Mr Dempster joins the team within the group’s Business Rescue and Recovery division based on Waterloo street in Glasgow.

He joins the professional services group following a sixteen-year tenure at one of Glasgow’s big-four accountancy firms. Whilst there, Mr Dempster worked on a wide range of advisory and insolvency engagements across various industry sectors, including some of the largest and most high-profile Scottish insolvencies of recent years.

Leonard Curtis opened its first Scottish office in Glasgow in January 2017. It’s now one of 18 across the UK and Channel Islands and is headed up by directors Stuart Robb and Michelle Elliot.

Talking of his appointment, James Dempster said: “I’m delighted to join the Leonard Curtis team here in Glasgow. Being able to provide a wide range of services and support to underperforming and distressed businesses of all sizes appealed to me. There’s a real focus on turnaround and recovery here - particularly in relation to insolvency avoidance measures.”

“SMEs make up 99% of Scotland’s private sector businesses and provide 1.2 million jobs to the nation’s economy. It’s important to support them and help them to succeed and grow.”

Michelle Elliot, director, said: “We are delighted to welcome James to the team. James has significant restructuring experience and his appointment will strengthen and build on our existing capabilities to develop the practice further in Scotland.

“We are currently working with a broad range of businesses and advisors across Scotland to provide advice and support at every stage of the business’ lifecycle.”