Nick R. Email & Phone Number

England, United Kingdom

K2 business partners are turnaround specialists who invest in companies with £3-20m turnover led by a committed board and have assets that other investors find difficult to value.

NR Associates provides clients with CEO skills, offering highly pragmatic advice and implementation support based on extensive experience of how organisations really work (or not) in practice. Advice and support are unashamedly disruptive and creative, challenging the status quo, putting the client first and then aligning the client’s requirements to the organisation’s people, processes and technology. Particular attention is paid to governance and risk to create the necessary foundation for growth, making both work profitably, without hindering the progress of the organisation.

United Kingdom

Joined the board as non-executive director in parallel with full time NatWest role. Used extensive corporate expertise to set strategic direction and deliver improvements in governance and structure, instigating an end-to-end organisational change programme to improve culture, governance and sustainability in a resource constrained environment.Led crisis response to several existential threats, whilst significantly increasing income, cash reserves and awareness of the charity.Provided constructive challenge to the board and wider management team, driving improvements in transparency, forecasting and performance. Encouraged operational excellence to realise full potential by creating an environment of accountability. Managed conflict and influenced key stakeholders including regulators and auditors.

Successfully reorganised and grew a sizeable business during a period of constant restructuring, leading to awards from the bank and engagement with the executive board.Transformed an underperforming SME portfolio (a business within a business) into one of the largest and most profitable in the UK, holding large corporate mixed sector clients including high profile household names, large infrastructure assets and international groups. This was achieved by developing a clear vision for a market leading portfolio that would meet the changing needs of stakeholders and create value for all, then marshalling human and material resources in relentless pursuit of this goal. A compelling client proposition , significantly raised barriers to entry for competitors. Built strategically important alliances at C-suite level (internal and externally), creating necessary insights to develop fresh thinking and create competitive advantage. Identified opportunities and risks when others could not - advice and help often sought when there appeared to be no solution to organisational problems (internally and externally). Examples include: managing the financial fallout from the divorce and suicide within a husband-and-wife owned business.rescuing the bank’s position when the client’s management team took some ill-judged decisions.protecting the bank’s reputation from unauthorised lending agents whilst proposing a solution to profitably compete with them. Designed and oversaw the implementation of a comprehensive management information tool to effectively monitor ongoing income performance. The tool was rolled out across five portfolios creating better visibility for Relationship Directors and Senior Leadership. Effectively led direct and indirect teams setting high standards and creating a culture of accountability delivering outstanding client service and experience and developing individuals, many progressing to more senior roles.

Formative years developing a highly distinctive CEO skillset in a large corporate environment. Used analytical capabilities to assess business models, markets and complex financial information developing a clear understanding of what makes a business investable, the needs a motivations of a broad range of stakeholders and how success is achieved. Given autonomy to solve organisational problems; such as creating a support function who offered outstanding client service and experience, when the existing proposition was not delivering under the strain of increased workload. Successfully delivered projects for senior leadership, honing decision making skillset.