Riding my motorcycle around Crete, Greece. Wonderful!

Key Achievements:Personally oversaw the successful sale of the businessSteered the company from impending decline to a solid foundation for sustained growthOversaw the wholesale switch from legacy on-premise product to full cloud SaaSTook a fledgling cloud PMS product to full developmentRe-positioned the company from that of a legacy and regional player to a fresh, hungry software houseDirected the business into a profit making, forward thinking organisationIntroduced fit for purpose business systems, tools and financial protocolsResponsible for:SalesNew partnershipsStaff & skillsProduct developmentCulture changeFinancialLegalCustomer supportMarketingInfrastructure

• Identifying and developing new sales opportunities• Developing existing client relationships• Creating business proposals• Driving efficiencies throughout the business’ operations• Stimulating brand loyalty and advocacy• Writing bids for project funding• Managing the delivery of contracts• Analysing the sales process & effectiveness, challenging norms and driving improvements• Ensuring a customer focus within all areas of operational activities, embedding this philosophy throughout the business and within key client contacts• Delivering presentations and media output and contributing editorial to trade publications• Establishing and maintaining appropriate systems for measuring critical KPIs• Working closely with the Product Director to ensure successful product specifications, project management and delivery• Developing and implementing market and business development strategies• Creating brand values, identities and marketing campaigns in partnership with external agencies• Setting and leading the direction/strategy for product procurement and supplier relationships• Setting forecasts and targets, mentoring, coaching and developing the Sales and Installation, Training and Support teams as well as individuals• Negotiating with customers• Assisting the Managing Director in the development and implementation of the financial strategy of the company• Managing the Commercial budget and finances • Assisting the Managing Director in HR issues, staff restructures, redeployment etc• Providing financial support, commercial analysis and advice on the ongoing performance of the business and recommend strategic / tactical plans to increase profitability• Monitoring, measuring and reporting on commercial issues, opportunities and development • Identifying and analysing opportunities for acquiring other businesses, products, services or finance which would accelerate strategic goals

Responsible to the Managing Director for planning and overseeing the operational success of the Technical Support Team and the Installations Team. Responsible to the Sales Director for supporting new business development and customer retention.

Recruited to embed new systems, processes, attitudes, behaviors and KPIs within an established customer services team.

My role was to lead the university's primary organisations for commercial trading, which included Sunley Conference Centre & hotel, iCon Innovation Centre, iCon café, Greenfields residence and university-wide meeting space.Key outcomes: - Successfully oversaw the transformation of a failing business unit to full profitability - Increased turnover by 30% - Secured hotel occupancy at 80% - Restructured staffing; TUPE transfers; redundancies and recruitment - Responsible for a management team of five, each with their own reporting teams - Rebranded the business, establishing new brand values - Introduced new market-leading products and services - Repositioned the catering offer, utilising new supply chain, staff and customer-focused menu - Attained major new client groups and customers - Wrote new company policies - Introduced a customer-facing working environment with a focus on sales - Streamlined procurement and supply chain, attaining efficiency savings - Oversaw building refurbishment and capex - Responsible for full budgetary control

Seconded to Sunley Conference Centre to implement a management change project, including: - Business plan - Staffing structure - Working practices - Budgets - Asset improvements

Managed the Business & Commercial Services department by recruiting, leading and motivating the Business Support Officers (up to six FTEs), KTP Co-ordinator (1 FTE) and Business Administrator (1 FTE) to achieve the financial/investment aspirations of the university’s strategic plan.Managed a large portfolio of senior level strategic projects, ensuring their timely and effective delivery for internal and external clientsDeveloped and implemented a strategy for defining the university’s commercial product and services portfolio and established robust and identifiable retail pricing structures

Identified and secured new business opportunities for the university across the commercial, public and voluntary sectors.Reviewed the existing arrangements for and develop/implement an effective and prudent strategy in respect of marketing the commercial products and services Design, implement and manage a support strategy for internal customers (staff) for the generation of consultancy income, in order to meet the targets stated in the Strategic PlanDesigned and managed an operational plan to refresh the externally facing elements of the Consultancy portfolio, including branding, marketing and delivery, in order to meet the targets stated in the Strategic Plan and in full consultation with UCN’s Department of Corporate Communications and Development

Responsible for public sector recruitment.

Permanents Consultant