Non-Executive Chairman/Director of young IT ventures

You should contact Richard if you seeking an experienced non-executive chairman (/non-executive director) to contribute strongly to the growth and development of a young venture in the information & communications technology (ICT) business arena.

Building on the experience gained in a diversity of business roles in the UK global chemical major ICI plc over 26 years (latterly as Group Vice-President IT for over five years), Richard has spent the years since 1999 deepening his capabilities as non-executive chairman of three ventures in the ICT arena, and one (a significant ‘not-for-profit’) in the arts arena.
During the summer of 2004, following his retirement from two of these chairmanships, he engaged independent consultants to conduct an arms-length appraisal of his performance. This has given him a fresh focus on his skills and experience in this field.

He has a particular strength in supporting the work of the younger Chief Executive; in building the effective Board with modern governance in operation: in maintaining a close dialogue with key investors and other stakeholders: in helping communicate the growing business to its potential market places. He engenders a strong personal trust.

Richard has an established track record as an independent & perceptive analyst and critic of the ICT industry. Contrary to the analysis set out in the now famous article ‘IT Doesn’t Matter’ (May 2003 Harvard Business Review) Richard believes that sustainable competitive ‘edge’ can be created through the effective exploitation of the capabilities of modern ICT - but that the roots of that ‘edge’ do not lie in the technology per se. This ensures that he is able to both lead and contribute positively and creatively to the vital board dialogue on business strategy.