Simon Ball

Operations Director at Character.com | R&D Tax Consultant and business development specialist

Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom

About

I am a commercially minded operations and transformation leader with board-level insight and over 25 years of experience spanning e-commerce, automotive, manufacturing, and technology-led industries. Having held senior leadership roles at Amazon, Jaguar Land Rover, and in high-growth SMEs, I bring a strong track record in operational scaling, digital systems, and global supply chains. Having worked in the UK and USA, I combine strategic clarity with practical delivery expertise, particularly in founder-led or private equity-backed businesses navigating scale-up challenges. I bring data-driven rigour to decision-making and governance, with a focus on sustainable efficiency and risk-managed growth. Currently holding a part-time board-facing role with a PE-backed e-commerce leader and I advise clients on R&D tax. My board contributions are grounded in cross-sector experience, strategic operations oversight, and a deep understanding of both corporate and entrepreneurial cultures. I now seek Non-Executive Director appointments where I can add value through operational insight, governance support, and independent challenge, particularly in owner led SMEs and businesses facing growth inflection points, digital transition, or governance enhancement. Key NED-Ready Strengths • Board & Governance Exposure – P&L ownership and executive team participation across multiple businesses; experience reporting to investors and operating within private equity structures. • Transformation Leadership – Led complex change initiatives including cross-border technology transfer, post-M&A integration, and turnaround projects. • Operational Oversight – Direct responsibility for manufacturing and supply chain operations (100–1,000+ staff); strategic execution of S&OP and lean excellence. • Global Perspective – Held leadership roles across the UK, USA, and Europe; managed unionised and non-union environments. • Risk, Quality & Compliance – Management representative for TS16949, ISO9001, ISO14001 and Health & Safety; accountable for audit readiness and regulatory interface. • Innovation & R&D Champion – Engineering Doctorate holder with experience driving R&D tax strategies, new material development, and industrial process automation. SPECIALITIES: R&DTax, Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, Business Improvement, Business Development, SME, WMS, eCommerce ► LET'S TALK: ✉ Email [email protected]. Want to book online? Request a FREE call here - 📆 https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/[email protected]/bookings/.

Experience

  • R&D Tax Consultant at RandDTax
    Jul 2020 - Present · 6 yrs 1 mo

  • Operations Director at Character.com
    Oct 2021 - Present · 4 yrs 10 mos

  • IBD Accredited Business Adviser at ibd Business Advice Group Ltd
    Oct 2020 - Mar 2022 · 1 yr 6 mos

    IBD is a powerful, innovative and cost-effective management support resource for SMEs. They have a network of 200 business support professionals and experts throughout the UK, dedicated to developing, supporting and representing the interests of businesses just like yours. Their business advisors are mature, experienced problem-solvers – they’re professional, they’re focused on results and they can ‘hit the ground running’, to help identify and address your critical business issues and deliver the real, practical solutions you need.

  • Amazon (3 yrs 7 mos)
    • Senior Operations Manager
      Sep 2018 - Jul 2020 · 1 yr 11 mos

    • Senior Operations Manager
      Jan 2017 - Sep 2018 · 1 yr 9 mos

  • Jaguar Land Rover (2 yrs 11 mos)
    • Production Manager
      Aug 2015 - Jan 2017 · 1 yr 6 mos

    • Stand in Production Manager
      May 2015 - Aug 2015 · 4 mos

    • Shift Manager
      Mar 2014 - May 2015 · 1 yr 3 mos