Insurance was the thread. It turned into a much broader life.
For fifty years the globally iconic Lloyd’s of London Market has been my world.
I began as a specialist technician in the underwriting room and never really left the ecosystem — but the market became the starting point for a life of building.
In 1997 I left employment to become an entrepreneur, and spent two decades founding and co-founding businesses. Building them taught me something the classroom never could: how a brand is actually made — how operational Merit and relational Esteem multiply into real value, or fail to.
Today I put all of that to work for others: mentoring and advising founders, running the Brand Impact Workshop, and serving the City.
Most recently as the 2023/24 Master of the Worshipful Company of Entrepreneurs. Now Chairing its Charity, Along with being the Current Chair of the Financial Services Group of Livery Companies
One career, three movements
Beginning inside the market, to building businesses, to supporting the City.
The Market
The Thread
The Engine
The Focus
The Building
The City
Fifty years in and around Lloyd’s of London — from the underwriting room outward. The grounding that shaped everything since.
Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Entrepreneurs, Chair of the Financial Services Group of Livery Companies, and a vocal and active advocate for the Square Mile.
A serial entrepreneur founding numerous businesses. With a first venture that pioneered a market service, something that has now grown into an estimated £24 billion sector.
The thinking I’m known for
Two forces decide whether a business is felt.
Every business runs on two things. Merit — what you do, and how well. Esteem — how you’re held in your clients’ minds.
They don’t add up; they multiply. Knowing which of yours is strong, and which is quietly capping your impact, is the difference between being good and being felt.
what you do, and how well
Merit
x
how you’re held in the mind
Esteem
=
what clients are left feeling
Impact
Let me help you understand exactly where your impact is made — and where it’s being lost.
How I help
Four ways we can work together.
One to One
Mentoring
Mentoring for founders and their people, grounded in fifty years of building — including my long-standing work at the Lloyd’s Lab.
Signature
The Brand Impact Workshops & Consultancy
Facilitated sessions building Brand Merit × Esteem identifying and documenting the impact you can make. Plus, if required, hands-on advisory to act on it.
Board
Advisory & Non-Executive
Board adviser and non-executive roles for businesses I can genuinely help — across brand, proposition, purpose, leadership and growth.
In Development
Learning & Development
A new set of brand merit learning and development services is on the way. Register your interest and I’ll be in touch when it launches.
THE BOOK
The Brand Alchemist
The lifetime of experiences behind the workshop is becoming a book.
Drawn from the decades of building businesses, setting out how Merit and Esteem multiply into brand value, and how to build both, deliberately with purpose.
The results making you stand aside from and above your competitors, delivering delight for your customers.
Recognition
-
Past Master, Worshipful Company of Entrepreneurs
-
Chair, Financial Services Group of Livery Companies
-
Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
-
Industry Mentoring Award Recognition
-
Award winner for Lifetime Achievement
-
Named in the Top 100 Influential People