CodeBase unveils shake-up as former Skyscanner director gets on board

Tech incubator CodeBase has unveiled a “strategic leadership transition” that also sees a former Skyscanner leader join its board.

In a move aimed at strengthening CodeBase’s position as a powerhouse for founder support, co-founder and chief executive Stephen Coleman, who has been in the role for a decade, moves to group chair of CodeBase, while chief strategy officer Jon Hope steps up to support as interim chief executive.

At the same time, former Skyscanner director and Current Health executive Richard Lennox has joined the CodeBase board and steps in as interim chief operating officer to support the transition. Lennox is also an entrepreneur in residence at the University of Edinburgh.

Left to right: Jon Hope, Richard Lennox, Gillian Docherty, and Stephen Coleman of CodeBase. Picture by Stewart Attwood

Coleman took up the CEO role in 2016, overseeing and guiding CodeBase’s growth and evolution over the last ten years, from an Edinburgh start-up hub to a global tech ecosystem platform. CodeBase now operates across Scotland, the UK, and internationally, delivering programmes for the Scottish government, UK government, European Union, and other strategic partners.

This work includes Techscaler, the Scottish Government’s programme that supports hundreds of start-ups and scale-ups, and CodeClan, the digital skills programme.

Coleman said: “We’re at an inflection point for CodeBase, and these leadership changes are part of our overall evolution into a powerhouse for founder support across every growth stage.

“With Jon’s ecosystem-building expertise and Richard’s proven scale-up track record leading our fantastic team, and with the support of Gillian Docherty and the CodeBase board, we’re supercharging our ability to help founders navigate from early stage to global scale.”

CodeBase will now embark on a search for a new chief executive for the post-transition phase, with further related announcements expected later in the year.

Docherty said: “We have a strong leadership team in place who know the business inside out and are locked in on strategic priorities, and the view of the board is that it is important to take the necessary time to ensure the right appointment for CodeBase’s long-term success.”

She added: “Stephen has been a big part of CodeBase’s DNA and has led the business over a ten-year span that included the challenging times of the pandemic, and we’re extremely pleased that he will remain integral to CodeBase’s leadership going forward.”