Business Chair · NED · Mentor · Entrepreneur
Straight-talking board-level support — whatever the size of your business.
I work alongside founders and leadership teams in growing SMEs — as a trusted chair / independent non-executive director, or as a candid mentor. If sustainable long-term business success is your aim (and it should be!) then I can definitely help get you there.
How I can help
Four ways we can work together
Business Chair
My key relationship is always with the CEO I will help you bring clarity, accountability, and forward momentum. My collaborative style will help you bring out the best in your top team. My experience will help you develop, drive and deliver your planned strategy.
Learn more→Non-Executive Director
I offer honest challenge and strategic support without the politics. I ask the questions in a collaborative and non-confrontational manner that others might not. I bring cross-sector perspective to help your business make better decisions with senior level experience in: Competetive Strategy; Operations & Supply Chain; Sales & Marketing; Product Development; Finance & working capital; Quality Audit & Engineering; Industrial & process Engineering; Health & Safety; Artificial Intelligence; Effective Governance and Leadership.
Learn more→Mentoring
For founders and senior leaders who just want a trusted sounding board. I offer one-to-one mentoring that is direct, practical, and grounded in real business experience — not theory. Running the business is your job. My job is to make yours a little easier. I'm someone to think out loud with before the big decisions. I'll always ask good questions and then help you to find the answers.
Learn more→Presignia
An AI-enabled early-warning system for your business What's the point in telling someone they have high blood pressure, or type 2 diabetes, when months or years earlier you could have told them how to avoid it? Financial ratios can often do the same. They may well be vital diagnostics but they tend to flag up problems months or even years after the behaviours that caused them. Most business underperformance and ultimate failures don't happen overnight. The warning signs are there weeks, months or even years in advance — providing you know what to look for! But leadership teams are busy running the business, and the signals can therefore often get missed until they become crises. Until now........ Currently being piloted in a few select businesses. I believe Presignia is the answer. Register your interest to be among the first to know.
Find out more→"Good governance isn't just about compliance — it's about creating the conditions for a business to manage risk effectively and thrive sustainably."
I've sat in your chair. I've been the CEO who had to make payroll, win the big customer and keep the bank on side, often all in the same week. So when I join a board, I come in as part of your team and on your side. Running the business is your job, and I'm not there to second-guess you.
My job is to make yours easier by helping to keep board meetings focused, sharply analysing the present and prioritising the critical few actions for the future so you come out with clarity and a renewed momentum rather than a longer to-do list. And, when things get tough, and they always do, I'll stand alongside you to help provide the resilience necessary for sustained success.
Along the way I've learned a fair bit. At £60m Pegler I led a management buyout and completely regenerated the business taking on European Industry giants like Invensys, Danfoss and Honeywell and gaining UK market leadership. As Chair I've helped grow several other businesses nationally and internationally to achieve great exits at 3-4 x money multiples. But my proudest moments are always watching a leadership team grow into something far bigger than they ever thought possible.
I've run and advised businesses from £2m - £100m but job titles and the size of your business has never been what interests me. What matters is that you're ambitious, honest, and willing to do the work. If that sounds like you, I'd love to have a conversation.
What people say
In their own words
"In my quite extensive experience of advising businesses in various manufacturing related industries, I have rarely seen a Chief Executive who possesses the combination of broad but incisive strategic thinking and an ability to motivate a management team to execute strategy that Tony has"
"Highly focused in management style, he operates with a broad and coherent set of objectives. His thinking about business is strategic and thorough and is attentive to both commercial and operational issues. He is very effective at understanding the linkages between different aspects of business performance. This allows him to exercise very solid judgements about the ways in which change can be achieved in a business"
"Tony is a great non-executive and he and I worked together really successfully at MiniCam, facilitating an excellent exit to Halma plc. I would recommend Tony highly."
"Tony changed my life. We went on an amazing journey together. He mentored me and helped me achieve my full potential. I am forever grateful for the trust he placed in me and the guidance he gave. Tony is a skilled leader identifying opportunities in people and businesses. Making transformational decisions to position businesses for the future. His experience across multiple businesses has deepened his experience and perspective."
Ready to work together?
If you're looking for experienced, independent board-level support, I'd welcome an initial conversation.