John Webster (non executive chairman)
Sectors; financial services, Banking, technology start ups, Venture Capital, Executive coaching and Private equity.John is a former financial services CEO with 10 year profit record. A non executive portfolio chairman and the Founder of CEOGB; possibly the UK’s leading executive coach training business. John has trained over 100 chairmen; he is a specialist in private equity/venture capital markets operating and pioneer with over 30 years experience as BIMBO team creator, coach and head-hunter. John’s role with icebreaker executive as non exec chairman - is to support the professional development of the icebreaker team and support icebreaker CEO executive their business plan, and build long term shareholder and customer value. John developed the icebreaker executive development program to enable a seamless engagement in turnaround scenarios, and leave an enduring legacy. John now resides for most of the year in South Africa.
Tom Pickering (CEO)
Sectors: Safran Aerospace, Saudi Telecom, Lloyds, RBS, Sumitomo, Lucas Automotive plc, Novar Inc, Trend Controls, Birds Eye, Post Office, Getinge Group, Johnson Services, Kodak & Lexar Inc. executive coaching, garden and FMCG retailing Global experience; Executive responsibility for EMEA region, worked in USA, China, Romania, Poland, Slovakia & Saudi Arabia. 
Tom knows what good looks like and how to implement it. Comfortable leading in the most challenging circumstances; crises complex, customer, entrepreneurial, fastest-moving, high growth responsive business environments; that include VC backed turnaround, post acquisition merger, site closure & rationalisation, start up, business realignment. Understand the realities of VC / PE business refinancing & sale.. Awards; CBI / DTI / Cranfield award and Finalist: Interim Manager of the Year 2007. Professional; 2008-9 board member Institute of Interim Management, MAPII, Member of RBS, Barclays, PWC and FRP LLP Turnaround panels, member of The Executive Network. Toms has delivered 10-100x cash ROI.
David BCOM (HONS), FCA, FCT, MIFT
Sectors; Manufacturing, Engineering, Property & Construction, Facilities Management, Automotive, Chemicals, Healthcare, IT, Telecommunications & Media. David is a highly successful Interim Executive and Turnaround Professional, operating at Main Board level either as CRO, CFO, FD or Adviser across listed and private equity backed businesses in both the UK and Europe. Hands on experience of the difficult steps to right size underperforming businesses without sacrificing top line effectiveness. Has a proven track record of preserving enterprise value and managing stakeholder expectations. Key Competencies:Turnaround & Restructuring, Financial Management, cash & Working Capital Management, Change Management, Cost Reductions, Cross border experience, M&A, Refinancing. Linguistic skills; (fluent French, working German/Spanish). Past Board Member Institute of Interim Management, Runner-Up in inaugural IIM Awards 2009, Member of all Major UK Banks & Big 4 Accountants Turnaround panels
Peter BA Hons, MCIPD
Corporate: TomTom International, TIBCO Software, Sabre Holdings, Compaq. International Human Resources Professional: Expert in: international employee relations, organisational change, mergers & acquisitions, integration and implementation projects. Sector experience; IT, Consumer Electronics, Travel. A commercial business partner and HR leader in challenging, entrepreneurial, fast-moving business environments; including post acquisition merger, site closure & rationalisation. Global experience: HR Director responsibility for EMEA region. Established shared service centres in Poland, Uruguay. Joint venture experience Middle East, Russia. Experienced Interim Manager: Strong leader. Confident in environments of international and complex matrix management, uses natural leadership skills to build relationships and teams across different locations and working cultures.Comfortable working in SME and corporate organisations. Professional: Member of Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (MCIPD)
Jim MEng
Sectors; Permier Foods, Birds Eye, Walkers, SME - Textiles. Jim is a business Turnaround and profit improvement expert; Grew Quorn EBIT by +£3.5M, improving EBIT margin (%NSV) from 8.5% to 17% over 3 years, Improved control and profitability of ‘mbmg’ by £1M leading to successful sale, Delivered £10M p.a. recurring synergies from integrating 3 Irish business [2007]. Post Merger Integration and Transition; Led Commerical integration following a range of mid scale acquisitions [02-07], Led Irish full business integration between RHM and Premier Foods. Led the integration of the Techincal functions (NPD, Compliance) totalling 800 people.Sales Top Line Growth; Launched Quorn into Australia in June 2010 creating A$8M RSV and 40% market share, Recognised as ‘Brand Launch’ and ‘Marketing Program of the Year’ by Aus. Inst. Of Mktg, Grew Quorn international sales by +£10M driving frequency and penetration, Grew Premier Export sales and B2B business by in excess of +£12M Strategy & Leadership; Led team redefining Marlow Foods strategy which delivered +£8M yoy profit improvement, Developed and led communications aligning 500 employees around this strategy. Developed clear category roles for brands consistently showing market share progression. Value Creation; Sustained record of meeting or exceeding profit targets, Created +£30M value in last role for Marlow Foods (Premier Foods)
Sean MCIPS MAPI
Sectors; Lucas, British Sugar, Baxters Foods, Whitworth, Eisai, Weir Valves, MOD, GSK & Golden Wonder; Engineering, Pharmaceutical, Food & Public Sector. Sean is a professional executive interim manager with extensive supply chain experience dedicated to transforming client results through installing world class procurement ways of working, shaping Purchasing strategy and Buying and delivering outstanding cost reduction programmes within challenging business environments. Global experience; Europe, United States, UK & Africa A Change Leader with an outstanding track record of making a difference, embedding agreed change into client cultures and delivering “bottom line” profitability in a range of environments, including business turnaround, synergy savings delivery and corporate realignment programmes. Results: E53M (37%) savings delivered over 15 year interim career 45:1 ROI.
Jonathan CEng MBA
Sectors; Tyco, Vodafone, Vestas, EADs Pressac, Lucas TRW, GKN Westand. Aerospace, defence, automotive, cleantech technology, oil & gas and renewable energy. Delivered significant improvements in cost reductions, on time delivery, stock reductions, quality, process efficiency, contract compliance, governance and sales. International - Culturally competent and experienced in managing teams and board level negotiations in Japan, China, Korea, USA, Canada, India, Eastern Europe, Spain, Scandinavia, Germany, Spain, France, Middle East and the UK. A passionate leader with 20 years international executive experience leading time critical operational, international business development, strategic new product introduction, margin, turnaround, M&A, site closure & rationalisation, critical supplier/customer situations, start up, business restructuring and sale. Established new operations with local teams and supply chains in USA, China, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, India and Russia. M&A Led post acquisition integration of 3 SMEs (£150M) in Germany France and Italy achieving double digit productivity gains. Qualified Eng. & MBA
John Spear MBA (is a specialist support to icebreaker projects to identify and exploit new markets)
Sector: delivered projects for major consumer brands such as Samsung, Unilever, Heinz, Johnson and Johnson, LVMH, Sony and Diageo as well as retailers such as BhS, Boots and Next. Specializing in advising on marketing strategies in channel to market, ecommerce, supply chain management, web marketing strategies and studies in areas such as how supply chain can deliver competitive advantage for luxury goods manufacturers and the integration of ecommerce with a traditional retail model technology driven sectors such as retail, supply chain, technology, utilities, light rail, Power Generation, offshore telecoms and defence. Johns’s career spans spans market identification and development roles, from his early days at Air Products and Chemicals Inc where he initially joined on their sales and marketing fast track management scheme, ending up after 6 years as UK Sales Development Manager responsible for commercial exploitation of new technologies. Following an MBA at Cranfield School of Management, John is a successful entrepreneur forming SMT consulting, a practical strategy consultancy combining strategic marketing expertise with hard facts on potential markets and key competitors. SMT business rapidly grew to £3.5m turnover and was subsequently sold to Cello plc in 2006.
Derek BA Hons
Sectors; technology and electronics with Merseytravel, Menvier Swain, Philips Electronics, PYE TvT. Logistics project for UK Healthcare Co. Huntleigh, also worked with manufacturing co’s Kelloggs, Clarks Shoes, Albert Fisher, Gate Gourmet. Derek’s career spans Europe for SME’s and subsidiaries of large manufacturing Corporates, and includes time employed with large Blue Chips and Leading Management Consultancies. Always Goal focused and project driven. A number of successful turnarounds and large scale project management, including PBIT improvement from -£2.7m - £340k and sale of co for £3m cash, German Paper co. PBIT from £760k - £2.4m German coffee co, and PBIT £100k- £1.7m UK Vending/catering co. . Just completed Operations Transition normalization for healthcare co ArjoHuntleigh, sophisticated electronic Baths (avg price/bath £15k). Automotive strategy review for Client/bank, automotive into renewable energies. Professional : director of Icebreaker Executive Interim Management, Member PwC, Begbies Traynor Turnaround Panels
Bryce Bsc Hons
Sectors; Smiths Industries, Ventaxia, Arjo Huntleigh, Mocol GB Oils, Simpsons of Norfolk
A Professional Interim Executive in both SME’s and plc’s, in the UK and Internationally, in a career spanning 30 + years, with a wealth of experience in, Lean management techniques, Manufacturing, Sales and Marketing, Project management. Motivator of transition, company turn-around, accelerating change, crisis management, mergers, acquisitions and project management. Strong man-management ability, combined with a financial and commercial flair honed from both PLC and own-business environments. Tenacious and pragmatic problem solver. A catalyst for instigating a culture of change and challenging the status quo. A Professional Executive in both SME’s and continuous improvement. An accomplished all-rounder (a true renaissance manager) capable of understanding balance sheets, engineering drawings through to IT complexities. Commercially focused strategist, able to communicate clearly with all professionals and levels of staff. Adept in unionised environments. A lean techniques practitioner.
Some key advisors to the icebreaker team
Noel Ruddy
Noel is an well respected lead figure and expert and Joint editor of "Salinger on Factoring" (2006). Working for PDT Industry Award Winners 2010 – Regional Corporate Law Firm of the Year (ACQ Country Awards).We believe Icebreaker offers a real and credible solution to business owners and managers who need short term guidance and support from proven, dedicated business specialists.
With our expertise in the fields of company law, finance, insolvency, property, employment and debt recovery we believe we can complement the skills of any Executive Interim Manager. We are accessible, pro-active and practical. We add value. We share the same philosophies as Icebreaker – creativity, hard work and partnership with our clients.
Tony Murphy Licensed Insolvency Practitioner
Tony specialise in business rescue and reconstruction, through both formal insolvency procedures and managed restructuring and refinancing. Tony has extensive experience of investigation work (particularly regarding fraud), both on site and on a forensic basis, having prepared many reports as an investigating accountant for financial institutions. Tony was a partner Smith & Williamson in 1986 and until 2009 was their National Director of Business Recovery. Prior to joining the London insolvency department in 1989, Tony was heavily involved in audit investigation work for clients. Along side Tony's technical financial restructuring skills, in his capacity with Harrisons Business Recovery he also provides access to corporate recovery funding options to support Icebreaker Change and Business Turnaround Programs.
Some of Icebreaker Executive Interim Management Team Specialists
Chris FCA, FBHA
A highly experienced Finance Director with wide-ranging, transferable expertise in UK based and international companies; both publicly quoted and privately held groups in retail leisure and hospitality, property (including REIT’s), commodities, IT services. Mmergers and acquisitions, systems and procedures, financial reporting, joint ventures, start-ups, banking relationships and negotiations, shareholder relationships, cash management, restructuring, turnaround and strategic planning. Strong communication and team-building skills. Sound knowledge of IT systems and related issues. For example; grew small cap plc from £5m to £120m Bank Relationships: Negotiated £600k bank debt in October 2009 against future earning potential for early stage fast food retailer. Managed banking relationships for PE backed leveraged groups (Malmaison, Noble House, etc.) Negotiated and managed banking facilities of £110m (built up from £3m as group developed over 5 years). Systems and procedures; Established strong financial reporting systems Cash management. Managed tight cash situations both in periods of rapid expansion and in periods of retrenchment. Strategic planning Planned and executed strategy for hotel group to grow from £5m net worth to £110m in five years and become a leading profitable provincial hotel operator.
David
Sixteen years work experience in Retail, Wholesale and Distribution. Seven years at senior management level and two years as CEO managing and delivering the strategic goals of the UK’s largest independent drinks retailer.
Major achievements have centred on business turnaround and new strategy for growth.
Strongly focused and driven by a desire to ‘get things done’ with an ability to design the right architecture to enable all staff to add real value to the bottom line.
Significant appointments La Boulangerie Ltd - Managing Director,
The Unwins Wine Group Ltd - Chief Executive, UDS Ltd - Main Board Director & Managing Director
David
An established Interim Board level executive with broad experience in Turnarounds and General Management across many markets and business sectors covering both Retail and Wholesale. Specialising in improving sales, profit development, cost and net working capital improvement, multi-site operations management and all at strategic and hands on tactical levels. A world class multi-site manager with finely developed and fully matured commercial skills. Determined with a sense of urgency and the ability to make the right things happen through highly effective people and process management skills. Passion and focus constantly applied within every challenge.Recent experience includes, Hagemeyer UK Limited: UK Interim Deputy Managing Director (Turnaround). Bewise Department Stores: Interim National Retail General Manager (Turnaround). Time Retail Goup / Tiny Computers: National General Manager (Turnaround). Dixon Motor Group: CMA General Manager of Ford and Toyota Dealerships. Norweb Retail Division: Retail General Manager High Street and Superstores
Iain (B Eng (Hons), MBA)
An Interim Manager with 11 years multi-national experience in delivering benefit by developing people and implementing Finance, IT, Supply Chain and Manufacturing processes and systems across diverse cultures. Specialist skills: Team and commercial leadership, performance and Change management, strategic planning and change, Strategic IT service Management and Design. Iain is driven by advancing organisations, and identifying simple solutions to complex scenarios
Recent assignments include; Major UK Utlitities: Interim Inventory / Supply Chain Manager. GlaxoSmithKline: IT Director Global Manufacturing and Supply
Karl BSc (Hons) MBA
International Senior Marketing Executive with diverse experience achieving top & bottom line growth through innovative strategic marketing plans with the ability to lead organisations successfully through significant periods of change. Acknowledged for strategic marketing plans and organisational leadership. Managed numerous commercial teams to business growth. Successfully developed and implemented international brand and marketing campaigns and product launches. Developed and implemented strategic marketing reviews to deliver enhanced brand and marketing presence and organisational strength/ identity. Successfully managed a commercial teams of over 250 and provided commercial leadership for of 320 people. Envisioning, developing and implementing change management programmes supported by commercial and operational experience in both FMCG and B2B. |
