Interview with Founder Arron Leale: Change in Ownership and Why I’m Returning to Legal Recruitment
Q: You’ve had a varied career in recruitment. Can you tell us about your background?
Over the last eleven years, I’ve been fortunate to work across two highly specialist areas. I spent eight years in legal recruitment before moving into finance, where I’ve been focused for the past three years. Both markets have given me incredible experience and allowed me to build lasting partnerships with clients and candidates alike.
Q: The business has been through some changes recently. Can you share a little about that?
Absolutely. Following my business partner’s decision to move on, we have recently acquired the remaining shares in Trostan Dene. We now own the company outright, giving us the freedom to shape its future and expansion in line with our ambitions. While any leadership change can raise questions, I want to reassure you that our core values remain unchanged: a client-first approach and a commitment to delivering with both speed and quality.
We are also delighted to welcome Danielle Holly, who brings 15 years of finance recruitment experience and will lead our finance division. In addition, Colin has received a well-deserved promotion to Director and shareholder, continuing his focus across procurement, supply chain and operations. Together, we will build on the strong foundations already in place and drive the business forward with fresh energy.
Q: Why are you shifting your focus now?
The recruitment landscape is constantly changing, and this feels like the right time to return to my roots in legal recruitment; an area where I bring over eight years of experience and connections. By re-engaging with the legal market, alongside our established markets, we’re positioning the business to take advantage of new opportunities and broaden the scope of support we can offer our clients.
Q: Why is diversification so important right now?
Economic conditions remain unpredictable, and as a business we must make decisions that ensure long-term stability for both our clients and our team. Diversifying across legal, finance, procurement & supply chain, and operations gives us a stronger platform for growth, spreads risk more effectively and allows us to invest in future hires. For clients, it means knowing they have a partner equipped to deliver consistently, no matter how the market shifts.
Q: Does this mean finance recruitment will take a back seat?
Not at all. I want to reassure clients that finance recruitment remains a core part of the business. The key difference is that Danielle will now be leading that space. She’s exceptionally well placed to build on the work I’ve done and take it even further. Clients can expect the same level of service, with Danielle adding her own expertise and energy to the mix.
Q: What will your role look like in practice?
I will still be available to my existing finance clients whenever needed – those relationships are very important to me. But my day-to-day recruitment focus will now be on the legal market. In many ways, it’s the best of both worlds: I can continue supporting those who already work with me, while also broadening the business into new opportunities.
Q: Tell us more about Danielle’s role.
Danielle is stepping in at exactly the right moment. She has a strong understanding of the finance space and a real drive to deliver results. I have every confidence in her ability to look after existing clients, develop new partnerships, and expand the reach of our finance recruitment services. It was important to partner with someone I trust, who is well respected in this market, so I could step back from finance without impacting service levels. She will be working across qual and non-qual mandates across the North West for a variety of clients, whilst spearheading our team growth in the months and years ahead.
Q: You mentioned Colin’s promotion – how will his role evolve, and what does he bring to the business?
Colin really embodies what Trostan Dene is about. He has an incredible way of working with clients, combining deep industry knowledge with a personal, consultative approach. I’ve really enjoyed working alongside him and have been consistently impressed by the results he delivers and the way he represents the brand. In his new role as Director, Colin will continue to lead across procurement, supply chain and operations, looking to scale the business with additional personnel, but with a greater voice in shaping the wider direction of the business. His market insight and energy to build something special – even after 15 years in the industry – make him a huge asset as we move into this next chapter.
Q: Looking ahead, what excites you most about this new direction?
For me personally, it’s a chance to return to the legal market where I first built my career and re-establish connections from years gone by. More broadly, it’s about being part of an optimistic, ambitious team that thinks big. This change in leadership at Trostan Dene marks an exciting new chapter for the business. Over the past few months I’ve seen first-hand the strength of this partnership, and I truly believe we have the recipe to achieve something remarkable.