Law firm Russell McVeagh appoints new chief executive

Wednesday, 12 September 2018

Law firm Russell McVeagh has appointed a new chief executive.

Chairman Malcolm Crotty has announced Jo Avenell will join the firm on October 23, replacing outgoing chief executive Gary McDiarmid.

McDiarmid announced his retirement from the firm in June last year.

Crotty said the appointment was a pivotal moment in the firm's continued transformation following revelations of a culture rife with booze, bullying, and sexual harassment. 

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'This is a critically important appointment for our firm as we continue on our journey to building a safe, inclusive and people-focused culture that will underpin our future success,' Crotty said.

'We have acknowledged that we must lead behavioural and cultural change across our firm and we're confident in Jo's abilities to lead and support us in achieving this.'

The appointment comes on the back of a report published by Dame Margaret Bazley in July, triggered by claims of sexual misconduct involving summer interns around December 2015.

Among her findings, Bazley reported that 'junior lawyers and young staff were encouraged to drink to excess', but also that after the incidents more than two years ago, the culture appeared to have changed.

'The board and partners are well into implementing all of the recommendations following Dame Margaret Bazley's review of the firm released in July,' Crotty said.

'We have charged ourselves with building a culture and a firm that reflects the values and aspirations of our people and clients.'