Claire Burden, a partner and head of advisory consulting in national accountancy group Evelyn Partners’ Bristol office, has been elected chair of The Institute For Turnaround (IFT).
Claire, pictured, became a Fellow of The IFT this year. The national membership organisation brings together professionals working in turnaround and transformation. 
She has spent 10 years in interim company advisory and director roles, with a particular focus on financial turnaround.
During that time Claire 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.
She joined Evelyn Partners in Bristol in 2020 from Stroud-headquartered green power firm Ecotricity, where she had been finance director for just over a year. Prior to that she spent 11 months as head of finance at Bristol-based energy group Ovo.
She started her career as an auditor at Big Four accountancy group KPMG, going on to become a restructuring manager.
Claire 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.”
IFT CEO Milly Camley said Caire had been an active member and director of The IFT, having served on its 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.” she added.
Claire replaces London-based Andy Leeser as IFT chair after a three-year term in which he oversaw a successful re-branding process and an extension of the organisation’s thought leadership and stakeholder engagement activity, as well as significant development in relation to its next-generation programme.
He said: “I have been delighted to see the development of the profile and importance of The IFT over the last three years.
“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.”
Evelyn Partners was formed just over two years ago following the merger of Smith & Williamson with Tilney.
Its Bristol office provides a range of services, including financial planning, investment management and tax advice, to help clients manage their personal and business financial affairs.
