Strategy and consulting pathfinder for arguably the leading coaching, soft skills and leadership development agency in the North. Operating across sectors nationally and internationally with a special focus on:- leadership coaching and mentoring- employee life cycle and employer brand- stakeholder engagement and communication- culture development- learning and development- purpose, vision, values and strategy

Former editor of Preview magazine (internal comms and change) The Fixer: columnist in People Management magazine, facilitator #HRHour and author and presenter of a wealth of articles, columns and blogs on organisation development and sport for international publications including:CIPRThe Huffington PostThe EconomistEconomic Times Economic Times of IndiaFTADMAPArgentPeople Management (CIPD)Professional MarketingHRMHR… Show more Former editor of Preview magazine (internal comms and change) The Fixer: columnist in People Management magazine, facilitator #HRHour and author and presenter of a wealth of articles, columns and blogs on organisation development and sport for international publications including:CIPRThe Huffington PostThe EconomistEconomic Times Economic Times of IndiaFTADMAPArgentPeople Management (CIPD)Professional MarketingHRMHR ZoneHSJMPFPortfolio North and YorkshireSimply CommunicateStrategic Communication ManagementBrand ChannelMarketing WeekEmployee Engagement TodayGolf MonthlyWomen & GolfRugby WorldRadio HumbersideViking RadioThe Rugby Show (US)The Cranky Middle Manager ShowThe Engaging Brand PodcastWhich MagazineWritten two key texts within the Brand, Communication and Engagement Space:Brand Engagement - PalgraveMacmillan 2007Brand Champions - PalgraveMacmillan 2011Contributed chapters to various others including Marketing: Metaphor and Metamorphosis, Prof Phillip Kitchen et al 2006 and The Gower Handbook of Internal Communication. Show less

Helped the NHS weather the eye of the Covid-19 global pandemic storm by jointly devising their crisis comms, leadership and stakeholder engagement strategy, plan and ethos. Facilitated the engagement aspect of the work of Trusts to act as the nation’s first and last line of defence while simultaneously focused on remaining agile and becoming future fit, applying forward thinking OD, comms and change systems.Led a large, multi-disciplinary communications team that managed internal and… Show more Helped the NHS weather the eye of the Covid-19 global pandemic storm by jointly devising their crisis comms, leadership and stakeholder engagement strategy, plan and ethos. Facilitated the engagement aspect of the work of Trusts to act as the nation’s first and last line of defence while simultaneously focused on remaining agile and becoming future fit, applying forward thinking OD, comms and change systems.Led a large, multi-disciplinary communications team that managed internal and external stakeholder relations, created award-winning campaigns and improved perceptions exponentially, despite the pandemic. This was a unique opportunity to fine-tune the established partnership theories set out in my first two business books under crisis conditions as well as test leadership principles and coaching skills proven in other sectors and settings. A humbling and rare chance to operate in the direct firing line in the healthcare sector while saving NHS funding and adding significant value to the ever-evolving NHS transformation journey. Show less

Created and spearheaded the implementation of the COVID19 crisis communication and engagement strategy of this, an important part of the DWP (client) during the major government leadership crisis of our lifetime.Developed and implemented the IC / engagement strategy and plan.Re-structured and re-focused the Comms and leadership team.Revitalised the channels, measurement methodology and implemented an account-management approach for core directorates and major transformation projects… Show more Created and spearheaded the implementation of the COVID19 crisis communication and engagement strategy of this, an important part of the DWP (client) during the major government leadership crisis of our lifetime.Developed and implemented the IC / engagement strategy and plan.Re-structured and re-focused the Comms and leadership team.Revitalised the channels, measurement methodology and implemented an account-management approach for core directorates and major transformation projects in an Agile environment.Coordinated the process for addressing leadership, culture, engagement and employer brand challenges,Developed the ED&I strrategy and coordinated special interest groups.Lead creative copywriter, storyteller and journey narrator..Designed and produced key events and projects including major conferences,Diagnosed and developed the framework strategy for sustainable culture change.Got them through most of lockdown.... in the notable absence of the CEO. Show less

Cross-sector boutique consultancy providing change management, leadership development, employee engagement, mentoring, culture change and executive coaching services to organisations, brands, individual leaders and teams.Flexible support on either a consultancy, project, coaching or interim basis.Primary focus on the key enablers of business and brand performance including:- development of a compelling story of the evolution of the brand/business- appropriate culture… Show more Cross-sector boutique consultancy providing change management, leadership development, employee engagement, mentoring, culture change and executive coaching services to organisations, brands, individual leaders and teams.Flexible support on either a consultancy, project, coaching or interim basis.Primary focus on the key enablers of business and brand performance including:- development of a compelling story of the evolution of the brand/business- appropriate culture development (inc values, behaviours and ways of working)- leadership learning & development- brand and service proposition (inc employer brand)- stakeholder engagement and communication- change, restructuring, growth and business transformation- crisis communication strategy, planning and implementation- coaching and mentoring... all the tough people stuff that change programmes and PMOs hate, but which deliver the real results.Clients across most sectors.Helped the HR function of an international manufacturing company develop and implement a world class organization development strategy as well as helping the HR and Comms functions of a private healthcare company create and implement a comprehensive leadership and employee engagement programme.Helped several heavy industry companies develop, implement and run leadership development and culture change programmes, brand engagement programmes and business transformation programmes creating the engagement strategies to help PMOs develop the soft skills platforms required to drive through sustainable process changes.Mentored and coached senior executives and groups of SMEs through Growth Accelerator programmes. Show less

Guest lecturer on Business Management; HR and MBA courses specialising in Organisation Development Strategy; Brand Development and Marketing; Employee Engagement and Culture Change. Work with Nottingham University Business School (voted no 2 in the UK), Leicester University Management School and affiliated institutions.Also programme, client business,leadership mentor and growth programme lead partner at the same.

Consultancy fellowship focused on improving business and brand performance by partnering with clients to transform the enablers or blockers of change. These include:- internal communication- employee engagement- leadership development & coaching- culture change- employer brand managementOrganisation development, mentoring and change specialistAuthor of the personal case-study-based:- Brand Engagement - How Employees Make or Break Brands… Show more Consultancy fellowship focused on improving business and brand performance by partnering with clients to transform the enablers or blockers of change. These include:- internal communication- employee engagement- leadership development & coaching- culture change- employer brand managementOrganisation development, mentoring and change specialistAuthor of the personal case-study-based:- Brand Engagement - How Employees Make or Break Brands (Palgrave/Macmillan 2008)- Brand Champions - How Superheroes Bring Brands to Life (Palgrave/Macmillan 2011)Clients included:- Shell (innovation and internal comms)- Motability (culture and employee engagement transformation leading to Top 50 placement in Times Best 100 Companies Poll in First Year of entry)- Northern Ireland Tourist Board (culture change & brand refresh leading to CIM award in 2009)- E&Y (employee engagement training courses for middle managers won industry award)- npower (successful merger with RWE whilst preserving the best of the npower culture and brand)- Deutsche Bank (brand engagement, leadership development and employer brand)- Nuffield Health (brand, service promise and culture transformation via the development and implementation of a brand champions programme)- a number of digital marketing and electronic media SMEs (internal brand development, culture change, mentoring and leadership support)- a range of public sector and not-for-profit organisations Show less

Brand: Where HR meets Marcomms (MBA course)

Recruited to help establish, launch and engage key stakeholders with the latest addition to the CIPR stable.

Appointed the founding MD of Interbrand Inside having merged two Omnicom companies: SDL the pioneering internal communication and people centred change consultancy and Interbrand, one of the leading international brand consultancies. Led a team of respected consultants and developed the original methodology for bringing brands to life from within by ensuring that employees keep the promises made by advertising and marketing.Clients ranged from hr and comms directors through to… Show more Appointed the founding MD of Interbrand Inside having merged two Omnicom companies: SDL the pioneering internal communication and people centred change consultancy and Interbrand, one of the leading international brand consultancies. Led a team of respected consultants and developed the original methodology for bringing brands to life from within by ensuring that employees keep the promises made by advertising and marketing.Clients ranged from hr and comms directors through to heads of marketing.Client organisations included Ford; Shell; Orange; Omnicom Finance; BA; ZFS; Dti; Pernod Ricard; ATS and npower. Show less

Widely acknowledged as THE pioneering internal communication and organisation development agency within the Omnicom group. Worked extensively across sectors helping clients re-connect with their employees to transform their organisations whether in M&A; re-sizing or culture transformation scenarios. Major change programmes normally involved transforming the internal communication function and establishing partnerships between HR, Comms and the CEO's office to ensure that the leadership… Show more Widely acknowledged as THE pioneering internal communication and organisation development agency within the Omnicom group. Worked extensively across sectors helping clients re-connect with their employees to transform their organisations whether in M&A; re-sizing or culture transformation scenarios. Major change programmes normally involved transforming the internal communication function and establishing partnerships between HR, Comms and the CEO's office to ensure that the leadership team "walk the talk".IB clients included:MSDW; Barcap; Reuters; ZFS; Halfords; LloydsTSB; Glaxo; BA; Virgin; Orange; DEFRA; Shell; BP; Ford; NSPCC; Cabinet Office.Edited the highly respected magazine Preview featuring international case studies including internal communication and change management best practices. Show less

OD Consulting Firm (US and UK based)Clients ranged from groups of SMEs through to large corporates and multi-nationals covering:- Leadership development/Learning Development- Communication- People process design and implementation (performance management; induction; training and development)- EFQM and IiP facilitation and coaching- Specialists in Family Business dynamics

Graduate fast track executive leadership programme.Areas of expertise:- client relationship management (from SMEs through to Blue Chip clients)- personal and corporate lending- City Markets (Financial Institutions)- Card Services (new product development and OD infrastructure)- Network Strategy and Development- brand development- organisation development strategy design and implementation- culture change design and implementation- learning and… Show more Graduate fast track executive leadership programme.Areas of expertise:- client relationship management (from SMEs through to Blue Chip clients)- personal and corporate lending- City Markets (Financial Institutions)- Card Services (new product development and OD infrastructure)- Network Strategy and Development- brand development- organisation development strategy design and implementation- culture change design and implementation- learning and development design and implementation- values and behaviours strategy design and development - core process management and re-design- service improvement programme- performance management system design and implementation- internal communication and change management strategy development and implementation- Prince II project management- training design and deliveryInvestors in People; EFQM and TQM strategy design and implementation.Drivetime Financial News Presenter: Viking Radio Show less