My biggest asset is that I am very technically experienced, particularly in the field of Research and Development of automobiles, having had nearly 30 years experience. The Motor Industry has been an excellent training ground as the requirements to get good quality components and systems developed quickly, and at low cost, has been an excellent driver for developing my skills.

A key asset that I have is the ability to build high level relationships based upon trust and respect with senior executives within the industry. This will always allow me to leverage the relationships in differing personal circumstances to the benefit of any company, with which I am involved.

I am an excellent negotiator, having experience of large OEM’s, large law firms, large accounting firms, banks and equity houses. I have developed a broad background of knowledge, which means I can hold my own in most situations. I am used to the arena of ‘Corporate Governance’ as a director and fully understand the responsibilities that come with my role.

My background from accounting means that I have no problems understanding ‘Balance Sheets’ and I have worked in the Managing Directors Role for many years, so budgeting costs and forecasting sales are normal activities for me to direct and lead.

Formal Qualifications

• 14 ‘O’ Levels, English Language, English Literature, Biology, Physics, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Pure Mathematics, Economics, Chemistry, Religious Education, French, Technical Drawing, Metalwork, Woodwork.
• 5 ‘A’ Levels, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Economics
• 1 ‘S’ Level, Human Biology
• ONC Mechanical Engineering
• ONC Business Studies
• HNC Mechanical Engineering
• ICMA Accountancy Qualification (now CIMA)

IT Skills

I have an excellent knowledge of many specialist systems and I fully understand the concept of a complete IT infrastructure, having set these up several times in the past for organisation of 1000+ employees.

Career Profile

I started my career with a firm of Chartered Accountants (Coopers & Lybrand) in Coventry prior to joining GEC where I became Financial Controller for a Nigerian telecommunications project.  This project was worth £300 million and I had responsibility for the financial controls for all manufacturing departments.  During his time at GEC, I introduced a number of procedures which audited and controlled costs giving early warning of variations to plans.

Subsequently I joined Abbey Panels Plc as Financial Accountant, with responsibility for introducing a bespoke costing system. This was at a time when no off the shelf programs existed, so I had to do the systems analysis and then write the program myself. I quickly established myself as a key person in the organization.  At the time of joining, the Company had a turnover of £3 million and was losing money, my contribution in a period of five years transformed this position to that of £12 million turnover making healthy profits at the time of leaving.

During this period I controlled the Planning Department and gained a HNC in Mechanical Engineering qualification.  In this role I developed Abbey Panels’ prototype business gaining projects such as Rover’s LC8 metro, LM10/11 Maestro/Montego and Rolls Royce’s RB211-535, building 6 prototype engines complete to the test bed.  The customer base was extended to include Fokker, Saab, Boeing (Seattle), Shorts (Belfast) and Volvo (Sweden).

My combined background of engineering and finance provided a sound foundation for participating in successful businesses over the next 21 years.  My wider business experience has included, as Managing Director and 25% shareholder, the running of the “Melbros” Group of companies at Hinckley, which operated in the Aftermarket for pressed panel manufacture and distribution.

Under my leadership the Melbros Group fortunes were changed from losing money to a return to profitability with a £13 million turnover.  This group of companies included a press shop and Toolroom which were upgraded to take on work from Freight Rover (now LDV), Tudor Webasto, Rover Group, Renault Trucks, BAE Systems, etc. and attaining a reputation for the quality standards achieved.

I instigated and oversaw the successful division of the group and disposal of the individual businesses, which included the selling of the press shop to “Sertec” Group and the sale of the distribution business to “Salterfix” group. This gave a good return on investment to the shareholders.

Throughout the rest of this period I had been instrumental, as Chairman and Chief Executive, in building the reputation of First Automotive Limited the market leader for producing BIW parts and assemblies and latterly undertaking major complete vehicle programmes, both in the U.K. and Internationally. The company’s subsidiary Press Patterns produced Master interior and exterior model stacks and cubes as well as environmental checking fixtures for the whole vehicle.

Major Projects completed include:

• BMW Mini
• Ford Puma
• Ford B256 (Fiesta)
• Iran Khodro X7 (Samand)
• Jaguar X300 (XJ)
• Jaguar X200 (S Type)
• Jaguar X100 (XK)
• Jaguar X400 (X Type)
• Land Rover Discovery
• Land Rover Freelander
• Land Rover Range Rover (P38A)
• McLaren Mercedes SLR
• Rover 100 Convertible
• Rover 25
• Rover 45
• Rover 75
• VW Concept 1 (Beetle)

First Automotive grew to become the largest independent automotive development company in the UK, with an annual turnover of over £32 million. The company completed the management of a full turnkey car production plant in Iran valued at $1.8 Billion in July 2000. The Iran Project included, design & Development of a new vehicle, localization projects and a new R&D centre based in Tehran. First Automotive received $100 million in revenue from this project over 8 years.

Since 2002, I have been working with Concept Group International Limited, initially as Business Development Director and since 2007 I have been CEO of an affiliated Consulting Company, CGI Consulting Limited.

Directorships in the last 5 years, are as follows:

CGI Consulting Limited – CEO, appointed Feb 2007
Concept Group Holdings Plc – Business Development Director, Resigned 2007
Concept Group International Limited – Director, Resigned 2007
CGI Asia Limited (Mauritius) – Director, Resigned 2007
Salzgitter Automotive Engineering GmbH – Director, resigned 2005
WW Technologies Limited– Chairman, Resigned 2007
D&P International Projects Limited – Director, Non Executive, Resigned 2006
Doyle Securities Limited – Non Executive Chairman, Resigned 2006

Finance Skills

I have good skills in this area, being able to find creative solutions that need to be tailored to suit project needs. I have gained a good reputation with the normal high street banks and well as international sources of finance. I have a good understanding of Stock Markets and have previously assisted a client to raise $480 Million in a rights issue, to assist overall project funding. I also have knowledge of Structured Trade Finance and have arranged this for several projects with values of $320 Million and $140 Million. I have recent knowledge of AIM listing. I understand the different options available for funding for growth, at the appropriate point, and the benefits of differing financial market conditions. I have recently helped to arranged a $480 million revolving credit facility with JP Morgan Chase for one of our overseas clients.

I am able to think laterally and formulate forecasts from an idea to a full financial model. I am used to dealing in different currencies and the complexities of hedging and other financial instruments.

Legal Knowledge

During a full business life of 30 years, I have good experience in legal contracts for high value transactions. I have experience in UK law and international law, and have negotiated contracts in the following countries; Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Iran, Romania, Russia, Taiwan, USA, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.

I also have specialist knowledge of ‘IPR’ and ‘Product Liability’, which has been an extensive part of my previous work in the developing markets of the world.

I have a good legal understanding combined with a good negotiation style that gives good results for my principals. I am completely at ease with legal professionals of any calibre.

I have a good knowledge of the legal compliance issues required of Public Limited Companies, and I am familiar with the legal due diligence requirements.

International Experience

Due to the pressures of globalisation, I have found the need to travel outside the UK to get the larger contracts not available within the UK and Europe. I have experienced many different types of culture and have a good understanding of the differing market conditions that exist. I have established teams in foreign markets to help me achieve the various project deliverables, and I am effective at this.

Crossover of Skills to other Industries

The skills I have gained are mostly within the Automotive Industry, but this has been a very cost conscience environment where efficiency and time to market have developed strategies that are transferable across to other products. The manufacturing processes have been refined dramatically and other industries could benefit from this.