Nickson, who is based in London, is handed a brief to put into action the new strategy drawn up by former strategic director Bernhard Gilbey.
Areas on which Nickson will focus include bringing the firm’s support departments closer together to work more efficiently across the firm, with the introduction of centralised billing a key part of the overhaul. Nickson will also look at client relationship training for all the firm’s lawyers.
Gilbey, who spent two years in the now-defunct strategic director role, returns to regular fee earning as head of the firm’s tax department, while Nickson will continue to do some fee earning work.
Nickson will work closely alongside Hammonds managing partner Peter Crossley, who last year presided over a major upturn in the firm’s financial performance and in December was handed a second term at the helm.
The national giant posted a 23% hike in profitability to see partner profits climb from £328,000 in 2005-06 to £404,000 last year, although fee income grew by a more modest 2.5%.
The improved performance followed a turbulent few years characterised by a raft of senior departures.
