After more than four decades at the helm of ESco, our founder and Managing Director, Susan Duffin, will be stepping into a new role as Chairwoman. On Wednesday 6 August 2025, Susan will officially hand over the day-to-day running of the company to her daughter, Louise McHale, who will be taking on the role of Managing Director.
This transition is the culmination of years of preparation, with Louise having served as Deputy Managing Director since 2022. She now takes the reins, ready to lead ESco into its next era – rooted in the same values of integrity, service, and people-first leadership that have defined the company since its beginning.
From a bedroom start-up in 1984, to purpose-built offices on our own 2+ acre site, Susan has grown ESco into a thriving business with a reputation for excellence in subscription management, customer service and, more recently, membership management. Under her leadership, ESco has reached milestone after milestone – from the launch of printed renewals campaigns in the ’90s, to surviving and thriving through a global pandemic and, most recently, celebrating 40 years of business at Fortnum & Mason in 2024.
In every chapter, Susan has led with vision, warmth, and a deep respect for both the people she works with and the clients ESco serves. She has created more than a company – Susan built a way of working where quality and conscience go hand in hand.
Now, as Susan takes a well-earned step back from the operational front line, she remains an integral part of ESco as Chairwoman. Louise, who shares the same dedication and belief in building strong relationships and delivering outstanding service, is poised to take the business forward.
We are incredibly grateful for Susan’s extraordinary leadership and are excited for what’s to come under Louise’s guidance. The heart of ESco remains the same – and the future is full of promise.
