An engineer by background, 30 years of directorship experience covers manufacturing, food, retail and engineering. Of which 20 have been at MD/CEO level in four different sectors. Those cover sizes of <£10m to £40m turnover, and 40 employees to 770.

I first retired from full time posts in 2014. Took on an interim MD role for 10 months the same year, then in 2016 acquired Sliderobes Group (along with a business partner, non-exec) as a turnaround project. As Group CEO I’ve led that through a major restructuring and modernisation. I’m currently in the process of transitioning out from CEO to Chairman this year.

Alongside those two major items since ‘retiring’ in 2014, I’ve completed 12 mentoring programmes for Invest NI clients on their Leader Programme for business owners/MDs. These are 9-month programmes where I’ve acted as a temporary NED/Chairman to steer them through developing vision, strategy, structures, and people. These have ranged from <£1m t/o to >£40m. I’ve retained involvement with a number of past mentees, either to chair quarterly strategy days with the senior team, or in the case of WG Baird, as a NED. I’ve also mentored a number of startups through the Catalyst Springboard programme.

Relevant formal training: since 2014 I’ve completed IoD courses on ‘Role of the Non-Executive Director’, and ‘Role of the Company Chairman’. I’ve been a panel speaker at the last two ‘New Directors Bootcamp’ events for the IoD in Northern Ireland, and been asked again for the next one in May.

Experience

CEO, Sliderobes Group
Aug 2016 – Present

NED, W&G Baird Ltd
Feb 2019 - Present

Chairman, GRAYS CLIP LIMITED
Sep 2016 – Present

Business Mentor/Coach/NED, Invest NI
Sep 2014 – Present

EiR, Catalyst Inc
Jul 2014 – Present

Interim Managing Director, Kiverco Ltd.
Sep 2014 – Jul 2015

Managing Director, Podium 4 Sport Ltd
Jun 2004 – May 2014


Director, Andrews Holdings Ltd
Aug 1995 – May 2014

NED, United Feeds Ltd
Oct 2003 – Dec 2010

NED, Cottage Catering Ltd
Jun 1995 – Jun 2001

Managing Director, Ormeau Bakery
Aug 1993 – Jun 2002

Special Projects Manager ( 2 acquisition & mergers), Leckpatrick Dairies
Jan 1991 – Jul 1993

Production Director, Mivan Ltd
Jun 1987 – Jan 1991

Industrial Engineering Manager, MICHELIN TYRE PLC
Jun 1983 – May 1988

Production Manager, MICHELIN TYRE PLC
Jun 1978 – Jun 1983