About Us
i-confidential was founded in 2008 by Colin Fraser and Ian Harragan. They saw an opportunity to use their expertise to create a new cyber security and risk consultancy that would provide trusted advice and support to industry.
Joined soon after by Simon Lawrence, the company quickly built a sound reputation that placed it at the heart of cyber transformation.
i-confidential now employs over 20 permanent staff and 150+ associates who serve a growing list of clients, including some of the UK’s best-known firms.
While based in Edinburgh, our work has extended throughout Europe, India, the US, and Asia.
Our strength has always been our people, and with the goal of setting us up for long-term success, we became employee owned in 2018.
Our focus remains on developing strong relationships with clients to help them deliver effective security through both our consulting and talent acquisition services.
Employee Owned
A key driver for i-confidential becoming employee owned was to help secure its future. It also recognises the fact that our people are our business.
Employees, via an Ownership Trust, now represent a 55% shareholding in i-confidential. Day-to-day management has moved away from the founders and is now in the hands of a senior management team led by our Chief Operating Officer, Louise Beattie.
As an employee-owned business everyone has a voice. Governance and communication is transparent, with decisions on how we shape our strategy discussed company wide. Our two employee-elected trustees, Kathryn Walker and Nicola Huskie, sit on the Trust Board to help ensure this.
Being an employee and an owner is a big responsibility, but it means we all have a stake in i-confidential and can shape a clear vision for our long-term future.
Our current Employee Ownership Trust Board members
Vision, Mission, Values
Our Vision
By empowering our people to consistently deliver great client outcomes, we want to be recognised as a leading provider of cyber security and risk services.
Our Mission
We will ensure all our clients benefit from the experience and wisdom we have gained working with organisations at the leading edge of security.
We will commit to our people having the skills, knowledge, and support to deliver the effective security clients need.
We will develop strong, lasting relationships with associates, partners, and clients as the foundation for our success together.
Our Values
We treat people with integrity and respect.
We ensure everyone has a voice and a responsibility to use it wisely.
We care about maintaining a healthy work/life balance.
We focus on building trust with the people we work with.
We are not perfect, but we strive for excellence.
Meet Our...??
Leadership
[A sentence about the leadership team.]
Ian Harragan
Director
Ian’s role is focused upon growing the capability of the Senior Management team to ensure the business can look forward to being well led into the future.
Ian, when not working, enjoys walking in the hills around Peebles, reading a wide range of books and listening to music (mainly from many years ago!!). His aim going forward is to improve his cooking skills.
Simon Lawrence
Director
Simon is our principal consultant and splits his time between client engagements, developing our consultancy offerings, and guiding the management team on all things techy.
Early in his career Simon used to write compilers for Fortran and C on Unix, and if he ever retires his dream is to work on parsers and code generators once again.
Colin Fraser
Director
Colin’s role has included acting as interim CISO and technology leader for some of the UK’s largest financial institutions. He now acts as a consultant supporting our clients, as well as individually advising and mentoring a number of cyber and technology executives.
Colin is also committed to the development of hockey, both locally and at a national level.
Louise Beattie
Chief Operating Officer
Louise joined i-confidential as it was just starting its journey in 2010. Now, as our Chief Operating Officer, she leads the senior management team, ensuring the company delivers on its business strategy, operates effectively, and adheres to its values.
Louise enjoys running anywhere outside and spending time with her family.
Title
[A sentence about the this team.]
Nicola Huskie
Chief Commercial
Officer
Nicola oversees and manages all commercial aspects of the company’s operation. Her primary focus is business growth, profitability, and maintaining a strong customer base. She has responsibility for the Sales and Account Management team and manages the Talent Acquisition function.
Nicola is a keen DIY enthusiast, so alongside being a mum to two little boys, you will find her working on her next renovation.
Elaine McKechnie
Job Title
[Enter bio here]
Brian Boyd
Head of Technical Delivery
Brian’s role as Head of Technical Delivery means he is involved in all aspects of our consultancy and knowledge-based offerings. He is accountable for all delivery to our clients. Brian is involved in the running of the company and development of new offerings and partnerships.
Brian spends his spare time running his kids to clubs, volunteering in the local community, and coaching youth football.
Calum Michie
Senior Security Consultant
Calum supports i-confidential's clients to transform their risk and control management frameworks and operating model, enabling them to better understand, manage and reduce their top technology and cyber risks.
Calum spends his spare time with his wife and two teenage children, trying not to fall off his mountain bike, and following Edinburgh Rugby.
