Challenge-Taker.
Innovator.
Collaborator.
I have a track-record of success in business, and I am now looking for Non-Executive Director roles and investment opportunities with a challenge.
Whether your challenge is growth, turnaround, operational, or something else, I have the experiences, know-how, energy and skill sets to help you achieve your goals.
I have a UK-wide, USA and European business career and I am very comfortable operating across any of these territories.
In my 40+ year career as an entrepreneur, I’ve built, run and sold multiple businesses – including Finelist, Media Square & Springboard Ventures.
Finelist
Finelist was a business I founded in 1991 and soon became the UK’s fastest growing national distributor in the automotive aftermarket. In 1994, we successfully floated the company on the London Stock Exchange. Six years later, in February 2000, the business was sold to French conglomerate Autodis.
See my finelist case study hereSpringboard Ventures
In 1998, I was a founding director of Springboard Ventures, which we listed on the Alternative Investment Market. The company connected entrepreneurial internet and technology businesses to corporate finance organisations. Following 18 months of rapid growth, I chose to sell and exit the business.
See my Springboard Ventures case study here
Media Square
From 2000 to 2003, I was a founding director of Media Square, a full-service media and marketing group that grew through acquisition and was another business we listed on the Alternative Investment Market. Having achieved my ambitions for Media Square, I chose to sell and exit the business in 2003.
See my media square case study hereCurrently
Since 2003, I’ve been the founder and CEO of Cobalt Developments, a UK-based property development company that has also developed major residential schemes in the USA.
See my Cobalt Developments case study here
Aside from the businesses I’ve founded, I‘ve also sat on boards in the private, public and third sectors, in operational, non-exec and investor capacities
My Career timeline highlights
Including dates of when I founded and sold some of my companies, as well as some of my public service appointments.
1991
Founder of Finelist
Finelist successfully floated on the London Stock market
1994
1998
Co-Founder & Non-Executive Director of Springboard Ventures
Sell Springboard Ventures stake & exit
1999
2000
Finelist sold to French conglomerate Autodis
Co-Founder & Non-Executive Chairman of Media Square
2000
Chairman of Warwick Hospital 'Accident and Emergency Appeal'
2000to2005
Non-Executive Director, West Midlands Industrial Development Board
Chairman, Learning + Skills Council, Hereford and Worcestershire
2001to2005
2003
Sell Media Square stake & exit
Founder of Cobalt Developments
2003
2005to2016
Founder of Young Cygnets – charity supporting gifted young musicians.
Buy Redditch United Football Club & take on role as Owner/Chairman
2011
2016to2019
Appointed Non-Executive Director of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Sell Redditch United Football Club
2020
2025
Appointed chairman of CBHA, a small Warwickshire housing association
Continuing to run Cobalt Developments (since 2003)
2026
My CV Here
Awards & Recognition
University of Central England Honorary Doctorate
Europe’s 500 Award for Europe’s Fastest Growing Company (Finelist)
British Venture Capital Association Venturer of the Year
Financial Times/PWC Entrepreneur of the Year
Variety Club of Great Britain Businessman of the Year
Contact
Discuss your opportunity
Please fill in the form below and I will get back to you with some days and times that we can get together on a call, on Teams or in person. I look forward to hearing from you.