Craig Holt, founder of legal services brand QualitySolicitors, has left the business.

In an update to member firms this morning, QS chief executive Eddie Ross said Holt (pictured) had stepped down from the role of QS president as part of a management shakeup following July’s acquisition by private equity owners Palamon of a controlling stake in the Simplify Group.

Simplify is a conveyancing and probate business with a turnover of £60m.

Ross said: ‘I wish Craig all the very best with his future endeavours and have no doubt he will go on to great things. As the founder of QS, he has provided not only tremendous value to the business but also pioneered change in the legal marketplace.’
 


Lee Ellis, chief financial officer of QS since 2012, has assumed the new role of transformation director for Simplify.

Ross added: ‘Essentially this role has been created as a result of the businesses merging, to understand the synergies and opportunities the group presents. Given Lee’s knowledge of QS and the capabilities within the network I’m confident that his new role will be able to bring a great many benefits to your firms.’

Nigel Berry, previously finance director of property services firm Move with Us, has become groupwide CFO.
 


‘I don’t believe that these changes will in any way affect how we work with you and the benefits we provide you as a network, nor do they change our ambitions and focus driving the brand forward,’ Ross added.

‘Meanwhile we are working hard with the other businesses in the group to bring tangible benefits to QS firms as quickly as we can. I can increasingly see the scope and potential of these and will be sharing our ideas with you at the next round of regional meetings, if not before.’

Last month former City solicitor and telecoms lawyer David Grossman was appointed chief executive of Simplify with a brief to integrate the group’s companies.

One of Holt’s last acts this year was to overhaul five-year-old QS’s expansion strategy. In April he said firms would be allowed to join while retaining their own branding during what he described as a one-year ‘mutual trial period’.

An eight-strong panel of representatives from existing QS firms was formed to help vet potential new entrants. QS has 100 member firms and solicitors in 200 locations.