The Livingstone Relationship within the Trustmarque Group of companies
Livingstone operates as an independent advisory business within the Trustmarque Group.
Since 2023, Livingstone has been owned by the Trustmarque Group.
We operate with full commercial and operational, and legal entity separation.
Our role is to represent the interests of our clients – not vendors, resellers, or group entities.
- We do not receive referral fees, reseller margin, incentives, or publisher commissions.
- We do not sell software, resell tools, or participate in vendor-led revenue programmes.
- Our advice is not influenced by commercial alignment.
Where Trustmarque or other group companies act as resellers, Livingstone remains structurally and commercially independent – including bidding in direct competition where appropriate.
Our only commercial obligation is to our clients.
A Message from Livingstone Leadership
Independence is at the heart of who we are – it’s the foundation of how we serve our clients. Our role is to provide objective, expert advice in high‑value, commercially sensitive negotiations, and that responsibility cannot coexist with reseller incentives, commission structures, or vendor‑driven objectives.
Since joining the Trustmarque Group in 2023, Livingstone has continued to operate as a fully independent advisory business, with complete commercial, operational, and legal separation. We do not sell software, earn commissions, receive referral fees, or share client data across the Group. Our advice is never influenced by vendor alignment, internal sales targets, or third‑party incentives.
This independence ensures that every recommendation we make is guided solely by our clients’ goals. Even where Trustmarque or other Group entities act as resellers, Livingstone remains structurally distinct – and, where appropriate, we compete directly.
Our obligation is singular: to represent our clients’ interests with integrity, transparency, and professional rigour. That principle is non‑negotiable
Livingstone & Trustmarque
How we Maintain Objectivity
Governance & Leadership Autonomy
Livingstone operates under its own leadership structure. Lisa Maines (Livingstone Managing Director) holds full decision authority with defined Delegation of Authority across delivery and sales leadership.
Commercial Separation
We do not:
- Receive kickbacks or referral fees
- Share revenue with vendors
- Earn margin on tooling
- Participate in reseller incentives
Data Segregation & Confidentiality
Client data is controlled and governed within Livingstone.
- Privileged publisher data is not shared outside Livingstone
- Customer data is not visible to Trustmarque
- Identity and access controls enforce separation
- No cross-entity commercial data sharing
Client confidentiality is a non-negotiable boundary.
Vendor Relationships
Livingstone maintain formal partnerships to ensure technical accuracy and current licensing intelligence.
However:
- Partnerships do not generate resale revenue
- Advice is not contingent on vendor alignment
- We are never commercially aligned with the vendor during contract negotiations
Our advisory role remains independent at all times.
Clear Red Lines
We will not:
- Share client data within the group
- Influence advisory outcomes for reseller benefit
- Allow commercial incentives to shape contract advice
