
Chairman, people4business.com
Béziers Area, France

Chairman, people4business.com
Béziers Area, France
Over the last 20 years I've bought, built and sold businesses in the newspaper and technology sectors operating across many regions and languages.
In recent times, I have raised funding for and launched start-up companies in the online sector servicing recruitment, insurance, media and general corporate industries.
I'm really proud of what we've achieved in such a short time at people4business and expect to spend more of my time on this business now.
Whilst my background was predominantly in the Sales & Marketing arena, I've probably spent more time on start-up, merger, acquisition and company sale activities of late.
In addition to advising a leading Brazilian media group on their internet strategy, I've also served as a Director for a number of organisations outside the media sector, including a UK-based market research company, an international PR agency and a telemarketing business for the medical sector.
Start-up fund raising, mergers and acquisitions, online strategy, branding strategy, international sales channels, online advertising, online recruitment, community journalism & social networking platforms, newspaper technology, subscription and circulation strategy
(Privately Held; Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)
October 2009 — Present (2 months)
SailTime, the world's leading sailing membership company, provides low commitment, affordable sailing to both new and experienced sailors across a network of over 60 bases worldwide. It’s an easy and sensible way to sail a new yacht or powerboat for a fraction of the normal cost - the monthly fee covers all maintenance, insurance, servicing and berthing fees.
SailTime Europe operates 15 bases around the UK, Ireland, Holland, Italy and France serving 300+ members and managing over 50 yachts. More bases are scheduled to open during 2010.
Each SailTime base is run as a franchise operation by a SailTime base owner, providing unique business opportunities for people who are passionate about sailing, with the drive and commitment to manage their own business.
SailTime has its own accredited Royal Yachting Association (RYA) training centre in Poole, and launching more approved training centres across its range of bases in the UK and Europe.
(Privately Held; Staffing and Recruiting industry)
April 2005 — Present (4 years 8 months)
people4business is a recruitment marketplace dedicated to connecting the buyers and sellers of interim, freelance & contractor services in the UK and overseas.
Working with great partners in the media, online portal and professional institute space, we've created a powerful way for job boards to help hundreds of companies and individuals connect with each other in a financially transparent and beneficial way.
Alongside my business partner Duncan Taylor, I've been delighted to manage the investor relations and launch of this unique online portal.
Next step is to open up new operations in Canada and the USA.
(Publishing industry)
April 2005 — Present (4 years 8 months)
After years of providing technology to newspaper groups worldwide, I was delighted to be asked by this leading Brazilian media group to advise them on the commercialisation of their internet presence.
During my stint here I have undertaken strategic analysis of the online space in Brazil and beyond, selected and negotiated contracts with suitable suppliers, directed design and delivery of websites and launched leading platforms for auto, real estate and recruitment.
From a zero-start, Associados and their newspaper partner brands now have Brazil's no.1 online real estate brand and the no.2 online auto brand. Recruitment is heading the same way.
We expect to add new audience-based propositions during 2010 as well as enhancing our multi-media content capture, aggregation and distribution capacity.
(Internet industry)
January 2005 — Present (4 years 11 months)
(Online Media industry)
April 2004 — Present (5 years 8 months)
A consulting vehicle focused on IT, especially web-based, on newspaper technology vendors to improve processes, to reach new markets, and to prepare for M&A activity.
Also actively involved in finding & introducing buyers and sellers of software companies to each other, negotiating the deals, and assisting with post-acquisition integration.
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Internet industry)
September 2006 — May 2008 (1 year 9 months)
(Public Company; 11-50 employees; Newspapers industry)
November 2005 — January 2008 (2 years 3 months)
(Privately Held; Computer Software industry)
July 2002 — March 2004 (1 year 9 months)
The final stage in a 16 year mission in which I took a key role in bringing together the world's leading newspaper software houses, including Trurofield, Matrix, Geac, Cybergraphic, Media Command and Atex.
During this process, whilst running profitable businesses, I sold my own companies three times, re-acquired larger variants at lower cost twice, and finally merged with the then largest competitor.
(Computer Software industry)
July 2001 — June 2002 (1 year )
Led MBO of Geac Publishing Systems to form Media Command which later merged with Atex to form AMC (see later).
(Computer Software industry)
August 1999 — June 2001 (1 year 11 months)
Division of Canadian conglomerate which acquired Matrix Publishing Systems.
(Computer Software industry)
July 1994 — July 1999 (5 years 1 month)
Software house providing Circulation management software to the newspaper publishing and distribution sectors (previously known as Trurofield).
(Computer Software industry)
December 1991 — June 1994 (2 years 7 months)
Software house providing Circulation management software to the newspaper publishing and distribution sectors.
(Internet industry)
October 1987 — December 1991 (4 years 3 months)
Software house providing Circulation management software to the newspaper publishing and distribution sectors.
(Public Company; Information Technology and Services industry)
February 1987 — October 1987 (9 months)
Account-managed end-user clients and value-added resellers in the media, logistics and manufacturing sectors using ICL mid-range mainframes. Received incredibly good training, but when the Trurofield ownership opportunity came up, I reluctantly had to leave (see later).
(Information Technology and Services industry)
May 1980 — January 1987 (6 years 9 months)
Went through a series of roles at payroll services bureaux including mainframe computer operations, through payroll systems analyst & implementation consultant, sales support, sales consultant and finally to sales manager.
During this time, consolidation of the sector through acquisitions meant that I worked for Inter-City Computers, Computapay, Mayne Nickless Computer Services and Data Sciences International in continuous employment. The business was finally acquired by ADP shortly after my departure.
Institute of Directors Certificate in Company Direction, May 2009