Founder of Elephants Child, Martin has 20 years experience in business development across a wide range of industry sectors. His business acumen allied with a strong academic background provides for a consultative, analytical approach to leading, developing and implementing successful business strategy for growth, turnaround, exit and business development.

A highly motivated, creative, goal oriented  professional with over 15 years experience. Natalie has worked with a number of SME’s and global corporations from telecommunications and electronics manufacturing to government agencies and children’s food companies. She has also headed up sector skills groups and contract managed programmes such as Investors in people and the Apprenticeship Scheme.

Her key strengths are business acumen married with strong communication skills and an academic background. These have developed her strategic thinking, targeted communication skills and the experience and ability to mentor others for them to develop and grow.

Richard qualified as a Solicitor 19 years ago and has also been a NED for a firm of solicitors .  His coaching methods are based on a strong academic background coupled with years of hands on experience.

Richard was the managing partner in a high street legal practice for 13 years, during which time he experienced the benefits and pitfalls of high growth mergers and acquisitions. He then became a Director in a large, national legal practice which has given him the benefit of being involved in the management of a large corporation.

His style of coaching is very much based on his strong analytical skills coupled with excellent problem solving and communication skills.

He is Chair of the Board of Trustees for a Multi Academy Trust based in the West Midlands.

Dr Anthony Thomson is a passionate business development executive, with over 20 years’ experience in strategy, business development and marketing. He has held senior roles in technology, health, finance and within the University sector. Anthony has led the formation, management and exit of several start-ups; including University spin-outs and corporate ventures. Anthony’s academic pursuits extend from science into business and leadership.
Offering a rare blend of commercial awareness, academic background and real-world pragmatism, he has achieved exciting approaches to business strategy and market development. Anthony is recognized for his success in producing well-researched strategic directions in areas of commercial and business development, sales and marketing, brand development, technology and ecosystem development. His collaborative approach to leading, developing and implementing business strategies is reflected in the success of his work.

With an extensive multi-sector career as an international business professional working in the corporate and SME sectors, Patricia’s success as an effective business coach and facilitator, is born out of her joy in witnessing the transformational change in the mindset of people, in organisations that start to behave with strategic intent.

A strong business focus, coupled with an aptitude for rapidly getting companies to realise their potential, Patricia is able to quickly build relationships based on trust and respect. She understands the need to communicate simply and effectively at all levels, adding value to every task, improving productivity and leading teams to maximise profit and market impact.

Matt is an ACA qualified Chartered Accountant having spent 7 years in a Top 20 accountancy practice. In that role he worked with SME businesses across a wide spectrum of industries as a general practitioner. This role provided exposure to a wide range of businesses and entrepreneurs as well as their specific financial and operating issues.
Matt’s decision to leave the accountancy practice was driven by a desire to apply his skills in a new way, moving away from a predominantly regulatory and historic reporting role into a dynamic and forward facing one. As part of the team Matt will be maintaining our internal finance function as well as providing direct financial support to our clients.

Ever since studying public relations at Bournemouth university, Jo has had a passion for marketing and communications. Directly after university, Jo started working for a global marine engineering organisation and quickly established herself as an all-around marketing professional. With a particular interest in content creation, Jo was able to use her position to fine tune her skills by writing a variety of marketing collateral from brochures, press releases and case studies.

After six years in her job and progressing into a management position, Jo started thinking about starting her own company in order to utilise all of her skills in a broader spectrum. Once setting up her own business, she has worked on a variety of campaigns ranging from personal profiles, case studies and website content in a variety of industries. Now, Jo works closely with the Elephants Child team to ensure that their success stories are shared with their customers and potential customers.

Jo is originally from Finland but has lived abroad for most of her life and speaks three languages fluently.

Andy spent over 14 years at the bank progressing through the structured career path to achieve Branch Manager.

It was in 1994 Andy decided to start up his own business with two colleagues he set up The UK Water Group Ltd, specialising in the supply and service of mains-fed drinking water dispensers to commercial offices in the UK.  Working closely with Property Directors, Facilities Managers across FTSE 100 companies, Councils and SME’s.  They grew the business from start up to £3 million turnover, employing 52 staff in 7 years before successfully selling the business in 2001 to PHS Plc.

Andy was then headhunted by the CEO of the UK’s leading Sales Outsourcing Agency and decided to take up the position of Managing Director for SCi Sales Group Ltd. Bringing both business skills and sales skills he quickly grew this business from a turnover of £500k to £1million in 2 years.  Working closely with Sales Directors of FTSE 100 companies to agree their value proposition and telemarketing campaigns.

Andy has always had a passion for working with business owners to help them grow their companies. He provides an independent view of helping them refocus on their priorities; review their performance and help them plan for an exit. Specialising in strategy and business planning, leadership and management, financial management, customer service excellence, business development and team performance.  Andy is straight talking backed up by a wealth of business experience, which includes a successful exit.

When not supporting clients with their businesses, Andy enjoys many sporting activities, which include Golf, Tennis, Squash, Mountain Biking, Skiing and Walking.

After leaving the Royal Air Force, Geoff has spent over 35 years in sales, marketing and business development roles, in organisations ranging in size from complete start-ups to Fortune 500 organisations in the UK, Europe and the USA.

With extensive experience in developing business strategy, and organisational development, and the development of leadership teams, he uses a direct and no-nonsense approach to get things done.

Geoff enjoys working with open minded and ambitious business leaders who are eager to learn how to grow with the support of a Non-Exec Director, Board Advisor, Coach and Mentor.

Mark has extensive experience working in a wide range of businesses including Health and Fitness, IT, and software providers. Whatever the needs of the business, Mark can support them with his variety of skills and knowledge in marketing, sales, customer service, health and safety, personnel development and financial control.
Working with an emerging software company in a role on their Executive Management Team he helped them to grow from 200 people to 2500 staff. He enjoys mentoring and supporting companies on strategic projects as well as ongoing operational management.

Outside of work he’s another energetic elephant enjoying the occasional triathlon and regular swims, cycle rides and runs.