Led by Allison Thompson, the team at Ashmore Consulting specialise in transformational change for organisations, place and people. Taking a strategic approach, Ashmore creates value through improved business planning and performance, decision making, operational effectiveness, employee engagement and creating the conditions for talent to flourish and thrive.

At Ashmore, we’re passionate about making a positive impact through our work.

We believe strongly in helping people succeed and place the highest value on working with organisations to support them in creating a better and more productive environment in which to work. 

Every day, we are inspired to deliver great work for people, businesses and causes we believe in – an ethos that runs right through the company and underpins every decision we make.

We are based in Sunderland, and are committed to helping young people at risk in the area by providing pro bono coaching and mentoring support. We also give 10% of our profits to programmes that support that commitment.
 

Allison Thompson

Allison is Ashmore Consulting’s Director and Principal Consultant. She is currently working at a regional and national level on a number of transformation and restructure projects including Regeneration and Economic Development; Financial Services; Health; and Board Development. She previously held executive positions as Marketing Director, Chief Operating Officer and HR Director at Northern Rock, playing a key role in leading the bank through considerable change following its collapse in 2007.
 
Allison is also a very experienced Non-Executive Director having sat on and developed best practice for a number of Boards over the last 20 years. She is currently a Non-Executive and Senior Independent Director of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.; she is a Board member of NE First Credit Union; a Trustee of the Catholic Diocese for Hexham and Newcastle; a Board Member of Sunderland Business Improvement District and sits on a variety of other boards.
 
Her passion is stimulating business and enterprise especially that which relates to creating employment to support those most vulnerable and disadvantaged, particularly young people. She is currently working on a number of projects to promote entrepreneurship to stimulate social change through employment and sport.

Mike Smith

Mike has vast experience in large scale, fast paced, operational environments delivering business performance and results improvements for a range of clients across the UK.

His background includes over 30 years in mortgage finance operations, servicing the fastest growing book in the UK, from cradle to grave. Mike has held line leadership responsibility for over 1,500 colleagues leading through significant restructure and transformation.

Mike has extensive experience in developing customer experience including digital development, influencing corporate culture, managing operational risk and fulfilling regulatory adherence. 

He also has a strong track record in people development, positive, enterprising workplace engagement and managing through growth as well as challenging, uncertain and traumatic times - transformation at its best and most challenging.

Mike has established his own company, Mike Smith Management Services Ltd and is a non-executive director at Durham Cricket Board Ltd.
 

Stacy Hall

Stacy Hall has over 20 years’ experience in developing successful communications and marketing strategies for place marketing, economic development, regeneration, local government, tourism and culture.

She has a wealth of experience and a successful track record in developing creative solutions to complex issues, working with partnerships across the public and private sectors. 

She is a member of the Sunderland AFC Foundation Development Board, the Heritage Lottery Fund North East Committee and Generator Music Trust Board in Newcastle.
 

Matthew Thompson

Matthew is a Northumbria University graduate in Sport management where he developed his leadership and marketing skills as well as the ability to deliver project outcomes.

He provides Social Media expertise across all digital platforms, develops video content, contributes to building Digital Marketing Strategies and has a passion to help small businesses grow.

As a digital native, Matthew is part of a balanced team of experienced executives and young graduates who bring a fast paced entrepreneurial spirit to all our client interactions.

Matthew also loves sport and all aspects of the health and fitness industry and along with other team members bring a youthful approach to our work which can be an added value in certain projects.

Mark Hodgson

Mark plays a leading role in project delivery to ensure excellent results are delivered for clients.
 
He joined Ashmore in 2014 after achieving a first class degree in journalism from the University of Sunderland and obtaining a gold a NCTJ Gold Standard Diploma in Journalism.
 
Mark has developed expertise in creating insights-led business and marketing plans, helping organisations reach their goals.
 
He can also produce quality content for digital and print platforms.

Hena Ahmed

Hena plays a supporting role in all Ashmore projects.

She joined Ashmore in 2016 after graduating from University of Sunderland with an English Literature degree.

With a strong background in volunteering and community work as well as customer service, her experience has ensured that she can adapt very quickly to whatever the situation or role asks of her.

Hena’s organisation skills not only support her in daily administrative duties but can extend to planning and organising events too. This willingness to adapt enables her to troubleshoot effectively whenever the need arises.

Hena is also able to write and plan content for use on digital platforms and can support with social media activity where required.