Mike Robson
Non Executive Director
Executive Summary
• A highly strategic, commercially astute and experienced Non-Executive Director with particular strengths in advising Shareholders, CEOs and MDs on a wide range of business issues from improving profitability through developing senior management teams to identifying new products and services and overseeing a number of key acquisitions
• Exceptional Stakeholder Management skills in advising and mentoring Shareholders, CEOs and MDs, influencing and persuading Finance, Commercial and Marketing Directors, sourcing and negotiating with Consultants and Suppliers, networking with Customers and partnering with Non-Executive Directors
• Strong Leadership and Management skills in recruiting, coaching and mentoring Board Level Directors by closely understanding their roles and requirements and equally the needs of the business
• Excellent Problem Solving skills in applying root cause analysis, defining the scope and resource required, exploring suitable options, implementing new systems and processes and delivering robust solutions
• Outstanding Creative and Innovative skills in analysing, evaluating and researching markets for new ideas, critically assessing business plans, budgets and forecasts and in implementing changes
Key Achievements
• Doubled T Clarke PLC profitability to £7.1m (with more to come) by better marketing of the business to more customers, acquiring a complimentary company for £2.5m, developing more innovative product ranges in-house and by better supplier management. Order book improved from £320m to 365m
• Grew City Cruises PLC EBITDA from £2.3m to £4.3m by introducing better margin business, products suitable to the off season and by scaling up through acquisition.
• Developing City Cruises PLC from minimal management to a full and professional management team ready to attract outside investment
• Launched, funded and developed a publishing company and a management consultancy, successfully selling the former for £900k at an appropriate time for that business.
• Joined £60M cruise line Charter Travel Company with a turnaround brief two weeks before the company was set to lose its license to trade. Negotiated with suppliers and funders to support the company, replaced all senior management, secured additional funds from shareholders and secured a reinstatement of the licence to trade
• Developing and implementing a growth and exit plan for Sirius Analytical, a £3 million turnover precision instrument supplier to the pharmaceutical and food industry globally: Identifying, developing and launching 3 new products, developing the second tier of management to successfully manage and drive the business forward. Doubled the value of the company on sale
