Richard Shepherd Email & Phone Number

Solihull, Gb

Leeds, England, United Kingdom

Statutory Board Director for HomeServe UK (HomeServe Membership) for 10+ years.Chairman of HomeServe UK's Executive Committee for 2 years.Asked by the founder and Group CEO of HomeServe to take over the challenging role to repair and rebuild HomeServe's heating business, and implement a new UK strategy. Included leading the turnaround of HomeServe's heating installations business from a recurring significant loss to its first profit in several years, through a "root and branch" restructure of the core business, a change in strategy, and development of technology solutions to reduce customer effort and increase efficiency. Also included identifying and leading the acquisition of eight regional/local branded high quality profitable heating businesses around the UK, and leading the businesses post acquisition to drive synergies and growth, exceeding the targets set at acquisition.

West Midlands/Uk

HomeServe Membership is a highly profitable £400m revenue home assistance business, underwritten by Aviva. Personally responsible for a rapidly growing, multi-site Service Operations team of over 2,500 direct employees (80% of HomeServe Membership work force) together with a national network of over 550 contractors. Included:-Directly employed national field force of 1,000 Plumbing, Drainage, Gas breakdown and Gas installation engineers-Multi-site customer service, sales and claims handling contact centres, and deployment operations, in Walsall, Preston, Nottingham, Banbury and Leeds-100 strong regulated complaints handling team based in Preston, Walsall and NottinghamDelivered record engagement scores of over 80% from the Field engineers, by putting the front line first.Drove the best customer service performance in the business’s history, including a 25% reduction in customer dissatisfaction down to 3.3%. Ranked as the most improved company in the UK Customer Service Index over the past four years.Also drove significant efficiencies which in the last year contributed to the business improving its operating profit by 23% despite a lack of top line growth.Acquired Home Energy Services Limited (formerly EON Home Assistance) to transform the Gas home assistance offering of the business, and subsequently acquired Npower's Home Assistance business and the AA’s Home Assistance business, along with EISL (Energy Insurance Services Limited). Integrated these businesses to form HomeServe Gas, growing the directly employed Gas field team from 12 to 350.

West Midlands

Asked by the UK CEO to rejoin HomeServe following my previous successful 6 year tenure as FD, Commercial Director, and Acting MD, in order to cover the interim CFO role for a 6 month period whilst the new permanent CFO served notice. Following the successful 6 month period, I was asked to rejoin HomeServe on a permanent basis in the role of Chief Operating Officer for the UK business, in order to drive engagement, customer service, and efficiency.

Midlands

EDM Group, private equity backed by LDC, operates in the UK and USA, and is a leading provider of information management services with a Group turnover of c£70m. Recruited on a 3 month interim contract to provide maternity cover, was then asked to extend the contract, but I decided to return to HomeServe. Subsequent to joining HomeServe, I was approached by EDM to take up a permanent role, but saw the bigger opportunities at HomeServe.

London, United Kingdom

PPI Claimline is a claims management business which was part of the Consumer Champion Group until May 2014, private equity backed by Inflexion and LDC, and regulated by the MOJ. Recruited initially on a 6 month interim contract by the Chairman, who I’d worked with at ESH Group, in order to:-Overhaul the forecasting of business performance-Provide insightful analysis in order to drive improvements in performance -Assess the future direction of the business in light of the maturity of the PPI reclaim market-Maximise cashflow, in order to ensure investors' funds were protected-De-merge the business from Consumer Champion Group to enable the stock market listing of National Accident HelplineThe interim contract was extended to 11 months, following which the business entered its run down phase, with no need for an FD.

West Midlands Uk, And Melbourne Australia

ESH Group is a £175m turnover international provider of Welfare to Work employment services, training and recruitment services, operating significant government funded and private contracts. The Group, which is private equity backed by Champ Ventures, incorporates PVS Workfind and IPA Personnel in Australia, and Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG) in the UK.Accountable for all aspects of Finance within the Group internationally, ranging from improving the provision of basic financial information to leading a number of strategic corporate finance initiatives on behalf of the shareholders.Vigorous focus on cash management. Rebuilding of the Finance team internationally to enable individual country Finance teams to "stand alone", following which the Group function was disbanded.

Sheffield

ESG is a private equity backed (Sovereign Capital) training provider in the skills training and welfare to work employment services sectors, operating significant government funded contracts.Responsibility increased from initially all Finance, Property, and Procurement activity, to also cover IT, Information Security, HR, Data, MI, 60-strong Administration and Claims team, and a newly formed Operational Audit team. Responsibility further increased to FD role for Paragon Skills Group.Significant improvement in working capital and cash management, enabling repayment of all original loan stock to shareholders. Refinancing of the business to secure returns for Private Equity owners.Successfully led liaison with government team performing a review to assess whether to award ESG a £30m contract, which was successfully secured. Restructured and rebuilt the Finance team into a highly proactive and commercial unit. Strong focus on cost control - including procurement efficiencies, stringent cost control procedures, identification and mitigation of a significant VAT exposure, more effective treasury arrangements.

West Midlands Uk, And Miami Usa

FTSE 250 plc and international insurance intermediary, marketing and administering home emergency assistance policies directly with its retail customers. Responsibility as Finance Director of the UK membership business initially covered a 100-strong Finance and Customer Administration team, then expanded to cover IT, Compliance, Procurement, and Facilities. Later promoted to Commercial Director, which included a 6 month interim role as Acting MD.As Acting MD achieved 30% policy growth and 35% profit growth. Acquisition of 5 businesses. Led the successful resolution of a major external compliance review. Successfully led a HMRC tribunal test case on Insurance Premium Tax, which generated significant funds in excess of £10m for the business. Completely rebuilt the Finance department into a high quality, customer focussed, proactive team. Vigorous focus on cost control throughout, including leadership on underwriting negotiations.

Birmingham, United Kingdom

High street retailer with brand turnover of £200m, owned by De Rigo (quoted on the New York and Milan stock exchanges). Initially responsible for the Business Analysis function - planning/budgeting/forecasting, commercial finance, business intelligence, day to day analysis of business performance, developing KPIs and MI for the business to drive performance improvements.Subsequently led the Finance team as Financial Controller, responsible for all aspects of Finance.

Nottingham, United Kingdom

Cross functional business expert in risk management, financial and operational controls, and change management for Boots the Chemists. Responsible for the financial management of the warehousing and distribution operation.

Nottingham, United Kingdom

Led a team of up to 30 managers and staff on audit and special work, including major retail and energy clients.

B Eng Hons, Mining Engineering

Education record