Mark Baker Email & Phone Number

Arlesey, Gb

United Kingdom

Operational leadership, turnaround & growth for SMEs, private equity investors, business owners & management teams, to scaleup, drive cost benefits, improve efficiencies, galvanize teams & increase profitability. SC Security Cleared for MOD & Government Contracts

Netherton, Dudley, West Midlands

Kinetica Group / Zero Point 8 Ltd; a commercial interior design, manufacturing and fit-out main contractor, based in The West Midlands. Acquired the company from the Administrator in Jan 2016, with focus on turning around the business leveraging a 35-year track record in the retail, hospitality, NHS, private healthcare & education sectors.➤ Developed long-term business strategy, rationalising the operations, consolidating supply chain, enhancing product offering, improving… Show more Kinetica Group / Zero Point 8 Ltd; a commercial interior design, manufacturing and fit-out main contractor, based in The West Midlands. Acquired the company from the Administrator in Jan 2016, with focus on turning around the business leveraging a 35-year track record in the retail, hospitality, NHS, private healthcare & education sectors.➤ Developed long-term business strategy, rationalising the operations, consolidating supply chain, enhancing product offering, improving service delivery levels, and regaining customer confidence.➤ Championed £7m new business, improved business efficiencies in end-to-end processes & output, whilst also achieving improved manufacturing output and customer satisfaction.➤ Launched an innovative new turnkey main contractor interior fit-out division in July 2019, to achieve growth objectives & become less reliant upon third parties to provide work streams.➤ Boosted staff morale, investing in management training and development to improve overall skills; launched an Apprentice training programme, working with Skills Training UK and Dudley College.➤ Achieved success, transformed the business into a profitable £7m t/o specialist commercial joinery design and manufacturing company, and secured Constructionline Gold Acclaim status. Show less

Bedford

Appointed on interim basis with business turnaround remit within a £20m t/o wholesaler & distribution group of retail shop equipment to the charity sector & independent retailers in the South West of UK. ➤ Oversaw day-to-day business operations across 3 sites, including sales, business development, forecasting and budgeting, finance, purchasing, logistics, production and project management.➤ Redesigned purchasing, logistics & product sourcing strategies, negotiated new &… Show more Appointed on interim basis with business turnaround remit within a £20m t/o wholesaler & distribution group of retail shop equipment to the charity sector & independent retailers in the South West of UK. ➤ Oversaw day-to-day business operations across 3 sites, including sales, business development, forecasting and budgeting, finance, purchasing, logistics, production and project management.➤ Redesigned purchasing, logistics & product sourcing strategies, negotiated new & improved supply chain contracts with European & Far East suppliers, delivering 10% improvement to the bottom line. ➤ Successfully developed centralised group finance, purchasing and administration resources, along with integrated marketing strategies for RBUK and Stayfast aimed at achieving economies of scale.➤ Proactively engaged across the customer base, including B2B clients and major charities for retail store fit-outs, including Cancer Research, Sue Ryder, British Heart Foundation, Oxfam, and Age UK.➤ Restructured sales team into market-focused teams, driving up sales from £3.5m (’16) to £12m (’22), and recruited an additional 6 staff across sales, warehousing and administration, supporting expansion.➤ Turned around business losses into profit, leading to the successful corporate sale of the business. Show less

United Kingdom

Interim business management within a £20m t/o B2B distributor of shop fitting equipment and products, taking ownership for business turnaround in readiness for business acquisition.➤ Led the turnaround of a loss-making operation into a profitable business enterprise; having reviewed the business, defined and implemented sales & marketing strategies, bespoke to each niche market.➤ Re-designed purchasing, logistics & product sourcing strategies, underpinned by the negotiation of… Show more Interim business management within a £20m t/o B2B distributor of shop fitting equipment and products, taking ownership for business turnaround in readiness for business acquisition.➤ Led the turnaround of a loss-making operation into a profitable business enterprise; having reviewed the business, defined and implemented sales & marketing strategies, bespoke to each niche market.➤ Re-designed purchasing, logistics & product sourcing strategies, underpinned by the negotiation of improved supply chain contracts with European & Far-East suppliers, adding 10% to GP within 3 months.➤ Proactively engaged across the customer base, working closely with Wickes, Screwfix, Cancer Research, Barnado’s, and shop fitters, driving service delivery improvements and product quality.➤ Restructured organisational structure and teams, transforming internal processes and employee culture. Additionally, implemented an apprenticeship programme, nurturing new talent.➤ Achieved success, business was subsequently sold in 2016, generating significant ROI for owners. Show less

United Kingdom

Business consulting company, specialising in providing commercial direction and leadership to a portfolio of clients, operating at all levels, from Sales Director through to acting as Chairman / CEO.The market specialist client base included organisations such as Johnson & Johnson, 3i, LDC, RBS plc, NVM, and The Co-operative Group. Subject Matter Expert in business review and turnaround.Key selected assignments included:➤ Provided commercial direction and due diligence… Show more Business consulting company, specialising in providing commercial direction and leadership to a portfolio of clients, operating at all levels, from Sales Director through to acting as Chairman / CEO.The market specialist client base included organisations such as Johnson & Johnson, 3i, LDC, RBS plc, NVM, and The Co-operative Group. Subject Matter Expert in business review and turnaround.Key selected assignments included:➤ Provided commercial direction and due diligence on a £60m t/o target acquisition. ➤ Reviewed merger options for two under-performing PE-backed window/door businesses, t/o £30m.➤ Led business development and new revenue generation for a £3.5m PE-backed IT business.➤ Led design & implementation of IT infrastructure to support a £25m t/o financial services business. ➤ Resolved issues with suppliers and customers for a £12m sheet metal group following restructuring.➤ Turned around Co-op the division in preparation for sale of a £15m Dairy processing business.➤ Developed innovative CRM strategies for a £19m manufacturer of automotive products. Show less

Responsible for all aspects of strategic business development, engaging with a successful government-funded work programme service provider, turnover £10m. ➤ Led new initiatives and processes aimed at securing long-term relationships and negotiated a series of new training and distance learning contracts, engaging with national employers within the market.