the business and its leadership team.
Jayne MorrisCompany Name
I worked with Russell during his time as CEO at LMA Recruitment, alongside his role as Regional Director / Group CEO and Board Member at Empresaria Group PLC. This exposure allowed me to see first-hand the value he brings at board level. Russell is commercially astute, strategically clear, and has a very practical understanding of how recruitment businesses truly operate across multiple models, engagement methods, and international markets.
 
On a personal level, what really stands out is how good Russell is with people. He builds trust quickly, is a natural networker, and is an excellent sounding board for both strategic and day-to-day recruitment discussions. At the same time, he is not intimidated by difficult conversations and is able to give clear, honest, and sometimes hard advice when it is needed most. He has personally influenced the trajectory of my career for the better, and I still use him today as a trusted sounding board.
  
Paul CubittCompany Name
I first worked with Russell many years ago as one of his employees, and more recently I’ve had the privilege of working with him again while stepping into my MD role. He’s been an outstanding sounding board, helping sharpen my communication style, deepen my C-suite understanding, and, importantly, bring real energy back into my work. Russell’s wisdom, combined with his ability to be a straight talker when it matters most, has been invaluable. I’m genuinely grateful for his support and guidance.
Antony WilliamsCompany Name
Russell led the Finance sector of Apsco brilliantly and I was humbled when he asked me to take it over.  The breadth of his knowledge, network and insight to what professional recruitment really is, made him stand out and impossible to follow!  Superb move into an advisory role and annoyingly he’s a lovely guy too!
Mark Dainty



Stuck Between Growth and Scale?

You’ve built momentum but something isn’t quite clicking. Performance plateaus, teams feel misaligned, and decisions become harder.

Russell can help you identify exactly what’s holding you back with a Free health check.

BOOK HEALTH CHECK