Our Team

Strategic and Operational Leadership Specialist

John Boydell

Strategic and Operational Leadership Specialist                                                           

John Boydell is an experienced board chair and director, a corporate lawyer and a pioneer internet entrepreneur in his own right. He has worked for decades alongside management teams in private (including may SMEs) and public companies, helping them to achieve higher performance levels and shareholder value.

Key Services:

• Strategic vision and supporting strategy
• Management alignment
• Business planning
• Funding
• Governance
• Intellectual property
• Web-based product and services delivery

Sectors: Food, Logistics, Software, Utilities, Manufactured Products, Professional Services

Companies: British Gas, Stobart Group, Sainsbury’s, Pilkington

Qualifications: LLB, Solicitor, Member Society for Computers and Law

Strategy and Leadership Specialist

Martyn Jones

Strategy and Leadership Specialist                                                           

Martyn is a very experienced chair, non-executive director, board adviser, senior manager, trustee and mentor. He has worked with companies across multiple sectors and from FTSE100 giants to SMEs. He is particularly effective as an independent advisor to the Board and as a Mentor to Business Owners and MDs/CEOs. He brings a fresh pair of eyes, an analytical approach, natural curiosity, experience of best practice across sectors, and infectious enthusiasm.

Key Services:

• Improving Board and Management performance
• Mentoring the MD, Board members and Senior management
• Managing transformational business changes
• Making business processes efficient and fit for purpose
• Engaging customers and staff

Sectors: Professional services, education, charities, manufacturing, utilities

Companies: United Utilities, Electricity North West, Vertex, BNFL, Royal Society of Chemistry

Qualifications: Certified Director, MIoD, Cert.IoD, Certified Manager, Cert. Mgt, Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, FRSC

Financial Management, Finance-Raising and Governance Specialist

Alan Wilson

Financial Management, Finance-Raising and Governance Specialist

Alan is an experienced chair, non-executive director, trustee and mentor. He has highly developed finance and business advisory skills from a career in business and corporate banking followed by roles in the accountancy and business finance sectors. Alan has worked with companies across multiple sectors with particular focus on assisting owner-managers mitigate financial and business risk while continuing to grow their businesses. Alan has an extensive network of funding and professional services providers. As an independent Board adviser, Alan brings financial literacy, openness and transparency, strategic thinking and constructive challenge to any Board entrusted with the stewardship of its business.

Key Services:

• Financial risk mitigation
• Finance-raising and negotiation
• Assessment of borrowing capacity and debt servicing capability
• Cash flow management
• Review of financial liabilities
• Business reviews
• Stakeholder focus
• Corporate governance

Sectors: Manufacturing, services, professional practices, finance, healthcare, education & not-for-profit

Companies: Bank of Scotland, Baker Tilly & Bathgate Business Finance

Qualifications: Chartered Banker & Master of Business Administration

Finance and Mergers Specialist

David Fatkin

Finance and Mergers Specialist

David’s incisive ability to see and evaluate issues has enabled him to work successfully as MD/FD with growth companies and in cash-stressed situations requiring rapid understanding and response. A strong believer in the power of relevant/reliable information upon which to base decisions and drive planned progress. A credible team builder and communicator between stakeholder groups.

Key Services:  Delivers a focused, inclusive, and high impact improvement agenda created through solid financial understanding

Sectors: Manufacturing, Assembly, Wholesale; Software

Companies: GSK, BAE, CarnaudMetalBox, Gardner Aerospace & SME family owned

Qualifications: ACA Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales; Accredited Civil & Commercial Mediator & registered with Civil Mediation Council

Private Equity/Venture Capital and Corporate Finance

Richard Young

Private Equity/Venture Capital and Corporate Finance

Richard is Manchester’s longest surviving venture capitalist, doing his first deal in 1989 and working with over 100 companies since then.  Initially in private equity, he then specialised in growth investment, backing some of the most successful companies in the North West.  Alongside his understanding of equity funding and M&A, he also sits on boards and works closely on recruitment and performance of senior people.

Key Services:

• Advising on whether and from where to raise equity funds
• Buying and selling mid-market businesses

Sectors: Enterprise software, SaaS, B2B technology and services, other high-growth segments

Companies: Invested in:  TeleCity, Blue Prism, Transitive Technologies, VYPR – Worked for:  3i, Manchester Technology Fund, Mercia, BVCA.

Qualification: FCA threshold competent in the conduct of investment business

Brand Design Specialist

Ed Christiano

Ed Christiano

Brand Design Specialist

Ed’s brilliant creative design thinking, branding and marketing skills bring colour to Ampios and our clients. As Ampios’s valued and trusted design marketing consultant, Ed works with our clients to create and implement effective marketing strategies for companies to drive sales, boost brand awareness and increase their market share. With an enviable client list in the private and public sector he has worked on marketing campaigns using digital and traditional media, driven digital marketing, enhanced packaging designs and produced some stunning annual reports. Ed started his career as a film technician on movies and music videos in Hollywood, including Michael Jackson’s ‘Rock With You’ and ‘She’s Out of my Life’ highly acclaimed music videos.

Culture Building and Coaching for Safety Specialist

Michael Emery

Culture Building and Coaching for Safety Specialist

Michael is a career occupational safety and health (OSH) professional who’s managed health and safety for several leading household names at home and abroad. Michael has also helped organisations including BAE Systems and ThyssenKrupp develop their coaching capacity. As a qualified Executive Coach, he helps other senior professionals be the very best they can be, whether it’s via 1:1 coaching or training in the use of coaching skills themselves.

Key Services:

• Audit and review
• Strategic development
• Coaching and mentoring
• Training
• Developing coaching skills (safety and non-safety)

Sectors: Construction, Manufacturing, Food Manufacturing

Companies: Portakabin, Rolls-Royce & Bentley, Almarai, Weetabix, Greencore, Befesa, Muller, Cerealto

Qualifications: Chartered Member of the Institution of Occupational, Safety and Health, AoEC Accredited Executive Coach

Finance and Profit Improvement Specialist

Carl Lee

Finance and Profit Improvement Specialist

Carl is an experienced commercially astute finance director, non-executive director and mentor, focusing on strategic and operational business transformation. He can drive forward changes to improve profitability and growth, by the identification and efficient management of process improvements and business improvement programmes. He was a director of the UK and Nordic companies of a US-based global manufacturing and distribution operation. He has latterly focussed on mentoring SME’s to develop strategic plans to identify business development and opportunities.

Key Services: 

• Coupling strategy to finance
• Establishing working processes
• Managing business change
• Mentoring

Sectors: Manufacturing, services and distribution sectors

Qualifications: Chartered Management Accountant 

Manufacturing and Process Change specialist

Andy Ibbitson

Manufacturing and Process Change specialist

Andy has a strong operational excellence background where he utilizes his LEAN Manufacturing experience to guide and shape businesses to create the environment for lasting change. He has worked with companies across multiple sectors both in the UK and Asia Pacific regions, ranging from SMEs to multinational organisations.

Key Services:

• Strategy development
• Designing and delivering key process changes
• Operational excellence through Lean methodology
• Manufacturing process optimisation
• Lean coach and mentor

Sectors: Manufacturing, Construction, Health, Automotive, Aerospace, Mining, Rail and FM.

Companies: Meggitt, NHS, Network Rail, Jaguar Landrover

Qualifications: MBA, MSc. Fellow of the Institute of Consulting. Fellow of Chartered Management Institute. Institute of Directors

Finance and Growth Specialist

Nick Montague

Finance and Growth Specialist

Nick has the ability to quickly analyse issues and create solutions enabling many years of successful assistance to growth companies across a number of sectors. An easy communicator, Nick gains trust with clients enabling effective relationships, which in turn allow plans to be developed more efficiently and effectively for strategic and operational business improvement.

Key Services:

Delivers a high impact agenda focusing on strategy development, business planning/forecasting, fundraising, deal management and business development, with thorough financial understanding.

Sectors: Manufacturing, Recycling, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Biotech and Professional services.

Companies: KPMG, Inspirit Consulting, Greybeard Healthcare

Qualification: FCA Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales

Sales, Marketing and Public Relations Specialist

Stephen Pegram

Sales, Marketing and Public Relations Specialist

Stephen is an executive professional with a diverse background in business development across several market sectors. His primary areas of expertise are in up-scaling B2B strategies, team asset development, sales and marketing strategy, public relations, and CRM implementation.

His corporate career profile includes 15 years living in the United States holding the positions of Key Account Management, Vice President Sales and Marketing and Company Vice President, all within international public companies. Stephen brings a focused approach that inspires others to build and maintain profitable business activity.

Key Services:

• Strategic sales and marketing planning and implementation.
• Business development growth structures.
• Public relations.
• Market intelligence.
• Training and coaching.

Sectors: Manufacturing, engineering, retail, professional services.

Companies: Gildemeister AG, DMG Europe Holdings, Hyundai WIA, Heller Machinenfabrik GmbH

Operational Leadership and Organisational Change Specialist

Robert Thoburn

Operational Leadership and Organisational Change Specialist

Robert has hands-on experience of running various types of businesses, some international, including; building design services, medical devices, corporate recovery, product design consultancy, manufacturing, company formations and sweet re-packing. Operating as either director or chairman. These experiences place Robert in an ideal position to understand where you are on your business journey and to help you develop your next steps to grow your business and deliver shareholder value.

Key Services:

• Developing professional services
• Product design
• Strategic planning
• Financial management
• Mentoring

Sectors: Professional services, automotive, medical devices, manufacturing

Companies: Valeo Climate Control, Prestige Medical, Forsspac

Human Resource Specialist

Helen Irwin

Human Resource Specialist

Helen is an experienced HR Consultant who brings pragmatic organisation-specific solutions to our clients. Working collaboratively to achieve business results, Helen builds strong and effective relationships with clients to identify and deliver solutions. Her commercial acumen allows her to shape and deliver the strategies as an enabler for business success.

Key Services: reward structures, organisation design, people risk management, management development and coaching, strategic HR planning, policies and procedures review/development

Sectors: Construction, Retail, Tech, Airports, Manufacturing, NHS

Qualifications: MCIPD

Business Analysis, Data Insight & Customer Service Specialist

Jason John

Business Analysis, Data Insight & Customer Service Specialist

Jason is an experienced analyst with over 20 years’ experience within the telecoms/engineering industry who excels in effectively communicating issues, whether they be derived from data, processes or more anecdotally, into clearly defined process improvements, reports, documents or KPIs that can then be used to bring unambiguous improvements to an organization.

In addition to the above Jason has an atypical personality for an analyst; open, enthusiastic, passionate, and engaging in his communications style and able to “get people on-side” at various levels whether they be internal or external stakeholders, keeping the energy up and finding the common ground.

Key Services:

• Business analysis
• Business process mapping
• Data analysis
• KPIs and reporting
• Net Promoter Score (NPS)
• Fault management
• Customer service
• Business insight
• Team management

Companies: Telewest, Virgin Media, Telent, NBN

Procurement Specialist

Mark Blanchard

Procurement Specialist

Mark is a Procurement professional, Board Director, business consultant, coach and mentor, who helps business leaders make the best business decisions. With over 25 years of delivering outstanding results with and within complex sectors and organisations, he brings passion, energy and integrity to his clients, offering business leaders strategic insight, constructive challenge and hands on support to help them achieve their business aspirations.

Key Services:

• Creating competitive advantage through partnering and sourcing activities
• Strategy development and execution
• Developing effective Boards and Leadership Teams
• Mentoring and coaching

Sectors: Manufacturing, Life Science, Professional Services, Public Health, SMEs, Charity

Companies: Croda Colloids Ltd, Norsk Hydro ASA, Albemarle Corp, Univar UK Ltd, AstraZeneca PLC

Qualifications: MCIPS

Research & Marketing Manager

Nela Piaskowska

Nela is qualified and experienced nutritionist with regulatory and quality background skilled in customer service, HACCP, GMP, Food Safety EU & UK REACH, Regulation, Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation (CLP), toxicology consulting and testing management to ensure that regulatory and quality requirement are met.

She has demonstrated history of working in food retail, and chemical industries as well as fast-paced environments.

Working within regulatory sector and dealing with certain government policies allowed her to develop analytical and critical thinking that she now successfully applies.

She also holds PG in Leadership and Digital Marketing from Liverpool Business School (LJMU) and understands the meaning and importance of true leadership and how the success of a business depends on it.

Qualifications: BSc Community Nutrition, PG Leadership and Digital Marketing

Strategic and Operational Leadership Specialist

John Bookless

John is an accomplished, senior executive; sought after Chair,NED and intuitive investor. A very hands-on leader with over 25 years experience across multi-cultural and diverse organisations.

With a background within Government Office, he transitioned into the Fortune 500 arena, elevating to being part of the global senior management team for Electronic Data Systems Group which later became part of HP under a $13.9 billion deal in 2008.

John sees and creates opportunities, ‘joining the dots’ through his extensive private network to bring people, funding and businesses together. He has an intuition for bringing suitable parties together to broker a transaction or conclude a critical event.

John has a particular interest in electronic sensors, artificial intelligence, green technology and proprietary technology. His goal is to deliver significant profitability, margins, revenues and sustainability opportunities.

Key Services:

• Strategic vision and supporting strategy
• Management alignment
• Business planning
• Funding
• Governance
• Intellectual property
• Web-based product and services delivery

Sectors: Food, Logistics, Software, Utilities, Manufactured Products, Professional Services

Companies:

Bowland Ventures Limited – Managing Director

Freschfield – Chief Executive Officer

ITS Technology Group – Group Chief Executive Officer

I3 Group Limited – Director

Eds Group – Now HP Enterprise – Account Manager & Director

Cabinet Office – Manager

Qualifications: LLB, Solicitor, Member Society for Computers and Law

Hospitality and Leisure Expert

Howard Lewis

Howard is an experienced Hospitality professional with over 35 years of Leadership experience, most of which have been in Hotel General Management roles. He also has extensive Chair and Board experience currently Chair of Club Liverpool and was a Trustee at Blackpool Carers Centre for nearly a decade.

Howard is also on the Council of Governors at Alder hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool and sits on the Accommodation BID and Liverpool Hospitality Boards. He became an Apprenticeship Ambassador in 2010 in Blackpool, supporting the Northwest Apprenticeship Service spreading the positive message as an employer. He also worked supporting the HERO Project in Blackpool with judging on enterprise competition and offering mentoring to students.

Key Services:

With an excellent commercial knowledge and strong leadership skills he has a proven track record in motivation and team building and delivers solid results. Project Management – New openings and Change management. Hospitality business repositioning

Sectors: Hospitality, Hotel Management, Revenue Management, Pre Openings, Project Management, Catering, Tourism Charities, Management

Companies: De Vere Hotels, Paramount Hotels, Hilton Worldwide, Principal Hotels, Accor, RBH Management and Legacy Hotels & Resorts

CFO, TURNAROUND, and INVESTOR READINESS SPECIALIST

Mike Thompson

Mike has 25 years commercial and financial management experience gained across a wide range of businesses, including software start-ups, multinationals, and fast-growing entrepreneurial businesses.

Mike now works hand with private businesses on turnarounds, transforming operations, implementing financial best practice, and undertaking investor readiness for company exits.

Key Services:

• Overhaul financial reporting incorporating high level business analytics.
• Eliminate low/no value costs, improve EBITDA and optimise Cash.
• Replace legacy systems and smooth transition to £m+ ERP systems.
• Coaching and upskilling teams for financial and operational best practice.
• Governance and forging strong stakeholder relations and business partnerships.
• Design integrated multi-currency cashflow modelling for valuation, acquisitions and company exits.

Sectors: Technology and Software, Publishing, Broadcasting Financial Services, Insurance, Retail and Archaeology.

Companies: BBC, BT, Dune, McGraw-Hill, NU, The Lonely Planet, several technology SME’s

Qualifications:MBA, Durham University. FCCA, Chartered Certified Accountant. Certificate in Business Analytics, Columbia Business School.