Former Skyscanner executive Shane Corstorphine has been appointed chair of xDesign.
Corstorphine, previously CFO and senior vice president for growth at the digital travel company – also based in Edinburgh – takes the reins from Par Equity’s Paul Atkinson.
xDesign is a digital consultancy and delivery partner which now employs more than 500 people, up from 40 in 2020. It says it has seen 10x revenue growth in the last three years.
Corstorphine will oversee the company’s strategic direction and corporate governance with the aim of supporting its next phase of growth. This summer it secured minority investment from Soho Square Capital and merged with innovation and design company CreateFuture.
“The last three years have seen xDesign mature as a business and start to gain impressive momentum in the market,” said founder and CEO Euan Andrews. “In 2023 alone, we’ve reached some critical milestones and Paul has had a big part to play in our success to date.
“Over his tenure, he’s helped to steer the business through the challenges of COVID, supported us throughout record growth, and more recently, advised on the investment deal with Soho Square Capital.
“I’m thankful to Paul for his belief in the business and look forward to continuing our relationship as he remains on our board as a non-executive director.
“I’ve known Shane for more than 10 years and in that time he’s been a big supporter of the type of company we’re building here at xDesign. Having himself been instrumental within one of Edinburgh’s homegrown success stories in recent times, the knowledge and insight he can bring will be vital in helping us to scale at pace and navigate the common pitfalls that high-growth digital businesses face.
“What’s more, he shares xDesign’s belief that it’s only by investing in people that you can build a sustainable high-growth company.”
Since leaving Skyscanner, Corstorphine has founded Scale Up Consulting Ltd, which provides coaching for CEOs of rapidly scaling businesses. He is also a non-exec director for Simple Online Healthcare and Forge Holiday Group.
“xDesign is spearheading a truly unique approach to digital transformation – one that is first and foremost about building solid relationships with people, whether colleagues or clients,” he said.
“From my years working in the industry, I fundamentally believe that this is the right foundation for building sustainable and high-growth businesses. What Euan has created with the guidance of Paul is a digital consultancy that has the core ingredients to not only continue growing at pace, but one which will leave a meaningful and lasting impact on the clients, colleagues and communities it engages with.”