Team
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Debbie Shields
Founder and CEO
Debbie Shields is the Founder and CEO of AVIIA, bringing extensive experience of executive search and leadership advisory experience across the public, private, and third and non-profit sectors. Throughout her career, Debbie has partnered with boards and executive teams to appoint Chief Executives, Executive Directors, Non-Executive Directors and senior leaders who have shaped organisations, driven transformation and delivered lasting impact.
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Abeer Macintyre
Director
Abeer Macintyre is an award-winning private, public and third sector professional. Her career has taken her from senior roles at the BBC (as a journalist and news presenter) to leadership roles in the third sector and, latterly, as CEO of one of the biggest third sector recruitment and consultancy companies in the UK. She is also a Non-Executive Director of NHS 24.
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Craig Paterson
Chair
Craig is an experienced commercial and social entrepreneur who over the past 4 decades, has been driven by a desire to create lasting and meaningful positive impacts for all stakeholders involved in various ventures across multiple markets. As the founder of Melville Craig Group, he grew the business into one of Scotland’s leading firms across the full footprint of Human Resources and recruitment services before completing a successful exit to a listed US firm.
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Tom Hopkinson
Non Executive Director
Tom Hopkinson is a serial entrepreneur and board advisor with over two decades of experience building and scaling businesses in executive search and talent solutions. Tom is best known as the founder of Taylor Hopkinson, a specialist renewable energy executive search firm he established in 2009. Over fifteen years he grew the business from start-up to a market-leading international operation, completing a private equity raise with Longacre International before a successful sale in 2021.
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Lauryn Pringle
Senior Researcher
Lauryn is an executive search professional with experience supporting senior leadership and board-level appointments across the public and third sectors. She has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality research, market insight and candidate engagement, helping organisations identify and attract exceptional leadership talent. Known for her attention to detail, collaborative approach and commitment to excellence, Lauryn enjoys working on complex appointments.
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Stewart Fotheringham
Operations Manager
Stewart is Operations Manager at AVIIA, with more than fifteen years of commercial experience, including five years in operations at a growing recruitment and talent business. He looks after the systems, technology and processes that keep the firm running smoothly and securely, so the team can focus on their clients and candidates. Stewart takes a practical, people-first approach to how a business is run.
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