Companies House director search
Search Companies House directors by name. See every current and past appointment, the companies they run, and their registered details. Free, no account needed.
How to Search for Company Directors by Name
Enter a director's surname - or surname and first name - to search the full UK Companies House register. Results show every officer whose name matches, along with their appointment history, the companies they are or were connected to, and their correspondence address. You do not need to know the company name in advance.
What Director Information Is Available on Companies House?
For each officer, you can view:
- Full name - as registered at Companies House
- Role and appointment details - director, secretary, or LLP member, with appointment and resignation dates
- Company connections - all companies they are currently appointed to and all past appointments
- Date of birth - month and year (the day is withheld for privacy)
- Nationality and country of residence - useful for KYC and due diligence
- Correspondence address - the service address on the public register (not the home address)
Why Search for Company Directors?
- Director due diligence - verify who controls a company before signing contracts, making investments, or extending credit
- Background checks - see a person's full history of directorships across all UK companies, including dissolved or failed ones
- Fraud prevention - identify individuals who have been repeatedly associated with dissolved or struck-off companies
- KYC and AML compliance - verify director identities and nationalities as part of Know Your Customer and anti-money laundering onboarding
- Sales prospecting - identify founders and decision-makers at newly registered companies in your target sector
Director Due Diligence and Background Checks
A director's Companies House record is one of the first things to check during supplier or partner due diligence. Look for a history of multiple dissolved companies in a short period, directorships at companies with overdue accounts, or connections to companies in unrelated sectors. Cross-reference with the Insolvency Service's disqualified directors register for a complete picture.
Director Search Tips and Common Queries
- Search by surname only for the broadest results - "Smith" returns all directors named Smith
- Add a first name to narrow results when searching a common surname
- Companies House stores names in SURNAME, Forename format - results include both current and resigned officers
- Click through to any company result to see its full profile, all officers, PSC register, and filing history
Related Companies House Research Tools
- Free Company Search - Look up any UK company by name or number
- PSC Lookup - Find out who owns or controls a company
- Registered Office Checker - Find a company's official address
- Browse New Companies - See newly registered companies and their founding directors
Frequently Asked Questions
Is company director information public?
Yes. Details of UK company directors and officers are held on the public Companies House register and anyone can search them for free. This includes their name, role, appointment and resignation dates, service address, and the companies they are connected to.
What director information is available on Companies House?
You can see a director's full name, their role (director, secretary, or other officer), appointment and resignation dates, their service (correspondence) address, their nationality, and their month and year of birth (the exact day is withheld). Current and past appointments across all UK companies are listed.
How do I search for a UK company director by name?
Enter the person's surname, or surname and first name, into the search box. Results include all officers on the Companies House register whose name matches - both current and former - along with their appointment history and connected companies. You do not need to know the company name in advance.
Can I see all the companies a director is involved with?
Yes. Searching by a person's name returns their full appointment history across every UK company on the register - current roles and past ones. This lets you map a director's full business connections, which is particularly useful for due diligence and background checks.
Is a director's home address visible on Companies House?
Generally no. Directors must provide a service address for the public register, which is the address that appears in search results. A director's usual residential address is held on a separate protected register and is not openly accessible. It can be suppressed in most circumstances.
Can I check if someone has been disqualified as a director?
Director disqualifications are publicly searchable through the Insolvency Service's register of disqualified directors. A disqualified director is prohibited from managing, forming, or promoting a company without court permission. The disqualification register is separate from Companies House but can be cross-referenced with director search results.
What does 'resigned' mean on a director's Companies House record?
A resigned officer is someone who was previously a director or secretary but no longer holds that role at the company. Their past appointment is retained on the public register and is visible in director search results, giving a complete historical view of their corporate activity.
Is company director search free?
Yes. The Companies House register is a public record and searching UK company directors is free. This tool lets you search by name and view all current and historical directorships at no cost and with no account required.
What is the difference between a director and a shareholder?
A director is appointed to manage the company day to day and has specific legal duties. A shareholder owns shares in the company and has rights tied to those shares (such as voting and dividends). A person can be both a director and a shareholder, but these are distinct roles. Shareholders are not listed on Companies House unless they are also PSCs (Persons with Significant Control).
What is a company secretary and are they on the register?
A company secretary is an officer responsible for statutory compliance - maintaining registers, filing documents, and keeping records. Private companies are not required to have a secretary, but if they do, that person appears on Companies House. Public companies must have a qualified secretary.
Can I look up a director's nationality and country of residence?
Yes. The Companies House register includes a director's nationality and country of usual residence as part of their public officer record. These fields appear in the full director details and can be useful for KYC (Know Your Customer) checks and due diligence.
Are directors of dormant companies still listed on Companies House?
Yes. Dormant company directors are listed on the register exactly like those of active companies. A company being dormant does not affect the public visibility of its officers - the directors remain searchable and their appointment details are publicly accessible.
Can I use director data to find new business leads?
Yes. Many sales and business development teams use director searches to identify founders and decision-makers at newly registered companies. Combined with our new company monitoring at /new-companies, you can find recently incorporated businesses in your target sector and identify who to contact.
How often is the Companies House director register updated?
Changes to directors are usually filed within 14 days of the appointment or resignation, and updates typically appear on the public register within a short time of being processed. The register reflects the latest information Companies House has received, though there can be a brief processing lag.