A career in brief

2013–2016

Chief Executive Officer & Secretary

Chelsea Arts Club

The first CEO in the Club’s 135-year history. Led a complete refreshment of its operational culture and structure, appointing a new senior management team and introducing staff development programmes. Completed a £3m restoration of the entire Clubhouse on time and on budget, securing £1.6m of loan note finance from Members in ten weeks. Navigated eight and a half months of Covid lockdown with all staff retained, raising £530k from Members in a single month. Secured a new 125-year lease after six years of negotiation.

Sales rose 16% in real terms. There is now a five-year waiting list for membership.

2006–2007

Commercial Director

THE PRINCE’S CHARITIES

Founding Chief Executive of a trading subsidiary at The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts, Shoreditch, and of Sentebale — the charity established by Prince William to support orphans and vulnerable children in Lesotho.

2009–2013

Marsh Harrier Limited

CREATIVE CONSULTANCY

Clients included:

• The Foreign & Commonwealth Office, to which I proposed the idea of a worldwide programme of public diplomacy to promote Britain in the run-up to the London Olympics. The proposal was accepted and funded, and I was asked to lead the programme as Creative Director.
• The National Theatre, which invited me to propose how the NT could best take advantage of the Summer of 2012 to communicate powerfully with the public at large. I conceived and delivered a festival called ‘National Theatre Inside Out’, which was an al fresco celebration of the NT’s strengths. We built a bar from old scenery and props on the riverside walk in front of the building, staged developmental theatre perfomances on the roof – and got Joey the Warhorse to salute HM The Queen as she sailed past in her Jubilee river pageant.
• The Government Olympic Executive, as an advisor on Olympic legacy
• Paramount Pictures, as Producer of the World War Z concert by Muse on Horse Guards Parade
• The Mercers’ Company, as a consultant on philanthopic strategy.

2007–2008

Project Private Secretary

THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD

Worked in the private office of TRH Princes William and Harry on a number of special projects. Producer of Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium — watched by 500 million people worldwide and raising over £2m for charity — and of City Salute, a pageant supporting wounded veterans that was televised on the BBC and raised £1.6m net.

2001–2006

Independent Strategic Consultant

VARIOUS CLIENTS

Clients included Corus plc; egg plc; The Crown Estate (as interim Commercial Manager of Windsor Great Park); The Prince’s Charities; and The Troubadour Café (as interim Development Director).

1995–2000

Managing Director

THE NATIONAL GALLERY COMPANY

The Gallery’s independent trading arm, responsible for retail, catering, publishing and licensing. At the request of Director Neil McGregor, led a complete restructuring — realigning strategy with the Gallery’s core purpose, substantially improving profitability, and relaunching the main shop and restaurant.

1989–1994

Director

SRU LIMITED

An innovative marketing consultancy that pioneered the strategic application of market research. Clients included the NHS in Scotland, Northern Foods, Allied Lyons, Liberty, Childline and the Leonard Cheshire Foundation.

1983–1987

Army Officer

IRISH GUARDS / BLACK WATCH

Platoon commander, Irish Guards; Company Operations Officer, Black Watch, South Armagh. Subsequently a Company Commander, Irish Guards, as a Regular Reserve Officer.

1982–1983

Business Analyst

McKINSEY & CO. INC.