Malcolm Seagrave succeeds co-founder as chief executive of hedgehog lab
The Newcastle consultancy hands the top job to an executive with a record of scaling tech services businesses, as it sets its sights on Manchester and Glasgow
- Turnover growth: 30%, with growth accelerating in the second half of 2025, according to the company
- UK operations: Newcastle, Leeds and Edinburgh
- Investor: BGF, since 2023
- B Corp accreditation announced earlier in March 2026
Moving the executive who already runs the UK business into the top seat signals continuity of strategy and a shift from founder-led to operator-led growth. His record is in building large delivery teams, so the test is whether hedgehog lab can recruit at that pace while AI changes how much delivery work clients buy. Rival northern agencies should expect more competition for the same engineers and designers.
“Job creation has been a big part of my career and something I really enjoy – the businesses I have scaled have gone on to create hundreds of jobs.”Malcolm Seagrave, chief executive, hedgehog lab
Newcastle-headquartered digital product consultancy hedgehog lab announced on 12 March 2026 that it has appointed Malcolm Seagrave chief executive, after 18 months as managing director of its UK operations.
Seagrave succeeds co-founder Sarat Pediredla, who is stepping down under a phased succession plan that lets him explore other projects. Seagrave led BJSS from 140 to 1,400 people before its sale to CGI and headed AND Digital’s northern function as it grew from 170 to 1,500. He previously held innovation roles at Vodafone and Morrisons.
The consultancy says it plans to reach £50m and create hundreds of jobs in the North of England and Scotland along the way. In December 2025 it acquired Edinburgh innovation consultancy Label Sessions, retaining all roles in both businesses, and it has engineering support teams in Romania and Bulgaria. Seagrave says pure-play AI technologies represent around 40% of the business and that the share is growing.
Sources
- hedgehog lab, “hedgehog lab appoints Malcolm Seagrave CEO to lead ambitious growth plans”, press release, 12 March 2026. https://hedgehoglab.com/news/hedgehog-lab-appoints-malcolm-seagrave-ceo/
- hedgehog lab, “hedgehog lab acquires Label Sessions to create a one of a kind innovation consultancy”, press release, 18 December 2025. https://hedgehoglab.com/news/hedgehog-lab-acquires-label-sessions/
