London, UK – February 2026 – Seonaid Mackenzie, Founder and Chief Executive of Sturgeon Ventures LLP, has been voted Innovative Investment CEO 2025 by CEO Monthly.
The award recognises exceptional female leaders who demonstrate vision and impact within their industries. Seonaid Mackenzie was selected in recognition of her pioneering work in investment and regulatory innovation, and her leadership in building Sturgeon Ventures into a respected platform supporting ambitious, high-growth businesses.
Seonaid is the founder of Sturgeon Ventures, the award-winning firm she established in 1998 as a single-family office. From its inception, the company embraced its role as a Venture Catalyst, incubating businesses and nurturing entrepreneurial talent. Over the years, Sturgeon Ventures has become a specialist in developing both financial services brands and individual professionals.
In December 2001, Seonaid pioneered the concept of Regulatory Incubation, an innovative model enabling individuals to become approved persons under the Financial Services Authority (FSA) following its transition from the SFA and IMRO, now the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). In 2005, she created the first wholesale Appointed Representative (AR) firm – a structure previously reserved solely for retail business – now widely recognised in the wholesale industry as Regulatory Hosting, supporting both emerging UK businesses and overseas entrants.
Long before remote working became mainstream, she introduced flexible arrangements in 2001, allowing her team to work from home full or part-time. Seonaid is also Executive Director of The Sturgeon Group Limited (trading as Sturgeon Compliance Services) established in 2011.
Under Seonaid’s leadership, Sturgeon Ventures has developed a distinctive approach to investment, combining deep regulatory expertise with long-term strategic support for founders. Her work has been widely recognised for helping businesses navigate complex regulatory environments while maintaining a strong focus on innovation and sustainable growth.
Commenting on the award, Seonaid said:
“It’s an honour to be recognised by CEO Monthly. This award reflects not only my own work, but the collective effort of the founders, partners and teams I’m privileged to work alongside. Innovation in investment is ultimately about backing people and ideas that create lasting value.”
The CEO Monthly Female CEO of the Year Awards celebrate women who are shaping the future of business through strong leadership, commercial insight and meaningful contribution to their sectors.
This recognition further underscores Seonaid Mackenzie’s role as a leading voice in innovative investment and her continued commitment to supporting responsible, forward-thinking enterprises.
For more information contact Sarah Cartledge, Communications Officer:
sarahc@sturgeonventures.com
