I have a lot of experience of developing and managing all aspects of business change from process & organisational design, through engagement, communication & training, corporate culture, values & behaviours, and the planning and execution of activity that underpins these aspects. Here are a relevant selection of clients, case studies, references and articles about this work.
“I supported the board with a demerger of the business, refinancing and plans for expansion” I supported this family owned business to manage the practicalities of a demerger of their business that they had agreed to carry out. Once complete, I supported the CEO, new board and investors to develop an ambitious new strategy including[…]
“I led the GO Outdoors IT function and Business Change programme through acquisition by JD Sports.” I joined the GO Outdoors executive board in 2016 as part of the team preparing the business for exit from its founders and private equity investors. Following a lengthy sale and due diligence process, including a post-sale strategy definition[…]
Iain is an excellent programme director whom I highly recommend. He recently supported us on a large colleague engagement initiative which needed a complete reset and replan. He quickly assessed the situation, stabilised the team and managed the replan. His particular strengths include: ability to deal with complexity, calm, thoughtful approach and pragmatic commercially focussed[…]
I led the GO Outdoors IT function and business change programme through acquisition by JD Sports. In this article, the Financial Times confirms the CMA’s decision to approve the acquisition.
“I have helped the Co-op on a number of occasions across a variety of their businesses and functions.” 2 major assignments with the Co-op were leading their supply chain transformation programme following the acquisition of Somerfield and leading their cultural change programme to support the relaunch and rebranding of the group. Programme Director – Supply Chain[…]
“I consulted with this online retailer, supporting the restructure of their transformation programme.” With nearly £1 billion turnover across over 20 multi-channel retail brands, N Brown is one of the largest online retail operators in the UK. When new senior management joined the business in 2014 they engaged me to support the review of their £100m technology-enabled business[…]
“I’ve supported Arco, the B2B safety products retailer, on a number of assignments including a period as interim Change & IT Director” Arco is the UK’s number one provider of workplace safety products & services. With over 60 stores and sales offices across the UK, this family-owned B2B retailer turns over around £300m each year (as at 2015).[…]
Iain joined the Arco operations board at a critical time in our business development process. His ability to quickly assess the organisations complexities and make sense of the key priorities is truly impressive. He is able to blend strategic insight and operational requirements to develop business strategies that differentiate and deliver real value. I really[…]
Iain did a superb job for us, far exceeding our expectations. He was engaged for 9 months to help us 1) formulate an IT strategy, 2) lead the IT/Change function with over 50 colleagues and land the required organisational change, 3) support the E-commerce Director and 4) support/develop his permanent replacement in the role. This[…]
“I consulted with Morrisons on a variety of digital initiatives, including leading the design & delivery of a major CRM programme.” Morrisons is the 4th largest supermarket in the UK with a turnover in excess of £15bn pa and around 500 stores. Following acquisition of Safeway in 2004 and the ensuing integration and changes in[…]
Iain is a fantastic change agent. He has a deep understanding of what makes organisations, teams and individuals tick and what hinders them from delivering on their ambition. Iain has an incisive intellect and scythes through complexity to make the options simple to realise. Iain is not afraid to be tough on the issues and[…]
“What started as a consulting brief focused on growth quickly turned into a turnaround-focused restructuring assignment.” With over €12 billion turnover through over 120 multi-channel retail brands, Otto is one of the very largest online retail operators globally. Otto acquired a number of retail catalogue brands in the UK in 1999, including Freemans and Grattans,[…]
“I’ve worked with E.ON on a large number of consulting, coaching and interim assignments over a period spanning several years.” E.ON UK is the UK business of the global power and gas business, is the second largest electricity retailer in the UK with a 24% market share. E.ON sells electricity and gas to consumer and business[…]
Iain was the lynchpin in leading the Powergen/E.ON Retail business ‘Formula for Growth’ cross-functional and strategic change initiative, which for 2007 resulted in our best Gross Margin and EBIT ever. A substantial amount of this success is due to Iain skilfully organising and driving our management team forward, including his ability to think laterally and[…]
Iain managed to line up a set of hybrid divisions and service units into a single unified change plan. He had enough force of intellect and personality to then keep the many competing stakeholders to that plan such that it delivered. That is the very point where most change plans fall apart, but ther was[…]
Iain joined me early in 2006 on the Consumer Leadership Team at Powergen, as interim Head of Change, following acquisition by E.ON AG, the global energy group. This was at a time of increasingly competitive conditions in the Energy markets, with retail margins under significant pressure. Iain brought a wealth of senior-level experience from low-margin[…]
“I led the business change activity for NHS Shared Business Services following its creation” NHS Shared Business Services provides Finance and Accounting services to NHS organisations. It is a Joint Venture between the Department of Health and Xansa, designed to enable NHS organisations to improve the efficiency of their finance function, and thereby free up funds[…]
I joined the Executive Leadership Team of NHS Shared Business Services as interim Change Director to establish the new joint venture operation. In this article, the Financial Times notes the impact on Xansa’s revenue.
Iain Spence joined us as interim Change Director at a very challenging time in our business’ history. With our business forecast to grow by more than double in the next 12 months, we had to develop a clear strategy and plan to handle that type of growth in a tightly controlled way. Iain’s expertise in[…]
Iain performed the role of Transformation Director for Xansa PLC when we won a major Finance & Accounting Services outsourcing contract with MyTravel PLC in 2004. Leading a team of Xansa’s business and technology consultants, Iain was responsible for a major programme of business and systems change which provided significant financial benefits to MyTravel and[…]
“I led WHSmith Direct through the most significant period of business change in its history, delivering step change improvement in sales and profit performance” In April 2003, I was engaged to lead WHSmith Direct through this period of significant business change and opportunity. This would allow the main board director responsible for the business to focus[…]
“Following a 10 year career in a variety of senior management roles, I’ve continued to consult with Asda on occasional projects.” Asda is the second largest supermarket retailer in the UK with annual sales of around £20 billion and almost 200,000 employees. The business became part of the largest retailer in the world, Wal-mart Inc, in[…]
I led Wal-Mart’s integration of Asda’s back office and financial operations – the largest change programme in UK retail history. This case study provides more detail.
“Individual clients whom I coach and mentor expect and receive total confidentiality” I have worked with a great many individuals, over 1000 business leaders and managers, in my 30 year career to date. Many of these have been coached and mentored by me during that , as I myself have benefited from similar support from[…]