Gateley chief executive to step down - news comes as group reports “another year of growth”

The chief executive of Gateley has confirmed plans to step down from the role later this year. This comes as the professional services group files results showing an increase in revenues and profits for its latest financial period.

Rod Waldie has informed the board that he will step down as chief executive and as an executive director with effect from 1 August 2026 due to personal, health-related reasons. 

Martin Pike will be appointed interim chief executive with effect from 1 August 2026, working closely with the senior leadership team.  

"It has been a privilege to be chief executive officer of Gateley for the last six years and I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made in that time," said Waldie. "Gateley is a fantastic business with great people committed to delivering the best possible service to our clients. 

"I wish Martin, the board and the business every success in the future and I look forward to supporting them over the coming months."

Pike joined Gateley in April 2025 as an independent non-executive director and chair of the Audit Committee. He brings a wealth of experience from his executive career in global professional services, followed by a series of non-executive director roles including at FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies.  

He said: "I am honoured to have been asked to lead Gateley as its interim chief executive officer. 

"Rod has helped to build a great business for which we are very grateful. 

"I look forward to working with our strong leadership team and outstanding colleagues to execute on our strategy."

Chair Edward Knapp added: "On behalf of the board and all our colleagues I would like to thank Rod for his leadership, hard work and commitment over many years. His contribution to Gateley has been significant, and we wish him the very best for the future. We are grateful for his ongoing assistance over the coming months.

"The board looks forward with confidence to working with Martin in his new role as interim chief executive officer to help Gateley deliver margin enhancement, improved balance sheet and working capital management, profitable growth and attractive returns for our shareholders, underpinned by a compelling colleague value proposition. 

"Martin will benefit from the support of our outstanding team of colleagues across the group, and Gateley's strong track record of client service."

A search process to appoint a permanent chief executive and an additional independent non-executive director, who will chair the Audit Committee, will now commence. 

Meanwhile, Gateley has reported revenues of £194.2m for the year to 30 April 2026, up from £179.4m in 2025. 

Pre-tax profits went from £6.3m to £7.6m over the same period. 

Waldie said: "I am delighted to be reporting another year of growth for the group. This year has not been without its challenges and the strength of our revenue performance, in particular, is a testament to the hard work and quality of the people within our diversified business. 

"Some Q4 deferment and increased targeted contentious workstreams in the year have masked the real progress we have made in moving towards our margin improvement ambition. We remain committed to this ambition and we look forward to reporting further progress through FY27, as we seek to further strengthen our pricing discipline whilst actively, and judiciously, managing our costs. 

"Over previous years, we have invested significantly in a number of new growth opportunities as well as strengthening our existing client-facing and internal capabilities. We are seeing the benefits of some of these investments coming through and look forward to further positive contributions to group performance in future periods.

"As always, I would like to thank our clients for their support, and our dedicated people for their ongoing hard work, commitment and can-do attitude. As I step away from the CEO role, I am hugely proud of our unbroken revenue growth since IPO. The group is now larger and more diversified, and is well positioned to deliver sustainable profitable growth over the coming years."

Gateley recently confirmed that it has launched a formal consultation process regarding proposed changes in parts of the business in a move that places jobs at risk. 

A statement from the firm said the proposals follow a "detailed review of our cost base, operating structure and ways of working".