Eversheds chief executive elect Lee Ranson is planning to focus on improving partner performance and the firm's client focus when he takes over the reins as chief executive next May, partners have told Legal Week.

Ranson will succeed Bryan Hughes as chief executive at the start of the new financial year, having been elected unopposed in October.

Partners at Eversheds said Ranson has given a presentation to the partnership outlining his vision for the firm, alongside the two other members of his management team – company and commercial head Keith Froud, who is succeeding him as managing partner; and international managing partner Ian Gray, who is taking up a new role as executive partner.

Part of Ranson's vision is expected to include better monitoring of partner performance and, in particular, a drive to ensure partners are having more contact with clients.

One partner said: "He is talking about things like analysing partner performance in a greater way. Partners will have to justify what they are doing, how they are doing it and what they bring to the practice".

Another added: "Lee wants partners at every level to be spending much more time with clients."

According to one partner, there are no plans to change the partnership compensation system, but there will be a greater emphasis on service delivery.

Gray's new role of executive partner will entail looking at pitches and client relationships, while he will also oversee business functions, including marketing.

One partner said: "Ian is a big part of how the small group that makes up the senior management team is fully focused on having the client agenda front and centre."

He will retain some of the responsibilities from his previous role, including developing the firm's German offices.

Eversheds is also set to elect a new chairman next year, with current chairman Paul Smith's term set to end in 2018. It is unclear whether Smith will stand again; however, partners have floated London energy head Robert Pitcher and pensions partner Jeremy Goodwin as possible candidates for the role. 

Outgoing chief executive Bryan Hughes is not expected to stand for the chairman job when he steps back from the leadership in May. It is unclear what Hughes, who has been chief executive since 2009, is planning to do next, though some partners within the firm have speculated that he could take a role in the Eversheds Consulting business.