Will Pearce: Meet the Showcase Commercial Leadership Team

Showcase Interiors has always been built on people — the relationships we nurture, the teams we grow, and the way we show up for our clients. Under the leadership of Estelle Lee, Paul Barker, Ken Robson, and David Watkins, that ethos remains central to everything we do.

Their collective experience and long-standing connection to the business bring both stability and fresh perspective — ensuring that as Showcase continues to evolve, we stay grounded in the values that have shaped us: being people-first, relationship-led, and driven by a genuine passion for delivering meaningful, high-quality work.

A key part of that evolution was the recent formation of a dedicated Commercial Leadership Team – four long-standing team members stepping into leadership roles to explore new opportunities, nurture internal talent, and shape the next era of Showcase.

Joining the new leadership journey is Will Pearce, who now takes on the role of Head of New Leadership, alongside Lina Olsson as Creative Director, Peter Yarnold as Head of Strategic Accounts, and Paula Curness as Head of Key Accounts. Will’s own journey with Showcase began nearly a decade ago. Starting as Project Support, he quickly earned new responsibilities, progressing through roles as Project Associate, then Project Director, and now stepping into this new chapter as part of the Commercial Leadership Team.

A key part of that evolution was the recent formation of a dedicated Commercial Leadership Team – four long-standing team members stepping into leadership roles to explore new opportunities, nurture internal talent, and shape the next era of Showcase.

Joining the new leadership journey is Will Pearce, who now takes on the role of Head of New Leadership, alongside Lina Olsson as Creative Director, Peter Yarnold as Head of Strategic Accounts, and Paula Curness as Head of Key Accounts. Will’s own journey with Showcase began nearly a decade ago. Starting as Project Support, he quickly earned new responsibilities, progressing through roles as Project Associate, then Project Director, and now stepping into this new chapter as part of the Commercial Leadership Team.

We sat down with Will to talk about his new role, the mindset shift that comes with it, and how the Commercial Leadership Team is setting the foundation for Showcase’s next chapter.

Let’s start with the role – what does being Head of New Business actually look like day to day?
It’s a bit of a balancing act, honestly. One half is understanding the team and what they’re working on – knowing which projects are active, where the pinch points are, and making sure people have the right support around them. It’s about distributing workload so no one’s stretched too thin.

Then there’s the new business side – keeping an eye on what’s coming down the pipeline, spotting opportunities early, and making sure we’re doing everything we can to bring in work that fits. It’s a broader lens than I had before. I used to be focused just on the projects I was directly running. Now, it’s about the full picture.

What’s been the most exciting part of stepping into this role?
It’s definitely the chance to help shape something fresh. Showcase has always been great at listening, but now with the CLT – four of us who’ve all been here a long time – we’re more embedded. We’re physically present in the office, in the work, and that makes the feedback loop much quicker.

There’s a real opportunity to inject some new energy into the place. I don’t mean reinventing the wheel – just evolving what we already do well, and making space for different voices, especially from the next generation in the business.

How does this all feed into Showcase’s bigger picture – our clients, our growth?
It starts with structure. We’re growing – and growth without structure doesn’t work. The idea is to build a team setup that scales, that gives people the right guidance and mentorship so they’re not left figuring things out solo.

If we get that right, it pays off for the client too. Because instead of one person stretched across five jobs, you’ve got a stronger team, with the time and knowledge to do things properly. It also allows us to really hone in on training. There’s always going to be knowledge gaps – nobody knows everything! But when they crop up, we want to fill it, to make sure our team are ahead of the curve.

You’ve been at Showcase for almost a decade. What’s something from that journey you’re carrying forward into this next chapter?

That people who want to grow, will grow. I joined as Project Support. Moved through to Project Associate, then Director, and now Head of New Business. I’ve seen first-hand how Showcase backs people who are driven.

I want to keep that going. Spotting people’s strengths, helping them shift into roles that really suit them – even if it’s a different side of the business. Sometimes someone’s skillset is just waiting for the right space to shine. Creating more of those spaces is a big part of what this role is about for me.

And what’s the focus for the next 6 to 12 months? What’s the headline goal?

Short term, it’s building support structures – making sure the team feels backed and continues developing. Long term, it’s about scale. Growing the team, tapping into new sectors, exploring new client relationships. We’ve already seen it happen. What started as a few conversations between the four of us – myself, Lina, Peter and Paula – is now a strategy. We’re starting to see how our different teams can overlap, support each other, and pull in the same direction. The goal is to take the company from where it is now to where we know it can go, and beyond.

Just one more question: what are you excited about this year?
The unknown, to be honest. It’s exciting, and a little bit scary, not knowing exactly what’s around the corner. But we’ve got an amazing group of people here. They’re talented, they care, and we’ve all got a shared vision.

I’m excited to be working alongside Estelle, Paul, Ken, and Dave – the showcase owners. We’ve known each other for a long time and I’m looking forward to future landscapes and achieving new things alongside them!

That shared experience, that mutual respect – it makes a big difference. We’re not just leading new business. We’re building a culture. I think that’s something worth getting out of bed for!