About Us

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We founded Opal Advisory with an ambition to be the partners our clients instinctively turn to at pivotal moments.

At Opal Advisory, we bring first‑hand experience of leading firms through growth, transformation and challenge.

We partner with senior leaders who want clarity, momentum and support that cuts through the noise - grounding every engagement in real‑world leadership experience and a deep understanding of the challenges businesses face.

What sets us apart is our ability to both shape strategy and make it happen. We don’t just advise from the sidelines - we work alongside teams to help deliver the outcomes that matter. We bring an engaging, energising style to every engagement - building momentum and inspiring confidence at every step.

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Founders

Natalie Griffin ACMA

Director and Co-Founder

Working across the professional & financial services sectors, Natalie’s career has been shaped by guiding organisations through their most defining periods, most notably leading and integrating the second largest merger in the UK legal sector.

As a senior board member Natalie has advised on delivering transformation, governance change, and creating high performance cultures that align strategic ambition with measurable outcomes.

At the heart of her approach is a leadership philosophy that is both decisive and deeply collaborative. Having sat at the executive table herself, Natalie understands the realities, pressures, and opportunities leaders face. She works shoulder‑to‑shoulder with leaders as a trusted partner - combining commercial rigour, emotional intelligence, and integrity to help clients move confidently from strategy to action.

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Richard Stewart

Director and Co-Founder

Having originally trained as a Chartered Accountant, Richard is recognised for combining strategic insight with strong commercial awareness, bringing a pragmatic approach to organisational leadership, shaped by c-suite and senior roles across insurance, financial & professional services sectors.

Having worked closely with boards and executive teams, Richard understands the realities of turning strategic ambition into operational delivery. His experience includes leading acquisitions and integrations, shaping governance frameworks, and developing financial models that have strengthened performance and supported sustainable growth.

Known for a thoughtful, collaborative leadership style, Richard is valued for his ability to simplify complexity, challenge constructively, and work alongside leaders to build resilience and deliver lasting results.

Why Opal Advisory

Our clients trust us because we provide not only the frameworks and methodologies needed to deliver results, but also strategic clarity, commercial insight and a people-centred approach, ensuring each engagement is shaped around their priorities and designed to deliver outcomes that are both meaningful and sustained.

Every service we offer is strengthened by the first-hand leadership experience and expertise we bring to each engagement.

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Deep market knowledge & insight

Disciplined execution & supportive, constructive challenge

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Credible & pragmatic leadership experience earned in real-world roles

Collaborative, engaging partnership style that brings people with us

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Strategic clarity that cuts through complexity

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Positive momentum and delivery that turns ambition into action

Practical, tailored solutions, created together for real results

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How we work - the Opal approach

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We combine credible leadership, strategic clarity and an engaging partnership style to create momentum and deliver meaningful outcomes.

The Opal methodology provides a clear, structured framework for how we work alongside you, giving you confidence in the process, the outcomes, and the value delivered.

Before we offer recommendations, we take the time to understand how your business works - your culture, your pressures, your people, and the realities of your operating environment.

Our approach is decisive and pragmatic, but always sensitive to the dynamics and complexities of your business, allowing us to co-create solutions that accelerate momentum and outcomes that last.

Work With Us

How we deliver value

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Experience in action

We’ve led businesses through major transformation, integration and change ourselves.  This first-hand experience gives us the judgement and credibility to guide high-stakes work with confidence and a deep understanding of what effective leadership really demands.

We draw on this experience to tailor our approach to your business, enabling leaders to navigate challenges with clarity and confidence.

Partners invested in your success

At Opal Advisory, every engagement matters. Your priorities become our priorities, and we measure our success by the results delivered.

What differentiates us is the way we partner - supportive, transparent and fully committed to your outcomes.

We take genuine pride in seeing our clients succeed and their businesses thrive.

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Strategic clarity that cuts through complexity

We simplify what’s complex, aligning leaders around what matters most and translating ambition into clear, practical direction.

Strategy becomes real when people understand it, believe in it, and feel part of the journey.

We listen, we translate, and we help create the conditions where change doesn’t just land - it lasts.

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Outcomes that deliver impact and inspire

Our style is energising and collaborative, creating the conditions where progress is visible, engagement grows and change takes root.

We take the time to understand the real dynamics of your business, developing recommendations that are clear, tailored and aligned to your needs.

We shape solutions that work in practice, not just in theory.

The way we work is shaped by a set of principles that reflect our beliefs. These principles guide how we work, how we make decisions and how we build successful client relationships.

Our core principles

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Decisive Leadership

We bring credible experience that helps leaders cut through complexity, focus on what matters, and make confident, well-judged decisions.

Integrity at the Core

We act with honesty, discretion and professionalism - building trusted relationships based on respect and shared outcomes.

Purposeful Execution

We turn intent into action. We are pragmatic, resilient and outcome-focused, supporting leaders to deliver impactful change with clarity and pace.

Enabling Success

We work as true partners, building confidence and capability, creating an environment where success is enabled, embedded and celebrated.

Positive Momentum

We bring positive energy, constructive challenge and a leadership style that energises and inspires - recognising progress and encouraging teams along the way.