Human Resources Professionals: Insights & Resources

Best Executive Coaches in London

Ryan Stevens
October 22, 2025
All Insights
HR Professionals: Insights & Resources

Best Executive Coaches in London

London, UK Executive Coaching Services

London has long been more than just a financial capital—it’s a city where leadership meets legacy, where innovation, global commerce, and human connection intersect. From the glass towers of Canary Wharf to the creative agencies in Shoreditch, leaders across industries are turning to executive coaching to strengthen their impact, navigate complexity, and lead with authenticity.

In today’s evolving workplace, executive coaching has become one of London’s most vital growth strategies. Whether you’re a startup founder scaling your first team or an HR leader at a multinational enterprise, the city’s coaching professionals are helping shape the next era of leadership—one built on empathy, agility, and purpose.

How We Selected London’s Top Executive Coaches

At Digital Reference, our team invests significant time in researching, interviewing, and evaluating professionals who exemplify what true executive coaching is all about: strategic alignment, measurable transformation, and human-first leadership.

Our selection methodology combines both quantitative and qualitative review. We analyze professional credentials (such as ICF certification levels and CIPD memberships), coaching methodologies, client testimonials, and each coach’s approach to HR integration and organizational culture.

We also value diversity in background and focus—our list includes solo practitioners, boutique firm founders, and established consultants representing a wide range of leadership styles and specialties.

What makes the London scene particularly unique is how executive coaches here blend global perspective with British pragmatism. They’re not just supporting individual clients; they’re helping organizations navigate change, retain top talent, and build sustainable leadership pipelines.

🌟 Featured Executive Coaches in London

Below are standout professionals shaping the future of leadership in the London area—each one chosen for their proven expertise, reputation, and transformative impact.

♦️ Liz Whitney (PCC)

Executive Coach | Founder, Coveworks & We Are Coachable

🌐 Coveworks | We Are Coachable | LinkedIn

Few coaches in London embody the fusion of strategy, empathy, and innovation quite like Liz Whitney. As a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and founder of Coveworks and We Are Coachable, Liz has established herself as a trusted name among executives, founders, and HR leaders navigating growth and transformation.

Her background spans decades of organizational leadership and people development, with a focus on helping clients move beyond surface-level performance to achieve authentic, sustainable impact. Liz’s coaching philosophy revolves around curiosity and connection, guiding leaders to uncover what truly drives their best work.

💡 Highlights:

🟢 Deep expertise in team dynamics, leadership culture, and communication frameworks.
🟢 Frequent collaborator with high-growth companies and executive teams seeking to align purpose and performance.
🟢 Co-founder of We Are Coachable, a platform promoting accessible coaching education and professional mentoring.
🟢 Known for her emotionally intelligent approach—balancing business rigor with personal reflection.

Liz’s work reflects the London ethos perfectly: diverse, creative, and results-oriented. She helps clients uncover clarity in complexity, one conversation at a time.

♦️ Ian Claffey

Leadership Coach | Founder, Oxondon Consulting

🌐 Oxondon | LinkedIn

With a career built on leadership, performance, and personal mastery, Ian Claffey is a trusted partner for senior leaders seeking transformation. As the founder of Oxondon Consulting, Ian brings over 20 years of experience across sectors, combining corporate acumen with deep psychological insight.

He is particularly known for his ability to translate strategy into human connection, helping executives move from intention to action. His coaching draws heavily from neuroscience, behavioral psychology, and systems thinking—an approach that resonates deeply with London’s fast-paced, multicultural professional landscape.

💡 Highlights:

🟢 Specializes in performance optimization and leadership resilience.
🟢 Frequently collaborates with global organizations and financial firms.
🟢 Advocates for authenticity in leadership—helping clients embrace vulnerability as a strength.
🟢 Brings a global mindset shaped by international executive experience and London-based consulting.

Ian’s work exemplifies the strategic and human-centered balance that defines great coaching—bridging the gap between organizational growth and personal fulfillment.

♦️ Lesley Hayman PCC, MBA, PCIC, FRSA

Executive Coach | Leadership Strategist | Founder, Lesley Hayman Executive Coaching

🌐 Website | LinkedIn

Lesley Hayman stands out as one of London’s most respected leadership coaches—a PCC-certified executive, MBA graduate, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Her distinguished career combines academic excellence with hands-on leadership coaching, helping clients build confidence, clarity, and career momentum.

What makes Lesley unique is her holistic view of leadership. She believes that coaching should not just address professional performance but also personal fulfillment and mental well-being. Through her practice, she integrates psychology, coaching supervision, and cultural intelligence—empowering clients to thrive in complex and diverse environments.

💡 Highlights:

🟢 Deep expertise in organizational behavior, coaching supervision, and leadership assessment.
🟢 Works with global executives and high-potential leaders across industries.
🟢 Fellow of the RSA for her contributions to social progress through leadership development.
🟢 Passionate advocate for women’s leadership and inclusive workplaces.

Lesley’s approach is reflective, evidence-based, and deeply human, making her one of London’s most trusted names in executive coaching.

♦️ Nathalie Metcalf

Business Coach | Founder, Business Class Associates

🌐 Website | LinkedIn

Nathalie Metcalf brings a strategic business lens to executive coaching. As founder of Business Class Associates, she combines her background in corporate strategy, HR development, and leadership facilitation to help organizations and individuals excel.

Her firm’s work often supports mid-to-senior-level professionals who are evolving into new roles or adapting to high-growth environments. Nathalie is known for her dynamic, solutions-focused coaching style, which draws upon both corporate experience and human-centered insight.

💡 Highlights:

🟢 Expertise in organizational change, HR strategy, and leadership coaching.
🟢 Partner to numerous multinational firms and growth-stage companies in London.
🟢 Brings structured methodologies that balance analytics with empathy.
🟢 Passionate about professional resilience and career realignment.

Nathalie’s practical yet personal coaching philosophy reflects London’s dual nature—a city that values both results and relationships.

♦️ Bianca Riemer

Leadership Coach | Speaker | Consultant
🌐 Website | LinkedIn

Bianca Riemer is a transformational leadership coach who helps executives and organizations lead with purpose and confidence. Her experience spans finance, media, and corporate leadership, giving her a well-rounded understanding of what makes teams and leaders thrive.

Bianca’s coaching style is energetic, data-informed, and empowering, blending emotional intelligence with strategic performance frameworks. She often works with high-performing professionals looking to break through barriers and achieve meaningful results.

💡 Highlights:

🟢 ICF-certified coach and sought-after speaker on leadership and mindset.
🟢 Extensive experience in talent development and people management.
🟢 Known for practical, measurable outcomes that drive leadership excellence.
🟢 Combines compassion with accountability—ensuring sustainable progress.

Her work embodies the next-generation coaching mindset London is known for: bold, human, and deeply committed to growth.

♦️ Emma Yearwood, FCIPD

HR Consultant | Leadership & Development Specialist

🌐 LinkedIn

With a Fellowship from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Emma Yearwood has earned her place as one of the most credible HR consultants in London. Her extensive experience in leadership development, employee engagement, and organizational change has made her a trusted partner to both private and public sector clients.

Emma’s approach blends HR expertise with coaching insight—helping organizations transform culture through leadership alignment and strategic communication. Her clients often describe her as a calm but decisive presence, able to guide complex teams through transition.

💡 Highlights:

🟢 FCIPD-qualified consultant with years of corporate HR leadership experience.
🟢 Deep understanding of talent strategy and organizational culture design.
🟢 Passionate about mentoring and developing emerging HR leaders.
🟢 Advocates for inclusion, employee well-being, and continuous learning.

Emma represents the bridge between HR consulting and executive coaching, showing how people-first strategy drives measurable business success.

♦️ Lily C.

Leadership Coach | Personal Branding & Career Strategist
🌐 LinkedIn

In a city as competitive as London, Lily C. has carved a reputation for helping professionals stand out—not just through skills, but through authentic personal presence. As a leadership and career strategist, Lily focuses on empowering executives, creatives, and entrepreneurs to craft meaningful professional identities aligned with their purpose and potential.

Her coaching combines storytelling, leadership development, and communication mastery—helping clients define who they are, what they stand for, and how they lead.

💡 Highlights:

🟢 Specializes in leadership presence, personal brand clarity, and executive communication.
🟢 Works with emerging leaders and established professionals across industries.
🟢 Known for her structured yet human approach to confidence and career growth.
🟢 Advocates for visibility, inclusion, and representation in leadership spaces.

Lily’s work captures what makes London coaching truly exceptional: global perspective, creative energy, and real human connection. She bridges leadership development and brand identity in ways that resonate with modern professionals navigating a hybrid, digital-first world.

♦️ Sarah Stirling, ICF ACC

Accredited Executive Coach | Leadership & Career Development Specialist

🌐 LinkedIn

As an ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC), Sarah Stirling is dedicated to helping leaders find clarity, confidence, and balance in their professional journeys. Based in the heart of London, Sarah works with both individuals and organizations to enhance self-awareness, communication, and leadership effectiveness.

Her background in HR and organizational change gives her a deep understanding of what drives engagement and motivation within teams. Sarah’s coaching approach is reflective, supportive, and growth-oriented, allowing her clients to build both confidence and capability in equal measure.

💡 Highlights:

🟢 Accredited ICF coach with a focus on career transitions and leadership growth.
🟢 Extensive HR background with expertise in change management and employee engagement.
🟢 Helps clients build resilience and navigate leadership challenges with confidence.
🟢 Values authenticity, empathy, and purpose-driven leadership.

Sarah’s coaching embodies the London mindset: ambitious yet grounded, reflective yet forward-moving. She’s a go-to professional for those seeking both structure and compassion in their growth journey.

♦️ Gugu Khazi

Career Coach | Founder, Careers by Gugu

🌐 LinkedIn

Gugu Khazi is one of London’s most inspiring career coaches, combining her corporate leadership experience with a passion for helping others thrive in their professional paths. As the founder of Careers by Gugu, she supports professionals who want to take ownership of their careers, rediscover their confidence, and find purpose in their work.

Her approach is rooted in empathy and empowerment. Gugu’s clients praise her ability to help them break through limiting beliefs, build actionable career strategies, and articulate their professional value with confidence.

💡 Highlights:

🟢 Founder of Careers by Gugu, a coaching platform empowering mid-career professionals.
🟢 Expertise in career transitions, self-leadership, and confidence coaching.
🟢 Deeply values inclusion, cultural awareness, and belonging in leadership development.
🟢 Brings extensive HR and organizational experience into her one-on-one coaching sessions.

Gugu’s work reflects London’s multicultural strength—she meets people where they are, helping them find the courage to lead and grow authentically, no matter the environment.

♦️ Mark Boyden

Executive Coach | Psychotherapist | Leadership Consultant

🌐 Website | LinkedIn

A respected executive coach and psychotherapist, Mark Boyden brings a unique depth to London’s coaching landscape. Through his firm, Mark Boyden Associates, he integrates psychotherapy and executive coaching to help leaders navigate both the inner and outer dimensions of leadership.

His expertise lies in transformational leadership, mental resilience, and performance under pressure. Mark’s clients often include CEOs, senior executives, and professionals in high-stakes industries where self-awareness and composure are critical to success.

💡 Highlights:

🟢 Accredited coach and qualified psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience.
🟢 Focuses on the psychological dimensions of leadership—bridging mental well-being and professional performance.
🟢 Works with global organizations and senior leaders across finance, law, and media.
🟢 Offers team workshops and bespoke leadership development programs.

Mark’s approach reminds us that leadership begins with self-knowledge and emotional mastery—two elements often overlooked in corporate development. His work is both scientifically grounded and deeply human, marking him as one of London’s most holistic and impactful coaches.

The London Coaching Landscape

London’s executive coaching scene is dynamic, diverse, and distinctly people-centered. Across every borough—from Canary Wharf’s financial towers to Westminster’s public sector offices—leaders are rethinking what it means to grow and guide others.

What unites the professionals on this list is not just their credentials or experience, but their shared commitment to unlocking human potential. Whether they specialize in leadership psychology, cultural transformation, or HR innovation, each coach brings a lens that balances business objectives with personal authenticity.

Executive coaching in London isn’t just about climbing the ladder—it’s about developing leaders who lead consciously, inclusively, and sustainably.

Why Digital Reference Curated This List of London Executive Coaches

At Digital Reference, we don’t just make lists—we build bridges. Our mission is to connect organizations with exceptional leadership and coaching professionals who reflect the best of their fields.

Our process involves:

📍 Rigorous research across credentials, impact, and testimonials.
📍 A people-first evaluation of how each consultant integrates authenticity and measurable change.
📍 Regional expertise that celebrates local leadership ecosystems—from London to Los Angeles.

We’re proud to feature professionals who exemplify what great coaching can achieve: resilient leadership, stronger teams, and purposeful growth.

And as London continues to evolve as one of the world’s leading business and cultural centers, so too will the coaching professionals who call it home.

In Closing: Choosing the Right Executive Coach for Your Needs

At its core, this list represents what Digital Reference stands for—trust, transformation, and human connection. We believe that coaching is not just a service; it’s a catalyst for enduring leadership.

Whether you’re an HR professional designing leadership programs or an executive ready for personal reinvention, our curated network connects you to the right people, right where you are.

To discover more about our mission, methodology, and upcoming regional features, visit our About page or explore our growing library of talent ecosystem insights.

💡 Explore these additional tools and resources crafted to accelerate your business success:
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Because leadership doesn’t just happen—it’s built, nurtured, and sustained.
And at Digital Reference, we’re here to help you build it.

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