Next chapter, new vision: Former CEO, Jim Denning’s new role as our Future You coach

At LHi, growth has always been about more than hitting numbers, it’s about people. Our ability to scale and succeed has consistently come down to the strength, ambition, and development of our teams.

Now, our former CEO Jim Denning is stepping into an exciting new chapter as Executive Director – Future You Coach, with a clear focus: helping the next generation of LHi leaders define, chase, and achieve their best selves.

Tell us, in your own words, what is the role of ‘Executive Director – Future You Coach’?

“In a nutshell, any recruitment company’s success in scaling and growing always comes back to the strength of its people. But all too often, the investment in people doesn’t match the ambition of the business.

The role of Future You Coach is all about making sure we do everything we can to help the next generation of LHi leaders get a clear vision of their “Future You”, who and what they’re chasing, and, most importantly, how they’re going to get there.

I’m excited to help these amazing leaders across LHi pursue the best versions of themselves and, in doing so, create a platform for real growth”

How do you see this role evolving, and what kind of long-term impact do you hope it creates for LHi’s leaders?

“One of the really exciting (and slightly scary) things about this role is that, for the first time in a while, I don’t have all the answers! That said, I hope that as we see success from our first few cohorts over the next year, I’ll have the chance to work with the next generation of leaders for years to come, and make sure that both our ‘Younger You’ and ‘Future You’ ethos are even stronger tomorrow than they are today.”

After stepping down as CEO, why was this the right next step for you?

“This is a role I’ve wanted to step into for quite some time, it really reflects my own idea of ‘Future You.’ I feel very fortunate to be able to fully immerse myself in helping leaders across LHi shape their own ‘Future You,’ understand what it looks like, and then turn that vision into reality for themselves and their teams.”

What excites you most about staying involved with LHi in this new capacity?

“So much! This role really is a pinch-me moment. I’m excited to continue my journey at what I truly believe is the best recruitment firm in the world (biased, I know!) and take on a role that I hope will both empower people to become the best version of themselves and help LHi continue to grow stronger.”

How does this role align with your personal values and leadership journey?

“I’ve always believed that the essence of true leadership, and of scaling a business successfully is creating a leader who can, in turn, create another leader.

When this happens consistently (and ideally organically), it’s a strong sign that both the cultural and commercial sides of your firm are firing on all cylinders, and that you’re future-proofing your business at the same time. I’m hopeful that, in my new role, I can help make this the norm at LHi.”

Looking back, is there a moment in your own leadership journey that shaped how you’ll coach others?

“One moment really sticks out for me. I was in a pretty low headspace, battling a huge dose of imposter syndrome and second-guessing a lot of the decisions I was making for LHi.

At that time, I sat down with someone who encouraged me to start thinking about the kind of person I wanted to be, the kind of CEO I wanted to be. Once I had that clear, it became so much easier to believe in what I was doing and, crucially, to start saying no to certain tasks and delegating them, so I could say yes to the things that truly moved me towards that vision.

That shift allowed the business to get stronger, as people better suited to certain tasks took them on, and I gained a clearer sense of my role and how to perform it at my best. I hope to have even a fraction of that impact on those I’ll be working with in this new role.”

What’s the one message or mindset you hope to instill in every leader you work with?

“I think having clarity on the type of leader you want to be, what that looks, sounds, and feels like, and what their behaviours are is key. Once you have that nailed, be incredibly clear and purposeful on how you communicate this consistently and how you are going to step into those shoes.”

What qualities do you believe will define the next generation of great LHi leaders?

“Wow, this could be a very long list, but if I had to pick out the big ones, I’d say these four stand out:

• Authenticity – Above all, this is key. When the pressure is on, unless you are true to yourself, your team will see it before you do.
• Communication – Be clear on who and what your team ideals are, and communicate these as early and often as possible.
• Empathy – Remember, the ‘Younger You’ is at the core of what we do, and this job isn’t easy.
• Passion – I feel this is the biggest driver for becoming inspirational, you have to live and breathe it if you want others to follow in your footsteps.”