August 2024 update: new role, SVP Communications at IFS.I am an entrepreneurial business leader, board advisor and mentor, with three decades of international experience building and leading teams to drive sustainable and commercially sound growth at communications, marketing and effectiveness consultancies. I've been fortunate to build comms organisations and agency businesses in the UK, US and APAC. I've worked in both independent businesses and WPP. I've learned best practice from both sides, and understand what it takes to build a communicatons function and business at different stages of maturity, capability and organisational structure. I am a problem solver and work with CEOs / founders of challenger brands to find solutions to communications and growth challenges.My consulting approach is underpinned by how communications and marketing aligns to business strategy and growth, with a core focus on outcomes and benefits to end users and clients. Achieving maximum effectiveness from activity as efficiently as possible. I have always encouraged my clients and teams I've led to embrace innovation and experimentation and adopt a test and learn mindset to creative strategy.I also specialise in M&A advisory. I have led the integration of agencies into existing groups and provided origination consultancy for marketing groups looking to acquire small to medium sized agencies. Equally, I act as an advisor to Founders / CEOs of independent agencies who are looking to sell their business in a timeframe of between one to three years.