Richard Close

Richard Close – IFT Accredited Member

Richard is a high energy and experienced Chief Executive with a proven track record of driving fundamental strategic, organisational and operational change within business at a time of stress or crisis. Experience in the last 25 years has focused on automotive, engineering and heavy equipment manufacturing, distribution, leasing and rental businesses with a significant operating workforce either on site or remote working.

Passion for leadership and change through engagement and development has resulted in improving results driven by employee efficiency, productivity and motivation.

International experience and perspective has been gained through profit responsibility for Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific operations.

A proactive style of stakeholder engagement has been developed within private, public USA and private equity environments. Richard has delivered in all areas of business size and structure. Operating as Vice President and Managing Director for a U.S. multinational to a Non Exec Advisory role to a high net worth family company in Asia Pacific.

Sustainable business growth and development has been driven by a "back to basics" focus prior to growth through sales development, mergers and acquisitions.

Success has been measured by growth in sales, market share and EBITDA.

Richard's is driven by a belief that performance improvement, regardless of industry and sector, is a 3 stage philosophy of:

1) Strategic Evaluation - to determine if the key market is viable and that the business model is still appropriate to attack this key market. Implementing structural change with new business drivers. Experience has shown this to be the major cause of business disruption and the area where there is most resistance to change.

2) Leadership and Culture Change - Ensuring the correct top team is in place, empowered, measured and aligned with consistent goals. Delivering an ethos of high performance through people empowerment particularly at the customer facing roles.

3) Operational Grind - Implement daily measures across all aspects of business performance. Reducing management layers and raising performance measures. Introducing a sense of urgency and pace into the business.

Richard is a qualified accountant and winner of the IoD Director of the year for the Midlands

Email - richard@graywolfmanagment.com

Linked In - www.linkedin.com/in/richardclose

Website - www.graywolfmanagement.com