Growing Your Business Isn't Rocket Science... But It IS A Science
Meet The Team
UK
IRELAND
INDIA
AUSTRALIA
One Team. One Goal:
To Make You More Successful
Our mission is simple... to help all our clients build the businesses they deserve. No BS. No waffle. We know that with our help, you will grow your business quicker than ever before. This confidence is not mis-placed. We are already helping thousands of businesses from all over the world (46 countries and counting). Our success is based on 3 fundamentals...

First, The FORMULA and all the tactics and strategies we use... are proven!

Second, as you can see below, we have a highly experienced, world-class group of Business Growth Experts ('coaches') in our team.

Third, we work with business owners who are ambitious and are committed to success.

Here's an introduction to the people who will help you build the business you deserve...
The Management Team (UK)
STEVE HACKNEY (CO-FOUNDER/CEO)
Steve Co-Founded The Core Asset with Peter Finlay. He is the creator of 'The FORMULA', the proven system any business owner can use to quickly grow their business. 

Steve is a former professional rugby player and played for Leicester Tigers, England and the famed Barbarians. His business growth systems are founded upon the principles of elite sport and his 20+ years in helping business owners to build successful firms. 

Along with Peter, his driving ambition is to help as many business owners as possible to build the businesses they deserve. With Steve's book (The FORMULA) and The Core Asset's other services, every business on the planet can benefit, no matter how large or small.

Steve's goal is to build the world's largest results driven (for the businesses we work with) coaching and consulting business in the SME market. 
PETER FINLAY (CO-FOUNDER/MD)
Peter is the Co-Founder of the Core Asset and has been business partner to Steve for the last 14 years. Together they've built the UK's largest franchise consultancy, world's largest sales and marketing network for accountants and now they're developing one of the world's most successful business growth organisations.

Peter has built a wealth of experience spanning some 40 years of working with business owners. He is one of the world's leading authorities on business strategy and is a franchising and licensing expert. 

Other than working on the business, with any spare time, Peter enjoys travelling to watch live sporting events and playing golf with Steve (and beating him!).
ROB HOGARTH (BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR)
Rob has worked extensively across Europe and the USA, with both corporate and SME sectors. His experience spans retail, banking, insurance, service providers, manufacturing, telecoms and mobile. Rob has consistently delivered unprecedented growth regardless of product, market or prior knowledge of the sector.

Following a foundation career in sales, he flourished in senior management roles with world leaders Motorola and Sun Microsystems. For example, the latter saw him transform their least successful business unit, which had stagnated at $50M pa into their highest performing by increasing turnover to $320M pa, with over $500M new business, in four years.

Two successful international start-ups in the mobile space followed, before a European leadership role with a US-owned new entrant, where he architected and led record-breaking growth through operations in the UK, Sweden, France, Germany, and Italy; growing revenue from $27M to $98M in three years to establish them market leader, and more than treble the company’s worth. 
 
Away from work, Rob and his wife Karen enjoy European touring holidays which allow him to indulge his passion for classic cars. He has driven more than 300,000 miles outside the UK, and is a particular fan of rural France and Italy.
Our World-Class Business Growth Mentors & Coaches (UK)
JACQUELINE AIRD-PATERSON
Jacqui is a project management consultant and trainer, with a background of managing projects in diverse industries, both private and public sector. 

Jacqui has managed projects in advertising, IT, National Government and the Oil & Gas Industry.  She now specialises in being a Business Growth Expert as well as project and risk consultancy and training.

Jacqui has developed regional and global mentoring programmes for graduates and professionals. She provides coaching as part of her consultancy work.

Jacqui enjoys travelling, learning new languages and people-watching. She also does lots of hillwalking in Scotland during the summer months. 
RUSSELL CALDWELL
Russell initially trained as a Carpenter and Joiner, and built a company employing 70 people. He subsequently moved into sales with Dorling Kindersley; enjoying a hugely successful career resulting in a team of 3,700 consultants with a turnover of £8.1m. 

He re-trained, setting up Future Strategy Ltd, a specialist in business recovery and turnaround, and which is authorised by the FSA. Russell is a patient, direct and honest person with an ability to deal with sensitive issues/people whilst simultaneously offering a positive outlook, providing inner confidence to clients enabling them to move forward. He brings great attention to detail and strong negotiating skills - much needed when working with clients' challenging creditors. In addition to being a Business Growth Expert, he focusses on Cash flows / Income & Expenditure to reach desired results for clients. 

Russell has coached individuals from various backgrounds to achieve success, for example, taking a new sales consultant to a desired career level up to a turnover of £1.2m, through weekly coaching meetings, often lending his belief to individuals lacking in confidence. Subsequently, his focus has been supporting and coaching a client from a situation of business failure to future success.

Russell has a passion for golf and enjoys a handicap of 12. He enjoys travel, with a particular passion for marine life diving and snorkelling. He is a keen gardener and follows Formula One motor racing. 
PETER CANTON
Peter has been involved in training and development for 18 years. In that time he has gained experience in the development of teams and individuals of all levels and experience. The majority of his experience was gained working in both sales training and HR functions of a large pharmaceutical company.  

More recently Peter has expanded into other industry sectors such as local government, finance and technology Peter specialises in offering practical and workable solutions within the sales and leadership arenas. More recently, in addition to being a Business Growth Expert, he has implemented Key Account Management programmes, sales training and customer service training to some medium and large organisations. 

 Peter has a vast amount of experience in influencing behaviours and ultimately results through coaching. He has extensive experience of coaching senior managers in many industries. He has consulted very closely with all his clients to ensure he can truly add value to them. He works to ensure the solutions they implement are aligned to the organisation, are sustainable and integrated to their business.

Having two young children takes up most of Peter's time, and he thoroughly enjoys spending lots of time with them. Other than family time, Peter plays golf and is a keen reader.
STEVE CARTER
Steve graduated from Newcastle Business School with an honours degree is Business and went on to work in performance management. 

In 2001 he left the corporate world to set up a finance advisory firm and grew that to a £1m turnover. In 2008 Steve focused on investments and grew his consultancy to become the largest business introducer to a City boutique investment firm. Then in 2016 Steve set up Business Edge to assist other entrepreneurs in business growth.

Steve has set up and grown two business from scratch to £1m turnover businesses. This experience, combined with him being a Business Growth Expert means he understands the issues facing business owners.

Steve has always coached within his own businesses and with Business Edge has assisted many businesses to focus their marketing efforts. Steve was one of the first coaches to join The Core Asset, seeing the huge value the systems offer SME owners.

Steve likes to spend his spare time with his family and two whippets. He is an avid sports fan, but still supports Newcastle United!
MIKE COCHRANE
Mike is a Business Growth Expert, Problem Solver and a highly sought-after Motivational Speaker who has spent a total of thirty years in the automotive industry, twenty of which included building his own multi million pound businesses. Mike’s primary business skills are in sales and marketing and leadership.
 
As a successful businessman and one of the first in the automotive industry to achieve Investors in People it came as little surprise when Scottish Enterprise approached Mike and asked him to become one of the first Business Mentors in Scotland to help the SME market grow and prosper. By agreeing to accept the position Mike broadened his experience in a wide range of business sectors which over the years has proven to be invaluable. Mike’s preference is to help people grow their business but he is also experienced in marketing and selling businesses as well as business turnaround. Mike is very much results driven and focuses on giving his clients the tools, tactics and strategies that when applied produce awesome results instantly.

Having started on the shop floor and earned the respect of those around him by coming up through the ranks to build his own multi million pound businesses he believes the key to success in any business starts and finishes by what happens in the boardroom which is why he is committed to help and support CEO’s, Managing Directors and Senior Management who are seriously looking to grow their business and optimise results. Apart from building his own businesses Mike has also turned around many other businesses in different business sectors using his proven methodology. Mike helps his clients identify opportunities within their business that when developed and implemented increase sales, productivity, efficiency and profitability as well as invariably reducing stress and staff turnover.

Mike passionately believes that most businesses will never achieve their true potential until the CEO’s and Senior Management get the training, development and support that they so richly deserve and require to achieve their true potential. His thoughts are backed up by a recent survey which claimed that today only 14% of the British workforce are fully engaged in their job of work.

As an individual athlete, team player and captain of rugby, Mike maintains sport taught him how to be the best at whatever he turned his hand to, whether as an individual contributor, team player or as a business leader.

Mike freely gives whatever time he can to Princes Trust as a Mentor and in his spare time he enjoys playing golf and tennis, fishing and shooting as well as watching football, rugby and motor racing.
JUDITH COCKING
Judith brings considerable experience gained from a successful career in financial services and management consultancy.

She has built a formidable reputation for getting things done and has a passion for working with others to achieve exceptional results. Judith has extensive sales and marketing expertise in both B2B and B2C environments having run large £multi-million sales teams both nationally and internationally.

She re-trained as a coach in 2003, since when she has worked across many industries but has a particular expertise working in the Professional Services sector.

Judith has over 15 years' experience as a consultant, coach and trainer. As a Business Growth Expert, she delivers group and individual programmes to a diverse range of organisations, both small and large, and works with senior executives to improve both their personal and organisation's performance. She is an accomplished facilitator running team building and strategy sessions for senior teams and boards and is an accredited Emotional Intelligence and Resilience coach and trainer.

Judith spends much of her spare time by the side of a pitch watching her son play rugby. She is also a keen supporter of Wasps RFC and has been known to travel to foreign climes to watch England. When not on the rugby circuit, she and her husband Damian spend several weeks a year in Spain with their two children, Olivia and Thomas, enjoying the wonderful food and wine of Vejer de la Frontera.
JOHN COUGHLAN
John is a Business Transformation consultant with extensive experience of delivering change across various industries and sectors. He has been working as an independent consultant for many years, having previously gained broad experience at a global management consulting firm. Prior to that, John was an Officer in the British Army for nine years, with operational leadership experience in numerous challenging environments.  

With a strong background in programme management and business transformation, John specialises in leading complex, £multi-million programmes. He has helped organisations develop strategies, design target operating models and implement both through business transformation programmes. John also completed an MBA with the OU Business School alongside his consulting assignments. 

John has coached and mentored a multitude of individuals through his military, coaching and consulting careers and most recently as a Business Growth Expert. He is passionate about helping people achieve and exceed their professional and personal goals and delivering tangible, high impact results.  

Outside of work, John is a keen tennis player and an outdoor enthusiast, particularly hill walking and skiing. Exceptionally lucky, he is able to share these passions with his fiancé, whom he met at their local tennis club. As an ardent England Rugby fan, John also loves a day at Twickenham.  
DAVID L. DAVIES
David is a qualified Chartered Biochemical Engineer with experience working for many International Companies. He has worked as Research and Development Manager, Group Engineering Manager, European Operations Manger and twice been General Manager for UK Divisions of International companies. 

Previously David has worked in industries from Coffee, Dairy Products and Snacks to Building Products, Technical Insulation and Industrial Tubes and Hoses, for companies including British Gypsum, and Kraft Jacobs (formerly General Foods).

As General Manager he was responsible for multi million pounds turnover in each of two companies. David has also spent many years as International Business Development Manager. 

Since 2016 he has run his own Engineering Consultancy specialising in Life Science products, turning over a 6 figure sum in each of the first 2 years. Furthermore, David has been responsible for developing and launching at least 3 novel products. The first 2 are now earn multi millions of pounds. The last is winning awards and research grants.

David is also a qualified NLP Master Practitioner and Master Coach. He holds an ILM qualification as Executive Coach and Mentor and has attended Provocative Change Works workshops. 

As a Business Growth Expert, David specialises in coaching and mentoring small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), helping them to quickly increase their sales and profits and turning visions and goals into practical, profitable results.

He is a keen golfer playing to a 16 handicap, enjoys hill walking and in 2018 David completed the Inca Trail Trek Challenge for Cancer Research Wales. He also spends some time each week volunteering for the Samaritans.
RICHARD DEAN
Richard started business life with the Brooke Bond OXO marketing group, before switching to Sports Marketing giant IMG. Leaving after 10 years as International VP Marketing to start both the consulting firm Sponsorship Science - specialist in sponsorship strategies and ROI measurement solutions for global brands, plus a family business involved in Property and Estate Agency.  

In Richard's different businesses he has been focused on strategic planning and measuring results. So he's used to evaluating what works and what doesn't in both business strategy and marketing communications.

As a Business Growth Expert, Richard offers mentoring, coaching and consulting services to marketing executives and business owners of small and medium sized businesses. 

He is a huge sports fan and is regularly active in football, tennis, golf, swimming and skiing. Otherwise he loves film and theatre, a good read (novels and business books) and food and wine of course!
TRISTAN FIRTH
Tristan has been heavily involved in business development with start-ups and small business ventures for the last 20 years. Prior to that he worked as a business analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit identifying and researching potential markets.

Integral to Tristan's success has been his ability to understand market needs, and to form and develop relationships with clients and other stakeholders. As a consequence and as a Business Growth Expert, he has been able to work across a variety of sectors to develop offerings of real value to customers and align business strategy with operations to ensure that they can be delivered.

Tristan has an MBA from Warwick Business School, is a certified NLP Practitioner and is well-practiced in consultancy and coaching. He has worked with many diverse, multi-disciplinary teams adopting an approach that builds understanding and confidence alongside the skills needed to succeed in winning customers.

In addition to his clients, Tristan remains actively involved with a small, highly successful development company but when he is not working he likes to travel and attempts to keep fit; most weekends he can be found at the back of a small peloton struggling up a hill in the Peak District.
STEVE GAUNTLETT
Coming soon...
SIM GOLDBLUM
Sim's career spans 34 years in multi-national oil, aerospace and automotive corporates, culminating in positions as New Business Development Director, where he led European M+A activities, and Product Planning Director of Ford of Europe, responsible for developing and implementing the new and enhanced product cycle plan with major efficiency savings.
Following "retirement", Sim created a Dental Practice Management consultancy and subsequently a multi-sectoral consultancy helping businesses improve their strategic positioning, leadership and people development, and marketing.

In addition to being a Business Growth Expert, Sim focusses on Strategic planning; KPI setting and operational control; new business development; people recruitment, development and retention processes.

In addition to the skills gained in his multinational business career, Sim has 8 years' experience in coaching and consulting with entrepreneurs and business owners in professional services, sales and distribution. Sim enjoys family life (married with 5 children and 10 grandchildren), mentoring young people to find the right careers/work, and attending theatre, opera, concerts and soccer.
DERMOT HAMBLIN
Dermot has over 25 years working in software. He spent 10 years at IRIS Software, starting as a rookie field sales guy and ending up as Corporate Sales Director. IRIS is the most successful investment that Hg Capital have made in the European TMT sector of TMT (Dermot is responsible for the best ever sales performance and turnarounds at IRIS). 

Dermot was then Sales Director at Thomson Reuters Digita, trying to undo all the good work that he had completed at IRIS! 

Since 2011 he has worked for himself as a successful Sales Consultant. Projects have included launching PANALITIX, an Australian coaching business and he now works as a Business Growth Expert helping small and medium sized businesses to out-perform the competition, increase sales and grow their profits.

In his spare time, Dermot enjoys playing team squash and keeping fit.
GRAEME HARTLEY
Graeme is a time-served industrial electrical engineer who chose to move to sales & marketing in 1988. 

Graeme has held directorships in SMEs and senior management roles in corporate industrial automaton companies. As a Sales Director of what was a fledgling micro-business in the control system industry, Graeme led this business to become a successful multi-million pound business with 27 employees. 

He led multi-disciplined sales teams in the automation industry with targets up of £40M. Graeme's specialities include: business coaching. project consulting, business improvement/change management, plus improvement of Sales & Marketing systems & strategies for SMEs. 

As well as being a Business Growth Expert, Graeme has a particular expertise in GDPR implementation. Graeme is skilled in coaching individuals and teams. This experience being gained over 30 years in sales and management roles in SMEs and corporate entities. 

Graeme is Director of Prized Asset Business Solutions Ltd whose core disciplines are personal and business coaching. Out of work, Graeme enjoys singing, amateur theatre, tennis, and fell walking.
RICHARD HOPE-HAWKINS
Over last 26 years Richard has worked on building a business delivering an amazing customer experience to its 40,000 plus membership base of budding artists. This culminated in selling the business in 2017 to a private equity company.

The business managed a diverse range of products and services from a printed magazine and 20,000 product direct mail catalogue, to using video for art instruction, promotion, advertising and testimonials. It also was involved with product procurement, design and development, selling both to the trade and direct to the consumer. Part of the success was due to the focus on customer service, and to deliver that consistent quality it needed to create robust systems and processes.

It is obvious very quickly in a business that you can't do everything yourself. Coaching others becomes an integral part of running a business and it is this life-long coaching experience, combined with growing and selling a successful business that Richard now brings to others.

In his spare time, Richard enjoys windsurfing, sailing (in the sunshine) and gentle cycling.
JANE HAYES
Jane has been involved in training and development since 1993. 15 years of this were spent in the financial services sector where she developed national training programmes for one of the major banks. These included sales, customer service, management and compliance training. 

Following redundancy Jane decided that a change of scenery was needed and started working for Business Link as a Leadership and Management Adviser where she spent 3 years working with business owners and senior business leaders identifying their development needs to help their businesses grow. 

She then started her own business consultancy working with SMEs where Jane helped them with business planning and marketing and sales strategies. She then worked in the local chambers of commerce in a number of roles including designing and delivering management and leadership qualifications, bespoke training programmes to local businesses and a wide range of training courses including behaviour management, emotional intelligence and customer excellence. As well as heading up a team that supports new business start ups with business planning, marketing and any other support they need to start their business. 

Jane also coaches senior business people from a wide range of sectors including NHS, Engineering, Charities, Healthcare, Financial, Manufacturing and Digital and Creative.

For the last 10 years Jane has focused on working with small and medium sized businesses and has spent time with hundreds of business owners and senior leaders where she's gained tremendous insight into the highs and lows of running a business and the key things that get in the way of business growth. 

As a Business Growth Expert Jane has trained, coached and mentored people at all different levels within different sized businesses across all sectors and is driven by the desire to make a difference and to take people or businesses (or both) to the next level of their development and beyond.

Jane enjoys travelling, loves walking, and reads 'terrible fantasy fiction' on her kindle. She also enjoys eating out with friends and doing Pilates.
MIKE KERSHAW
Mike is the former Chairman of one of the UK’s largest event companies and former President of the UK Chapter of the International Live Event Association. A very experienced event professional and marketeer, he led his business through a number of acquisitions of catering and leisure businesses and the development of numerous venues across London on the way to a £45m turnover by 2012.
Having exited the business in 2015, Mike set up his own advisory firm to bring his extensive experience to bear on emerging event companies, venues, tech start-ups and attractions. He now uses Core Asset techniques to drive serious growth for SMEs across the leisure industry.
Mike has expert knowledge of the leisure and events world and a superb network. He is a passionate and skilled business coach, an excellent communicator and an ambitious entrepreneur.
In his spare time, Mike enjoys competitive golf, cycling, skiing and mountaineering.

HEIDI LAFLIN-GREASBY
Heidi has operational and transformational management experience in Strategic HR & OD, acquired in variety of industry sectors such as: Scientific Research; Manufacturing; Oil and Gas; Engineering; Aviation; Media; Information Technology; Venture Capital (whose focus was funding and growing start-up businesses) NHS and Local Government. 

Heidi's expertise encompasses being a Business Growth Expert, Change Management, Business Transformation, HR & OD, TUPE, Mergers & Acquisitions, Company Liquidation, Restructuring, and Project Management.

Heidi has 20+ years of coaching covering a wide range of business areas such as change management, restructuring, project management, marketing, TUPE, mergers and acquisitions.

Married with 3 older children, Heidi and her husband are passionately restoring a period building in Bulgaria and, as time allows, enjoying immersing themselves in the local culture.
MARTIN LAMBDEN
Martin has run his management consultancy business successfully for 27 years. He has worked with businesses of all sizes in the UK and overseas to improve performance and enhance leadership capability. 

Prior to this he held senior positions in HR and Management training and development. Martin has significant expertise in strategic change, organisation growth and improving business performance. 

He is valued for building sustainable relationships that guarantee and deliver lasting value for his clients Martin's 30 years' coaching experience has seen the promotion of numerous clients to Board level of leading organisations. 

As well as being a Business Growth expert, he works as a coach to Chief Executives, Directors and high fliers. He enjoys working with SMEs to support their growth and development whilst also developing the business capability of the owners. 

In his spare time Martin enjoys walking in the countryside with his family and dog, being a father and grandfather, playing the occasional round of golf, playing Bridge and watching Somerset County Cricket team. 
GORDON LINES
Since 2004, Gordon has been self-employed and enjoys a diverse client base spanning several industry sectors and disciplines.
 
Previously he was an owner-manager with the SPAR Group, owning two supermarkets, and continues his involvement in the sector as a qualified Food Safety Expert, consulting to the food and food packaging industries.
 
Another area which Gordon has developed from his early career is Security & Risk Management, where he is an accredited advisor.
 
Having had such a diverse career, his working passion is business coaching and his coaching clients come from both government and commercial sectors – the latter embracing small and medium-sized businesses where he focuses on increasing sales and profits for the owners.
 
In Gordon's spare time he is a Dementia Champion, and likes to hold workshops on the subject. He has an extended family, and a house in the country with many animals. He enjoys travelling and puts learning at the top of his weekly agenda.
TIM LUSCOMBE
Tim has worked in a wide variety of sectors from oil distribution through information technology and manufacturing. 

He has lived and worked in Europe, the USA and Asia, where he was based in Hong Kong. Tim's specialism, in addition to being a Business growth Expert, is business strategy, exit planing and acquisitions.

Tim is a non-exec director and chairman of several businesses and acts as a mentor/coach to the board of directors, including the delicate transition from father to son!

Away from work, Tim's hobbies include golf and opera.
MIRELLA MAFFUCCI-BARNES
Mirella first started out on her entrepreneurial journey by setting up her first business. She also wanted to broaden her knowledge and have a taste of the corporate life, so worked in a quasi Government office in economic development and then worked in skills training for City & Guilds both in the UK and recently, 4 years in their South African office where she was Head of Sales for Africa.

Over the past 10 years, Mirella has coached sales managers and their line managers on implementing sales processes. She has accompanied sales managers on customer visits, observing how they implement the processes and coaching them on how to achieve better results, both for their employer and for their own development.

Her career has been focused on sales and management, with experience in developing sales strategies, managing sales teams, sales training and latterly as a Business Growth Expert coaching business owners and sales teams to achieve improved efficiencies and increased profits.

I love dancing! I have been salsa dancing for quite a while and also took up Argentine Tango before I left to live in South Africa. I also love travelling which is just as well because both my daughters live overseas!
OMAR MASSOUD
Omar started out in engineering design over 20 years ago, then moved into project management and finally business consultancy. 

He built his career in leading multinational corporations, delivering multi-billion projects, and providing consultancy services, in the UK, the USA, and the Middle East. This included various sectors including construction, technology, professional services, education, healthcare, hotels and leisure, real estate, transportation and defence.

Omar has worked with and advised large and small business in the UK and overseas, on issues ranging from large PFI/PPP risks to market entry strategies and business development. In addition to being a Business Growth Expert, he has developed specialist expertise in International Business Growth; SME Business Marketing; Project Management; Risk Management; and Business Development.

Omar's business consultancy and coaching experience is grounded in the rigorous academic studies and research over the course of my MBA degree from Manchester Business School, and the practical application in supporting businesses growth, especially for SMEs, both in the UK and overseas. 

 Omar's passion is learning about people, about the world and about himself. He enjoys walking, reading, performing arts and watching sports (in particular Roger Federer and Lionel Messi).
DAMIEN MCLAREN
Damien  gained significant experience of leading large operations in a 17 year career in multi-national organisations. He holds an M.B.S. in Management Practice and also has a strong background in leadership, executive coaching and maximising employee motivation and engagement. 

In 2014 he left the corporate world to provide coaching and mentoring services to the SME sector.

In addition to his operations leadership background, Damien has a strong aptitude for leading change. He has led significant change management projects in Ireland, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. In both his leadership career and coaching practice he has demonstrated a strong expertise in attaining and maintaining optimised organisational performance alongside significant gains in growth for his clients. 

As a Business Growth Expert Damien has supported organisations of varying sizes across industry sectors, but has particular expertise working with the SME sector. Through his executive coaching and business development programmes, he enables business owners, leaders and their teams to identify and overcome obstacles obstructing the attainment of their sales and growth goals. 

Away from work Damien enjoys spending time with his wife and three sons. He is a massive fan of team sports, with rugby and football being his clear favourites. Over the years he finds himself frequently being coerced into coaching age grade football or rugby ‘for just one more year’. he also enjoys keeping fit, which his dogs also seems to enjoy participating in with him. 
ADRIAN ROLLIN
Adrian began his career as a YTS Trainee and evolved into a successful Serial Entrepreneur. He works with SMEs and OEMs within the IT service and printer manufacturing sectors.

As a Business Growth Expert, Adrian brings an entrepreneurial mindset, and focusses on Sales And Marketing Funnel Design/Deployment, Lead Generation, Sales Operations Management, Sales Effectiveness, Metrics Management (KPIs/SLAs), Strategic Operational Planning, Business Process Enhancements, Supplier Management, and Organisational Excellence.  

He has spent many years owning and running small businesses and still does. He comments: "Some say it’s like climbing a mountain while there’s a raging hurricane going on, to which I somewhat agree. But, despite the challenges, it can also be fun and very rewarding, especially when you’re working alongside someone with the ambition and determination needed to help you achieve your goals. This is one reason why past and present clients in various industries choose to work with me. Because I’m still IN THE GAME."

Adrian enjoys spending time with his young family and, when time allows, likes to eat out with his wife, meet up with family and friends and enjoy a few well-earned drinks.
MICHAEL ROTHBLETZ
Mike initially trained as an Engineer, then spent 13 years in international franchise businesses before venturing into Entrepreneurship covering retail, hospitality, travel and leisure sectors.

As well as being a Business Growth Expert, Mike has extensive experience in general management, spanning marketing, operations and finance with over 25 years in franchising, both as Franchisor and Franchisee.

A particular highlight for Mike has been mentoring and coaching numerous young entrepreneurs with limited commercial experience and little funding. Having delivered a business model to enable their progress, he has supported them in various small business ventures. 

 Mike is passionate about wildlife and conservation and is a keen snow skier and outdoors enthusiast.
VAUGHN SMITH
Vaughn is a Board Advisor / Coach and Manufacturing and Quality Advisor, who has had over 25 years developing Business Growth, Organisational Systems, Quality Programmes, Tools / Techniques for SME’s, Public / Private Sector Organisations within the UK, Europe and USA. 

He has an MBA and is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management. Vaughn was also Business Growth Partner / Business Coach with Hamilton Bradshaw Venture Partners based in London with James Caan (Dragons Den – BBC).

He is an accomplished Business Growth Expert with extensive experience in the provision of independent advice and objectivity in the monitoring of management practices, providing advice / expertise on Business Growth, Strategic, Performance, Risk Management, and Ongoing Succession Planning. Vaughn is a strong communicator with the ability to synthesise many sources of information, explain complex concepts simply, to produce innovative, thought-leading, actionable end-user client advice.

As a Business Growth Expert Coach Vaughn has experience across a wide range of organisations including Public / Private Sector, Global Organisations, SME’s, Start-Up Enterprises. He has always fully understood their needs, challenges and organisational goals, whilst ensuring the organisation grows sales quickly, with profits being maintained, or significantly improved.

Vaughn is married with two children. He enjoys watching all sports after retiring from playing rugby several years ago. Other hobbies include golf, cooking, gardening and travel.
STEPHEN SPILL
Coming soon...
KEVIN STEPHENS
A marketing graduate, Kevin’s career encompassed sales and marketing management experience, before moving to a Leadership role within the Finance and Banking sector. Kevin set up his own consultancy business in 2001 and currently advises, coaches and trains across the Private, Public and Third Sector economy.

Flexible, patient and methodical, Kevin adapts his approach using discoveries gleaned from the negotiating, influencing and team building arenas in the UK, Asia, Africa and The Middle East. As an accredited Executive Coach, he has worked with senior professionals and business owners to help resolve many personal, team and business growth obstacles.

Having coached, mentored and consulted both formally and informally for over 20 years, Kevin’s approach as a Business Growth Expert is to build confidence and proficiency amongst his clients, understanding their needs, challenges and goals and helping them to quickly grow their sales and profits.

Married and with 2 children both still in full-time education, Kevin also enjoys cooking, walking, travelling and watching most sports, especially golf and tennis.
MARK STORRAR
Mark started his consultancy business in 2004 after a successful corporate career in sales and marketing. 

After graduating he worked across a variety of sales and marketing roles culminating as a Sales and Marketing Director in the early 2000s. 

In business he has provided expert consultancy to a wide range of UK and International customers. Mark has worked with clients on all aspects of Sales & Marketing, including: new business generation, Board-level business planning, major account development, creation and implementation of marketing strategies, CRM and loyalty expertise, direct and database marketing, presentation skills, marketing communications, sales forecasting and team building, leadership and development.

As a Business Growth Expert, Mark's experience spans a broad range of companies from large enterprise corporations to SMEs, but with a common theme of significantly increasing business performance. 

Mark loves spending time with his wife and two young boys, travelling, skiing and watching (rather than playing) sport these days!
BRIAN THOMAS
In the mid-1980s, after several years as Marketing Manager/Director, Brian switched to the agency side as Managing Director of THBW, O & M Direct (Now Ogilvy One), and Saatchi and Saatchi Direct. 

This was followed by 25 years as self-employed Marketing Consultant, Mentor, Trainer and Coach. Author of 5 Marketing Textbooks, 3 of which have been recommended reading for all students of the IDM Diploma in Direct and Digital Marketing. 

Brian is an honorary Life Fellow of the IDM (Institute of Direct Marketing) since 1999. He is experienced in all aspects of marketing and advertising, training, consulting and mentoring. Managing and building businesses – THBW from 14 to 53 employees in 2 years; O & M 60 to 190 employees in 2 years. 

He has planned and managed more than 700 marketing campaigns; written and delivered more than 2,000 seminars, for the Chartered Institute of Marketing, IDM and many personal clients, on all continents. 

Brian has coached for more than 30 years but professionally qualified and CPD Accredited since 2015, and as well as being a Business Growth Expert he has experience in Corporate and Executive fields and in Life Coaching.

Brian enjoys playing golf, skiing, walking, working out, reading, cryptic crosswords and Killer Sudoku.
JON TOMPKINS
Jon graduated in Economics at Cambridge, then progressed through Sales & Marketing into Teaching, and finished as a Director of a Sixth Form College. As Head of Business Education, his passion for enterprise saw him pioneer a scheme where all 200 students ran businesses, learning what it takes to be successful.

Subsequently, over the last 20 years, Jon has become a serial entrepreneur himself with a track record of success. He has set up and run 5 small businesses: a trading company, 2 award-winning shops, an educational coaching company, and a successful silver jewellery brand, which won Brand of the Year awards and was placed in every John Lewis store within 2 years.

Jon has coached in many fields with a huge variety of clients. In sport, he coached the GB women's team at World Championships and the Olympics. And in his educational business, a lifelong passion, he uses ground-breaking coaching techniques to achieve transformative results.

As a Business Growth Expert, Jon combines his wealth of coaching experience with his expertise as a successful entrepreneur to help SMEs grow sales, profits, and the value of their businesses. He understands what works and, equally important, what doesn't. And knows coaching and systems are as crucial in business as they are in sport.

A massive sports fan, Jon was a multiple National Champion and Henley winner in rowing. He has travelled extensively all around the world both for businesses and adventure. He is a School Governor and does voluntary work teaching teachers in Africa. He loves helping creating success through making the most of what people have got, which is always more than they realise.
SHEILA TRASKOWSKIE
With many years’ experience in both the private and public sectors Sheila has developed a very successful career in learning and development, whilst also focusing on leadership and management across many diverse organisations. 

As a Business Growth Expert, NLP Practitioner, Action Learning Facilitator and NVQ Assessor she also has the insight, which has come from many years’ experience, to know what works well for people and their businesses. Combined with a ‘can do, will do’ approach and a real passion for learning, development and business growth, Sheila is also creative and energetic with the confidence to make a lasting impact on individuals and their businesses.

Sheila's passion is focused on aligning the people development agenda with business strategy by using business coaching and executive mentoring. 

Whilst Sheila enjoys keeping her own development up to date, she also likes to take long walks with her dog (and best friend) Ella, a border collie, who can never get enough exercise! She also loves to bake and spends many hours in the kitchen ‘inventing’ (that’s what she tells others) her own recipes!
STEVE WHEELER
Steve's passion is sales and marketing and he has held senior management commercial roles within Blue Chip organisations, culminating in a Director role responsible for the growth of the SME channel worth over £200m. 

Subsequently he formed his own business focussed on helping SMEs grow. Steve has over 30 years experience in Marketing, Sales, Business Growth and Leadership, focussing on the SME market place. 

For example, he helped a group of SMEs grow their revenue from £7.2m to £9.7m per annum - in just 15 months.  

For the past 10 years Steve has been coaching formally, having developed his core style - always coaching rather than autocratic. As a Business Growth Expert, he firmly believes that coaching brings out the best in people and helps them to achieve their goals quicker and in a more sustainable manner. 

Steve qualified with the London School of Coaching and holds a Coaching licence with the RFU (Rugby Football Union).

Steve has a great family and spare time is taken up enjoying time together. He volunteers at his children's school PTA, is Chairman of a local Business Group and Head Coach of a Mini age group at Old Elthamians RFC. He also likes to keep fit, walking , cycling, swimming and loves a round of golf.  
JEREMY WILLIAMSON
Jeremy has over 35 years' sales, marketing and operational management experience within a variety of different business sectors including Legal, Financial, Retail, leisure and the Public sector. 

He has owned and operated two businesses during his career and also worked for over 20 years at OCS Group UK Ltd, where he held a number of Senior Management and Divisional Director positions.

As a Business Growth Expert, Jeremy is results-orientated, pro-active and proven in his ability to provide a high level of service and support to help his clients achieve their targets and goals both strategic and financial. 

He has strong stakeholder and customer engagement skills, and quickly builds a relationship with his clients to get a clear understanding of their needs, and to help them to maximise their business, optimise margin and ensure business growth.

Jeremy has worked with a variety of small to medium sized businesses over the past 3 years in the property, technology, and general business areas. He has helped these businesses improve their systems, sales & profits and also mentored Director and CEO level clients.

When time allows, Jeremy enjoys playing golf, keeping fit, travelling, cooking and socialising with family and friends.
PAUL WILSON
Paul is a successful entrepreneur and business owner. 

He started his present business from scratch and within 2 years built it to £1m turnover.

Through owning & operating a fast-growing business, and as a Business Growth Expert, Paul is acutely aware of what is needed for success (and, equally, what is not). 

His specialism is creating leads and sales using digital marketing.  

Paul is also a qualified NLP Practitioner. He has coached small businesses on start up, and coached employees to achieve their best personal performance levels to the overall benefit of the business.

Away from work, Paul enjoys spending time with his family, holidays - especially skiing in the winter months.  He adds: "For my sins, I hold a season ticket for West Ham!"
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