Arete is a relationship-led, multi-family office that invests transformational private capital into entrepreneurial companies. We are a team with deep and varied experience that has founded, built, invested in and advised a range of different businesses from dynamic start-ups to more established enterprises. Our equity solutions: Growth & Entrepreneurial Capital Flexible equity for established businesses that can help you and your management team to complete a buy-out, raise funds for growth or realise value in your business. Venture Capital Earlier stage investments for companies that have proven their concept and are generating revenue. This equity funding helps you to invest in core areas of your business and/or to scale or accelerate your operation.

Designed and delivered the new transformation strategy for M&S Bank presence in the M&S Retail stores to drive sales, improve profitability and increase customer and colleague engagement. Led this multi-faceted project through a complex governance structure within M&S Bank and M&S plc, engaging continuously with senior stakeholders to get budget approval, strategy sign-off and then ensure the transformation hits its objective in a difficult trading environment.Key contributions;• Introduced a new operating structure, new branch design, and new digital applications.• Introduced Pepper (a humanoid robot) to bring some clear differentiation and fun into the customer journey, the first UK Retail Bank to trial approach.• Provided leadership and confidence for frontline colleagues and the Executive Team to successfully execute the strategy.

Led and developed a team to identify growth and service improvements, and ensured that the Branch, UK and Offshore Contact Centre colleagues operated within the Financial Conduct Authority regulations. Recommended changes to the Network and Contact Centre Executives to evolve and enhance the service their people provided to customers, and increase revenue generated to the Bank.Key contributions;• Designed and implemented a new training and competency scheme for 1,200 frontline colleagues. A complex project involving governance approval, systems changes, budgetary planning, employee communication, training, regulatory compliance, legal and monitoring strategies. • Created a new digital dashboard to enable frontline managers to more easily identify their team’s development opportunities.• Created a new Thematic Review Team to identify commercial opportunities, resolve business issues, and remediate potential risks.• Served as the Bank’s risk owner for staff competency, performance, and reward.

Directed the Business Risk and Controls Team to deliver risk assessments of M&S Bank’s financial crime, regulatory, and operational risks to the Board, Executive Committee, and relevant Risk Committees. Collaborated with the Bank risk owners to ensure appropriate risk controls and remediation plans in place.Key contributions;• Successfully represented M&S Bank into the US Department of Justice Monitor in relation to HSBC’s Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the US Government• 35% reduction of high-level risks across the Bank

Designed and implemented the inaugural M&S Bank Branch strategy to deliver UK coverage, including migrating existing colleagues to the new approach. Directed entire operations of 150 Bank and 270 M&S plc colleagues within seven bank branches, seven satellite branches, and 28 Bureaux de Change across a wide geographical area (Chester to Aberdeen).Key contributions:• Senior member of the Network Leadership Team to agree and deliver the business plan, people plan, culture and risk appetites for the new Network.• In conjunction with Product and Marketing teams designed the Current Account proposition for branch distribution.• Collaborated with M&S plc Heads of Region to embed and develop M&S Bank in their retail stores.• Achieved the lowest attrition figures in the network, top region for customer satisfaction and year on year improved sales.

Responsible for negotiating contracts and ongoing relationship management with M&S Bank's key strategic business partners . Full accountability for the commercial relationship with M&S plc from 2008 following the sale of M&S Financial Services (now trading as M&S Bank) to HSBC in 2004. Established strong relationships at all levels within M&S to break down barriers, build trust, and identify business opportunities. Delivered effective guidance to the M&S Bank Executives and Board on initiatives, risks, dispute resolution, internal comms, opportunities and relationship building.Also responsible for insurance (home, motor, travel, wedding, pet and creditor) partner contracts (AXA, Aviva, RSA, Allianz, Ecclesiastical and BGL), Experian (account processing and bureau services), OCS (credit card manufacturer), RR Donnelly (transactional print and mail).

Negotiatied new and managed existing Airmiles and BA Miles credit card and other financial services relationships. Grew the BA co-brand credit card portfolio to 13 programmes in 11 countries including UK, US, South Africa, India, Sweden, France and SwitzerlandPrevious experience at MBNA International (now Bank of America) as Business Development Manager, American Express as Corporate Business Development Manager and Newsweek International (Washington Post ) as Eastern Europe Sales Manager.