Richard Burton
CEO and Non Executive Director
I am an experienced commercial and strategic leader with over 20 years’ senior executive and board-level experience across technology, healthcare, energy, financial services, public sector and other highly regulated environments.
I bring a combination of hands-on business-building experience and experienced board-level judgement. Most recently, as Co-Founder and Commercial Director of CLEO Systems, I helped scale the business from start-up to £5-6m turnover, achieving breakeven within 18 months and building a high-performing, values-led organisation serving more than 50 healthcare organisations. I led strategy, commercial growth, partnerships, transformation, risk, people and organisational development, including major NHS programmes.
My NED and trustee experience includes the University of Suffolk Dental CIC, where I provide commercial and strategic challenge and support executive leadership on growth, governance and business planning, and Photoworks, where I served as Co-Chair and Trustee, recruited the CEO and chaired Committees related to growth and risk activities. I have also chaired a trading subsidiary board and held other NED and board advisory positions. As a consultant I have also assisted investors by providing commercial due diligence analysis and advice.
Earlier, I held senior leadership roles within EDF Group, including strategy, commercial transformation, innovation and international performance. I set up new businesses within the Group to leverage new energy technologies and led major transformation programmes, generated annual savings exceeding €200m through performance improvement initiatives, developed new business models and strategic partnerships, and worked extensively with major corporate and government stakeholders.
An organisation would appoint me to its board for my ability to combine strategic thinking with commercial pragmatism and practical operating experience. I can provide constructive challenge to executives, help boards navigate growth and transformation, strengthen commercial and strategic decision-making, and bring insight into governance, risk, partnerships, technology and investment readiness.
I am particularly effective in complex, regulated or changing environments where commercial performance needs to be balanced with stakeholder interests, organisational purpose and long-term sustainability. I am collaborative, pragmatic and forward-looking, and aim to be a supportive but independent voice around the board table—bringing sound judgement, constructive challenge and a clear focus on creating sustainable long-term value.
