Board support for investors in manufacturing, engineering and specialist services businesses

I have sat on both sides of the table. In 2016 I sold WILA, the UK and German lighting group I had bought out in 2004, to private equity. I stayed on as CEO of the WILA Group and became Chief Sales Officer across the six businesses the investor had acquired, in Spain, Italy, Germany and the UK. Since then I have supported investors before a deal and after it.

Before a deal

Commercial due diligence from someone who has run the kind of business you are buying. I test the growth plan against the market, the customers and the capacity of the factory. I look at the management team and tell you plainly who can take the business to the next stage and who cannot. In 2025 I worked with Merrimack Group to support the acquisition of IBL Lighting by Inovara, a platform company backed by Ambienta.

After a deal

An independent Chair or Non-Executive Director for the hold period. I work with the management team on the 100 day plan, the board pack, the numbers you need to see each month and the growth strategy you invested in. I have done this for owner-managed businesses from £1M and for the UK subsidiaries of £200M groups. Most of that work has been in manufacturing and engineering, and I have also chaired or advised businesses in leisure and hospitality, medical technology and software.

What I am not

I am not a corporate finance house and I do not run sale processes. I work alongside the advisers you already use.

If you have a business in the pipeline or one in the portfolio that needs a stronger board, we should talk.