Graham Williams

A seasoned chief executive with international experience of saving, creating, growing, operating and selling a variety of organisations.

Graham Williams M.I. Mech.E A.STP F.IIB A.ICIA Management Services (GB) Ltd Whitehall Farm Hanley Castle WR8 0BB Tel/Fax: 0845 345 7687 Mobile: 0783 120 6470 Email: gw@ms-gb.com Graham is accredited by the Institute for Independent Business and has been made a Fellow of the Institute

Particular experience includes:

• Company Turnarounds
• Business Plan Creation and Implementation
• Financial re-structureing
• Sales and Marketing
• Project and Interim Management

Sector experience includes:

• Engineering
• Automotive
• Manufacturing
• Motor Sport
• Transport

Career History:

1997 - Date Managing Director, Management Services (GB) Ltd
Business Consultant and Interim Managing Director specialising in company turnarounds in various sectors. I have developed a network of associates with complimentary skills to offer a comprehensive service to any business. I usually take full responsibility for a company's operations and finances. I have a proven record of delivering exceptional value for money.

Recent Assignments:

Train maintenance company, 150 staff, £15m turnover
£200k per month loss to break-even in four months

I was parachuted in as Interim MD of a company in disastrous circumstances. The rescue involved negotiating a new lease, mediating and settling litigation, re-negotiating major contracts and gaining new business. On the financial front, some assets were sold and financing re-structured. I resolved problems with heavy equipement thereby generating income, finally re-structuring the management team and recruiting the new MD.

Aerospace Engineering Company, 50 staff, £5m turnover
£100k per month loss to profit in four months

This involved working around very difficult owners, re-organising working practices and resolving staff issues. I built a new sales team and won new contracts. They continued to win new busines after I left.

Retail Tractor Company, 75 staff, £20m turnover, Family run
Saved from receivership to leave a smaller but sound business

By negotiating a new deal with their main suppliers, closing loss making depots, liquidation of assets and a financial re-structure, I returned the company to a viable entity. Resolution of family management and succession was also a key issue.

Car Component Manufacturer
Eight-fold increase in sales

Mentoring and coaching of the management together with marketing their products more widely took this small company to the next level.

Medical Equipment Company
Edge of receivership to profit in nine months

They were going to close the doors the day I arrived, but I quickly came up with a plan and put the company through a CVA to save it. By devising a new and much more profitable way of selling their equipment and changing their working practices together with trimming the costs and lifestyles of the owners, and negotiating a new deal with the bank a profitable position was restored.

General Engineering Company

This was run by a third generation owner who had been there for three years and could not cope. I took over as interim MD whilst he took a break. Replacement and retraining of staff, installing a marketing plan, and generating not only more sales but much more profitable ones were the key areas of change in bringing this company back to profit.

1995 - 1997 Managing Director, Pro Sport 3000 Ltd
I was head hunted to run this sports racing car manufacturing business and associated racing championship. This was very successful and we built a new car and ran it in the Daytona 24 race, finishing sixth, the only British car or team to finish.

1992 - 1994 Owner, Jaguar Service Company, Florida, USA
Acquisition of a failing business, turnaround and development for onward sale: it sold for 4 times the purchase price.

1991 - 1999 Partner, International Financial Consultancy
Consultancy arranged asset funding and venture capital. Clients have included airlines in the U.K., U.S.A. and India, property and manufacturing firms

1986 - 1992 Managing Director, Racecraft International Ltd
Owned and operated a racing team at international level in Europe and the USA including full participation with two cars in the IMSA series. This also involved driver management and consultancy, obtaining major sponsorship deals and bringing Danka into motorsport, who went on to sponsor a Formula One team.

1972 - 1985 Managing Director, Graham Williams Automotive Ltd
This company began life in a rented workshop and ten years later owned the largest garage in town, £2m town centre site, becoming one of the most successful Lotus main dealers in the wold achieving sales of £600k p.a.

1967 - 1971 Professional Motor Racing Driver

Raced in most top formula's and worked as a test driver with several teams including a long spell at Lotus. Also worked on design and build projects with Ron Hickman (who later designed the workmate) and Colin Chapman.

Qualifications:

• Member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers
• Diploma in Motor Trade Management from Portsmouth University
• Follow of the Institute for Independent Business
• Associate member of the Society of Turnaround Professionals
• Associate of the Institute of Commercial and Industrial Accountants:

• Current holder of an international C racing licence
• Full, clean road driving licence for all vehicles from motorcucles to an HGV 1. Same status in the USA including class A CDL
• Commercial pilots licence including instrument and multi-engine ratings
• Leisure interests include watersports, golf, and classic cars
• Service in Rotary and Round Table (former chairman)
• Experienced after dinner speaker
• Owner and driver of historic single seater racing cars including a Formula One Hesketh (Grand Prix Masters) and an Austin Healey 3000

Unsolicited testimonials:

"When you need more than a numbers man"
- Keith Hunt, senior manager, HSBC Bank

"I'm ecstatic"
- Pete Waterman, on the turnaround of his train company

"Intuitive and ingenious"
- Sir Stirling Moss