Jonathan Lister sets up new consultancy

Jonathan Lister has left recruitment consultants Lister Charles, the company he founded in 1993, to set up his own business, Jonathan Lister Associates.

The new consultancy will focus on senior management recruitment in the brewing, licensed and leisure sectors. It will also supply clients with a broad range of human resource services, including recruitment advertising, search and selection support services, exit interviewing, training, and career coaching.

"Since Lister Charles was founded the company has changed its focus and become much more mass-market in focus. This wasn't where I wanted to be," said Lister. "Recruitment is no longer about a CV in the post. It's becoming ever more assignment-driven. It's something I don't think many of the other recruitment agencies are doing particularly well at the moment."

Lister, whose background is in brewing recruitment, said the new business marked a return to his roots. He did however admit that the initial challenge would be to reclaim his name and be known once more as Jonathan Lister, pub expert, rather than as a Lister Charles man.

"There's increasing activity in the pub world and I want to assist them on their way," he said. "The signs of an economic recovery are there, so this really is the right time to make a move."

Lister's company stake has been sold to existing Lister Charles shareholders, who include co-founder Nicholas Charles.

The company said it planned to retain the name.