Kirsteen Bell

Director

Hi, I'm Kirsteen and I'm a Director in our Scottish business, based out of our Glasgow office. 

I've spent the last 25 years in Tech recruitment working across contract, permanent, Managed Service and Executive Search assignments. I am still a hands-on recruiter, as well as overseeing the team. My specialisms include Executive Search and Transformation requirements.

Example roles I recruit for include:

  • Managing Director
  • C-suite
  • Programme Director
  • Directors
  • Agile Project Leaders
  • Scrum Masters
  • Product and Business Change

I graduated from the business school at Napier University, Edinburgh and spent a couple of years living and working in Lille, France before entering a career in recruitment back in the 90's. I'm an old hand at recruitment and still thoroughly enjoy delivering the very best client experience I possibly can, whilst developing my team to do the same.

My favourite piece of advice, from my Mum, would have to be, "What's for you won't go by you."

Latest Jobs from Kirsteen

£65000 - £80000 per annum + plus benefits
£65000 - £80000 per annum + plus benefits
£65000 - £85000 per annum + plus benefits
£65000 - £85000 per annum + plus benefits

Get in touch

If you're looking to secure your next role or make your next best hire, we'd love to help. Get in touch to speak with one of our consultants today

Latest insights

Digital Scotland conference 2024
Digital Scotland conference 2024
Harvey Nash exhibits at annual conference for public sector technology professionals As an exhibitor at Scotland’s largest digital transformation summit, we were thrilled to be part of an event that brought together over 1,200 delegates, 100 exhibitors, and more than 70 speakers. Digital Scotland is the premier gathering for public sector policy and technology leaders, dedicated to enhancing government services through cutting-edge technology. Our Scotland public sector team who attended included Executive Director Graeme McNaull and consultants Craig Ross, Shauna Cavanagh and Luke Thornborrow. This is the second year exhibiting at this conference and the team thoroughly enjoyed attending the variety of speeches and discussions as well as seeing and meeting technology professionals within the public sector. The team have summarised the conference’s whole day agenda below. Event Highlights: Ministerial Keynote: The summit kicked off with a keynote from Kim McAllister, reflecting on the past year's achievements and the strategic direction for the coming year. This set the tone for a day filled with insightful discussions and innovative ideas. International Perspectives: H.E. Mr. Viljar Lubi from the Estonian Government shared valuable insights on building a future digital society in the era of AI, emphasizing the relevance of past successes in shaping future strategies. Addressing Key Challenges: Hayden Edwards from BT Business highlighted Scotland's top digital transformation challenges, including budget constraints, talent acquisition, service improvement, legacy systems, sustainability, and security. “This was a brilliant speech focusing on how Scotland’s public sector’s transformation challenges, which we have seen with many of our existing clients. Hayden spoke about ensuring the right talent can not only be attracted into the public sector but also retained to ensure they can reach their digital transformation goals.” Graeme McNaull, Executive Director, Harvey Nash Public Sector Digital Home Nations Panel: A panel featuring Geoff Huggins, Paul Duffy, and Gina Gill discussed shared experiences and common challenges in delivering best-in-class digital public services across the UK. Geoff Huggins:Emphasised the need to focus on solutions that benefit multiple government services over the medium term rather than solving individual problems urgently. Gina Gill:Highlighted the importance of prioritising the best user experience for citizens to mobilise collective efforts towards better-connected services. Paul Duffy: Noted the impact of leadership gaps on service transformation in Northern Ireland but shared a positive vision with the establishment of a central digital office to drive improvements. Masterclass Sessions: The summit featured parallel masterclass sessions covering a wide range of topics: Connecting Scotland for Good: Alan Lees, Sally Fuller, and Robert Thorburn explored the future of ubiquitous connectivity and its potential to drive innovation and bridge the digital divide in Scotland. Leveraging AI: Jon Palin from Objective Corporation discussed how AI can enhance information governance outcomes within the Scottish public sector, providing practical knowledge on navigating AI complexities. Future-proofing Connectivity: Ewan Ferguson and David Nicoll shared insights on securing Scotland's public sector networks with Zero Trust architectures and Fortinet's SD-WAN solutions. Denmark’s Digital Success: Thomas Rysgaard Christiansen from Netcompany showcased how Denmark's digital transformation journey can inspire and shape Scotland's future. Networking Opportunities: The event provided ample opportunities for networking and collaboration. Attendees engaged in meaningful conversations during the networking breaks, fostering connections that will drive future innovations. Our public sector team thoroughly enjoyed seeing current clients as well as making new connections, hearing how digital transformation is at the core of Scotland’s public sector. “It was great to see a lot of familiar faces at the conference as we have been delivering to Scotland’s public sector for over two decades. It was a great opportunity to speak to delegates about what digital transformation targets they have in the pipeline but also how they will be resourcing these.” Craig Ross, Senior Consultant, Harvey Nash Public Sector Leadership Streams: In the afternoon, leadership streams focused on key areas such as cloud, citizen services, data, digital transformation, and automation. These sessions provided deep dives into specific topics, offering attendees valuable insights and practical strategies. Our team attended the cloud focused session titled- ‘from vision to reality- driving digital transformation and innovation’. The session included Nia Lewis from the Scottish Government who chaired the discussion, Alison McLaughlin from Disclosure Scotland, Isaac Smith from The Scottish Government, Dinesh Kumar Subramani from Amazon Web Services and Ann-Maries Gallacher from NHS 24. It was a great discussion delving into real example of successful digital transformation and innovation across the private and public sector. Ann-Marie Gallacher speaking during this leadership stream session. Closing Remarks: The conference concluded with a session on adapting and changing to keep public services at the forefront of the digital revolution. John-Paul Marks and Sidsel Skovborg emphasised the importance of continuous innovation and adaptation in the public sector. Final Thoughts: Digital Scotland 2024 was an inspiring and informative event, showcasing the latest advancements in GovTech, digital ID, cloud services, payments, AI, IoT, and cybersecurity. As exhibitors, we were proud to be part of the conversation and contribute to the future of digital government services. We look forward to continuing our support Scotland’s public sector and help our clients to deliver world-class digital experiences. Thank you to all the speakers, exhibitors, and delegates who made this event a success. An a massive thank you to FutureScot for organising the whole conference. We look forward to exhibiting next year. If you would like to find out more about the conference please visit Futurescothere or reach out to one of our public sector recruitment consultants here. Harvey Nash Public sector At Harvey Nash, we bring extensive experience in providing a comprehensive range of public sector recruitment services across the UK and Ireland. We understand the critical role that frameworks play in developing strong, formalised, and measurable partnerships with public sector clients. Our expertise ensures that we can guide you through these frameworks, helping you select the most suitable engagement route based on your specific needs. Let us help you navigate the complexities of public sector recruitment to achieve the best outcomes for your organisation. Discover our public sector recruitment here.
Nash Squared CEO, Bev White, recognised in Global Power 150 Women in Staffing
Nash Squared CEO, Bev White, recognised in Global Power 150 Women in Staffing
London, November 20 2024 – Bev White, CEO of Nash Squared, the leading technology and talent solutions provider, has been again recognised in Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) Global Power 150 – Women in Staffing 2024 List. Now in its tenth year, this annual list recognises 100 women from the Americas and 50 globally for their exceptional contributions to the staffing industry. This marks Bev’s fourth appearance on the list since joining Nash Squared in 2020. Bev White started her career in technology after obtaining a degree in computer science. She held positions such as CIO and other IT leadership roles at Schlumberger and NTL (now Virgin Media) before transitioning into recruitment and talent management. Following various leadership roles in this sector, she became the CEO of Gi Group in the UK and Ireland. In February 2020, she was appointed CEO of Nash Squared. Bev White said of her inclusion on The Global Power 150 – Women in Staffing list: "I am truly honoured to have been included in this list once more, and for Nash Squared to receive such recognition. Nash Squared holds a unique and influential position worldwide. Through our work, whether helping to connect the best tech talent with organisations or through the tech solutions we deliver to clients - our work profoundly impacts individuals' careers, organisations, and the wider communities we serve. This is a responsibility we embrace with utmost dedication." Find out more about the SIA’s Global Power 150 Women in Staffing listhere.
Becoming a CIO: Eight tech roles to take you to the top
Becoming a CIO: Eight tech roles to take you to the top
Becoming a CIO isn't easy. Nor should it be. But for the right person the role of CIO is one of the most valued and rewarding jobs you can have. So, what skills do you need? And what roles should you consider pursuing to get you to the top? This article first appeared on computerweekly.com Skills – it’s all about the business A Chief Information Officer in the fullest sense is someone who sits on the executive committee or board, reports to the CEO, and is responsible for contributing to and implementing the business strategy, through technology. Not all CIOs we come across meet these criteria – some, for example, don’t actually sit on the Exco or board. Our latest Nash SquaredDigital Leadership Reportfound that around 30% do not - the fact they are not Exco roles means that their value is in operational, rather than strategic, matters. It’s the leap to influencing strategy that is where the real transition to executive seniority is made. When it comes to the key attributes of a CIO, it’s really all about qualities and attributes that help the individual contribute to strategic business value through technology: Strategic Vision: The ability to align IT strategy with business objectives, and a vision of how technology can be leveraged to deliver real commercial and competitive advantage. Leadership and Management:Experience in leading large teams and managing complex projects. For this, strong communication skills are a must. Technical Expertise: A solid foundation in IT, including infrastructure, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. Business Acumen: Understanding of business processes, finance, and how technology impacts the bottom line. Change Management:Experience in leading organisational change, particularly in the context of digital transformation. Eight roles to take you to the top For anyone with their sights on becoming a future CIO, there are a number of senior IT leadership roles that naturally improve an individual’s chances as and when the opportunity arises. Here are four ‘clear and obvious’ IT leadership positions that may provide a route to the technology summit: 1. Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Overview: CTOs focus on the technological strategy and innovation within a company. They lead efforts in technology adoption, product development, and R&D. Relevance: The CTO role is closely related to the CIO, with a focus on external-facing technology, making it a natural pathway to the CIO role, especially in tech-driven companies. To make the jump to CIO: A CTO will be a prime candidate for CIO and it will be a logical, even lateral step in some cases. 2. IT Director/Head of IT Overview: IT Managers or Directors oversee the day-to-day operations of the IT department, including infrastructure management, software development, and IT support services. Relevance: This role builds a deep understanding of the organisation's IT landscape and the ability to manage teams and budgets, which are critical for a CIO. To make the jump CIO: For a Head of IT, becoming a CIO could be the next step up, most likely at a similar organisation in the same sector where they have the experience and knowledge needed. 3. Chief Data Officer (CDO) Overview: CDOs manage data governance, data management, and analytics initiatives. Relevance: In data-driven organisations, managing and leveraging data effectively is key, making the CDO role a strong precursor to the CIO position. To make the jump to CIO: A CDO is more likely to become a CTO next, rather than stepping directly up to CIO (although it could happen). Any data-driven business would naturally be an environment where they could flourish – and potentially take the top role. 4. Head of IT Security/CISO (Chief Information Security Officer) Overview: The CISO is responsible for the security of the organization's information systems and data. Relevance: With the increasing importance of cybersecurity, experience in this area is becoming more valuable for aspiring CIOs. To make the jump to CIO: It’s unlikely for a CISO to become CIO as their next role – they need to hold a senior position with a broader strategic remit first. But that deep knowledge of security could be a great positive for them further down the track. Other high-potential roles There are other positions too that are a little less senior and may come earlier in an individual’s career, which in my experience can be high-potential development roles towards the top. 5. Director of Digital Transformation/Innovation Overview: This is in itself a fairly senior role that focuses on driving digital transformation initiatives within the organisation, including the adoption of new technologies and digital processes. Relevance: Leading digital transformation efforts helps build the strategic vision needed for a CIO role. To make the jump to CIO: Transformation is a great grounding because it brings in so many aspects of systems, IT and business performance. It may just be a case of the individual broadening their experience where they can and looking for an organisation with a CIO vacancy that has also undergone a transformation. 6. IT Program/Project Manager Overview: These professionals manage large-scale IT projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and meet business requirements. Relevance: Project management experience is valuable for a CIO, who needs to oversee multiple large initiatives and ensure alignment with business goals. To make the jump to CIO: The path to CIO is likely to involve the individual building their career up through the transformation/programme management route to director level, gaining more years of experience, and then looking out for a suitable opportunity. 7. Enterprise Architect Overview: Enterprise Architects design and implement the IT infrastructure and systems that support the organisation's business strategy. Relevance: This role requires strategic thinking and a comprehensive understanding of both business and technology, key skills for a CIO. To make the jump to CIO: The most likely route for a technical expert like an Enterprise Architect is to move up through the technical side, setting their sights on becoming a CTO. From there, a CIO role could follow. 8. Office of the CIO Overview: Office of the CIO acts as a liaison between the IT department and other business units, ensuring that IT services align with business needs. Relevance: This role builds the ability to bridge the gap between technology and business, a crucial skill for a CIO. To make the jump to CIO: These teams are already well engaged with the role of CIO and the business, and for the right person it could be a natural step to the CIO role itself further down the line. A more open field Our research at Harvey Nash shows that routes into technology are changing - more people are coming into it from non-technical backgrounds, and many don’t have a university degree, entering in other ways including through apprenticeships and self-learning. The field is opening up and there is more flexibility in career paths. A love of technology, a drive and determination to succeed, and the ability to inspire and motivate people and teams are the pre-requisites. So, if you aspire to become a CIO, take heart that there are multiple different routes through which this could happen. Yes, you’ll need to work hard and build a track record of success – and it may also be worth thinking about additional qualifications like an MBA or relevant certifications (e.g. ITIL, PMP, CISM) – but the ways in which you could fulfil your dream are growing in number as the modern business and IT landscape continues to evolve. About the author: Helen Fleming With nearly two decades of experience within recruitment and technology,Helenis the Executive Director of our Search and Specialisms solution at Harvey Nash, and is responsible for managing our technology specialisms and C-suite community from both a candidate and client perspective. To find out more about Helen, view her profilehere. Or if you would like to get in touch about technology roles and hiring, pleaseget in touch here.
Bev White, Nash Squared CEO, recognised in Staffing 100 Europe List
Bev White, Nash Squared CEO, recognised in Staffing 100 Europe List
London, October 24 2024 - Bev White, CEO of the leading global technology and talent solutions provider Nash Squared, has been recognised in the Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) Staffing 100 Europe list. The list, which comprises of C-suite executives, tech specialists, lawyers and operations experts, celebrates those that have guided their organisations and the staffing industry through turbulent times with an eye on the future. Bev White joined Nash Squared in February 2020 and has seen the business through the covid pandemic and economic downturn. In the last 12 months in particular, Bev has led the organisation’s work with the UK government to promote theDigital Support Services T Levelas well as driving the use of artificial intelligence, with investments that will benefit the business both now and in the future. Bev White said of her inclusion in the Staffing 100 Europe list: "To be included in these lists is affirmation to me that Nash Squared and the people that are part of it are making a big difference to the industry. The staffing industry changes lives, and it makes me very proud that we do this on a daily basis. It’s something that we take very seriously." Find out more about SIA’s Staffing 100 Europe list:https://www.staffingindustry.com/lists/staffing-100-europe/2024-staffing-100-europe