Axminster, England, United Kingdom
Experienced and results-driven Commercial and Finance Director with over 25 years of leadership in Telecoms, Technology, Services, Construction, and Finance. Extensive experience in managing complex contracts, commercial negotiations, and financial oversight within global organisations. Proven track record in leading diverse teams, driving revenue growth, and implementing strategic solutions in highly competitive markets. Skilled in navigating cultural differences, delivering customer-centric outcomes, and optimising financial and operational performance. Seeking next challenge to leverage extensive expertise in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Immediately available.
Providing financial oversight, governance and strategic support to this much-loved community organisation on the Jurassic Coast, dedicated to preserving traditional wooden boat building skills.
• Led strategic commercial and contract management for key accounts, including BT, EE, Sky, Vodafone, TalkTalk, and VMO2. • Oversaw multi-million-dollar contract negotiations, driving successful outcomes that enhance service delivery and client relationships. • Spearheaded integration efforts for telecom infrastructure, including the 5G rollout across the UK. • Managed high-stakes negotiations during mergers, such as BT/EE and VM/O2, ensuring alignment across diverse stakeholder groups. • Provided senior leadership guidance on complex contract negotiations and risk management strategies in a multinational context. • Delivered training and mentoring to over 250 contract and commercial managers, with focuses on finance for non-financial managers, international commercial law, and risk management. • Drove long-term strategic initiatives that result in improved service delivery, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Guided Huawei and its customers through the evolving regulatory landscape post UK Government decision to put Huawei UK on a "path to Zero by 2027".
• Led contract management and commercial strategies for large-scale, high-value accounts. • Negotiated contract variations and change requests worth millions of dollars, turning underperforming projects into profitable ventures. • Played a key role in Huawei’s transition from regional to global operations amid significant geopolitical challenges. • Acted as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, managing complex commercial negotiations and providing strategic insights. • Consistently recognized for excellence in contract management, customer satisfaction, and financial performance. Note: Huawei UK underwent a managed wind-down of operations following geopolitical changes including the US Entity Listing and Designated Vendor Direction. My final years involved leading the commercial transition through that process.
• Managed the full lifecycle of complex contracts for major telecom clients, ensuring compliance and maximizing profitability. • Led negotiations for large-scale product and service contracts, delivering significant revenue growth and operational improvements. • Oversaw the implementation of strategic changes that enhanced service delivery and operational efficiency. • Delivered training and mentoring to internal teams, improving contract management processes and financial literacy across the organization. • Successfully navigated regulatory and geopolitical challenges in international markets, particularly in Europe and Asia. Channel, B2B, Enterprise also.
• Commercial Lead for the bid to deliver apprenticeships to the Army, overseeing the strategy and commercial aspects of the proposal. • Led contract transition troubleshooting at the Cabinet Office’s Emergency Planning College, focusing on Asset Lifecycle Planning and implementing Gold Standard practices. • Headed negotiations with Marine South East, supporting their proposal to the Growth and Innovation Fund, and facilitating the delivery of apprenticeships to the marine industry. • Developed the business case for Training & Regulated Services to take on SFA (Skills Funding Agency) apprenticeships through Serco, ensuring alignment with funding criteria and organizational objectives. • Supported the team at Serco’s International Fire Training Centre, providing strategic guidance to grow the Fire/Life Safety business, including: • Business plan development and direction. • Streamlining governance processes and educating teams on compliance. • Creation of a standard pricing model in collaboration with the Bid Analyst. Provided commercial bid support for the OLASS 4 (Offender Learning and Skills Service) in HMPs & YOIs, focusing on commercial and strategic aspects to enhance service delivery and growth.
• Served as Interim Financial Controller for all Integrated FM businesses (now Serco LG&C), leading financial transformation efforts across multiple regions. • Took on a troubleshooting role to transform the performance and client perception of a failing outsourced pan-European FM contract, driving significant improvements. • Restored working relationships with key stakeholders in Europe and the US (including Boston), rebuilding trust and collaboration. • Reshaped and enhanced cost models, providing training to 30 managers to understand, utilize, and manage financial models effectively. • Designed and delivered a 2-day "Finance for Non-Financial Managers" course to 30 managers, enhancing their financial literacy and understanding of key financial concepts. • Devolved budget responsibility to local and regional managers, including clients, after completing the training program to foster ownership and accountability. • Identified and resolved staff training deficiencies following SAP implementation, improving team proficiency and operational efficiency. • Delivered high-level and detailed financial reports to the client, providing insights that they stated they “understood for the first time.” • Successfully negotiated and won the contract for the provision of utilities in London and Edinburgh, securing valuable business. • Managed RFPs and the implementation of catering contracts across London, Edinburgh, and Dublin, driving operational efficiency and cost control. • In-sourced cleaning subcontractor, delivering X% savings for the client and increasing Serco’s profitability. • Project-managed an operation to address “persistent contract failure” in Ireland, changing client perception from “We don’t want Serco” to “We’d give them 7 out of 10.”
• Promoted from Regional Financial Controller (managing a team of 10) to National Financial Controller by the Board due to outstanding performance. • Assisted the Finance Director in the acquisition of Bensons Ltd, including the integration of systems into Bluestone Plc. • Reorganized the national accounts department, consolidating 3 regional teams (30 staff) into a single shared service center of 23 staff, and recruited an accounts manager to cover 8 regions. • Significantly improved national reporting of overdue cash, work in progress (WIP), debts, and retentions, which led to an increase in the company’s average bank balance by approximately £10m. • Worked closely with Managing Directors in key account management, providing financial oversight and strategic support. • Managed central budgets for various departments including Accounts, IT, HR, Business Development, and Property. • Developed and optimized under-used consolidation software, improving the efficiency of monthly consolidations and production of Bluestone’s board reports and management accounts. • Enhanced market and competitor information, providing valuable benchmark targets and strategic insights to the business. • Developed and implemented an internal audit program to identify unreported business risks and improve operational controls. • Played a key role in revamping the budget process, leading the transition to a rolling re-forecasting model to improve financial planning and adaptability.