A New Chapter for Acre - Welcoming James Kelly as CEO

​We’re excited to announce a leadership transition that marks the next chapter of Acre’s growth. 

Effective today, 1st October 2024, James Kelly will officially step into the role of our Chief Executive Officer. James takes over from Richard Wright, who has led Acre for more than twelve years and has been instrumental in our expansion into global markets, including the USA, Europe and APAC regions. Richard will remain an integral part of the business, transitioning to the role of Chair. 

Originally founded in 2003 by Andy Cartland, Acre was built with a clear purpose: to create systemic change for our planet and society by activating people’s potential. Our mission to place talented professionals in businesses, helping them navigate climate and societal challenges, remains at the heart of everything we do. Since 2020, our revenue has quadrupled, a clear reflection of the growing demand from our clients as they seek to transform their organisations in the face of increasing regulatory pressures and the drive towards net zero. 

James has been with Acre since January 2024, having joined as the Chief Commercial Officer with a view to this transition. With over 20 years of leadership experience in our sector, James brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise, having scaled global businesses through various growth and investment phases. His career includes executive roles at Hays and Robert Walters, and as the Chief Executive of Lorien, where he played a pivotal leadership role in the company’s acquisition by Impellam Group. Most recently, James served as Chief Commercial Officer at Opus Talent Solutions, where he guided the company through a significant acquisition by Graphite Capital. 

The sustainability and clean technology job markets are evolving rapidly. In the UK alone, ‘green’ jobs —roles focused on sustainability and environmental initiatives — now make up a third of all job postings, according to LinkedIn. This surge reflects the growing need for sustainability experts across industries, from Chief Sustainability Officers to clean technology professionals. It also marks a need for experienced, commercial executives to join businesses focused on accelerating the transition to a more sustainable economy and drive their missions forward with momentum. At Acre, we’re proud to be at the forefront of this movement, helping businesses secure the talent they need to lead the charge towards a more sustainable future. 

Reflecting on this leadership transition, Richard said: “Growing this business with Andy has been the most rewarding phase of my career — together, we’ve built a strong sense of purpose into everything we do and now I could not be prouder to welcome James as our new CEO. James’s experience and commercial acumen are exactly what we need to continue driving Acre’s global growth, and I’m confident he is the perfect person to lead us into this next exciting phase.” 

James added: “Richard and Andy have built something truly special at Acre, and I’m delighted to be stepping into this role. Acre is perfectly positioned in the right markets, with the right focus, at just the right moment. In my time here, I’ve seen firsthand the strength of the team and the immense potential for continued growth. I’m excited to help lead Acre’s journey forward.” 

We’re looking forward to this exciting next step at Acre, and to the continued success we’ll build under James’s leadership.