Experience

UK National Innovation Centre for Ageing

• United Kingdom
• Research Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Strategy Consultant

  • Jul 2023 - Present

  Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom/Newcastle



CBI (Confederation of British Industry)

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organization Management
• 700 & Above Employee

• Head of UK Economic Cluster Strategy

  • Sep 2022 - Jun 2023

  UK wide/London/Newcastle



Tech Nation

• United Kingdom
• Technology, Information and Internet
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Regional Engagement Manager-Northeast England & Yorkshire

  • Apr 2020 - Sep 2022

  Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom I spent my days supporting, connecting and championing the North East and Yorkshire. I worked with companies from seed to Series B and across all tech sectors to help raise the profile of the founders and feedback what regional success looks like. This is a large territory that encompasses many tech clusters such as Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle, Durham, and Teesside.



Astillas Consultancy Limited

• Founder

  • May 2016 - Apr 2020

  Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, United Kingdom As a driven, proficient top advisor, facilitator, and excellent communicator. I have over 18 years of experience in the consultative sales and advisory process, I grow business' and organisations from strength to strength. As well, I am also highly adept at influence and championing a region's assests for economic growth and shared prosperity. I have a variety experience dealing in all technology sectors such as Fintech, AI, Cloud, Cyber, RPA, ECommerce and Net Zero. I am… Show more As a driven, proficient top advisor, facilitator, and excellent communicator. I have over 18 years of experience in the consultative sales and advisory process, I grow business' and organisations from strength to strength. As well, I am also highly adept at influence and championing a region's assests for economic growth and shared prosperity. I have a variety experience dealing in all technology sectors such as Fintech, AI, Cloud, Cyber, RPA, ECommerce and Net Zero. I am accustomed to comminicating about and selling complex products or services at senior management-board level. I have demonstrated strategic ability through successfully launching campaigns, heading sales departments, creating PR programs, enhancing sales and account management process’ and branding programs. Show less



KAL

• Germany
• Software Development
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Sr Business Development & Key Account Manager-Ireland, Israel, Austria, E. Africa

  • May 2017 - Nov 2018

  Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, United Kingdom KAL is a global financial services software company dedicated solely to multivendor ATM software. KAL's product suite enables ATM hardware, software and services sourced from multiple vendors to work together perfectly. This allows banks to adopt a best-of-breed strategy, reduce costs, increase functionality and provide an enhanced customer experience. My duties include: • Manage and develop Enterprise customer and reseller accounts in my territories of Ireland, Israel, East Africa, and… Show more KAL is a global financial services software company dedicated solely to multivendor ATM software. KAL's product suite enables ATM hardware, software and services sourced from multiple vendors to work together perfectly. This allows banks to adopt a best-of-breed strategy, reduce costs, increase functionality and provide an enhanced customer experience. My duties include: • Manage and develop Enterprise customer and reseller accounts in my territories of Ireland, Israel, East Africa, and Europe • Project manage key cloud software implementations within two of Kenya and Tanzania’s largest banks • Co-chair a Research and Development team for a new product offering in the Open Banking sector • Meet regularly with technical authors and marketing consultants to brief on new brand strategy and ideas for website/print, and social media • Identify and develop multi-tier relationships with key decision makers and influencers within banks but also in city government within my given countries • Travel internationally 25% of the year to represent the company at tradeshows and conferences. Show less



QikServe

• United Kingdom
• Software Development
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Key Account Manager EMEA/Partnerships-Contract

  • Nov 2016 - Apr 2017

  Edinburgh, United Kingdom QikServe is a SaaS patented, cloud enterprise platform that facilitates mobile ordering and/or payment in hospitality and leisure venues worldwide. QikServe is fully integrated into Oracle Hospitality POS systems including RES and Simphony. QikServe provides four key enterprise order and payment solutions: order ahead, order at table, pay at table, and open order. My duties include: • Manage and develop client accounts to maintain favorable relationships • Use analytical skills to… Show more QikServe is a SaaS patented, cloud enterprise platform that facilitates mobile ordering and/or payment in hospitality and leisure venues worldwide. QikServe is fully integrated into Oracle Hospitality POS systems including RES and Simphony. QikServe provides four key enterprise order and payment solutions: order ahead, order at table, pay at table, and open order. My duties include: • Manage and develop client accounts to maintain favorable relationships • Use analytical skills to understand a client’s changing business and technology issues and needs • Work closely with the product team to advocate for new product feature requests and ensure customer feedback is incorporated in development decisions • Work alongside Oracle Hospitality pre-sales teams to present our solutions to enterprise level clientele • Identify and develop multi-level relationships with key decision makers and influencers • Liaise between client, internal departments, and partners to provide clear and accurate guidance to customers Show less



Leyton

• France
• Business Consulting and Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Business Development & Partnerships Executive-Contract

  • May 2016 - Oct 2016

  Glasgow, Glasgow City, United Kingdom Leyton is a financial consulting firm with a unique goal – to quickly improve the financial performance of its clients without impacting on their core business. In the UK, the specific expertise is in the optimisation of Research and Development (R&D) Tax Relief and Credits as well as R&D grants.



Verden Studios

• United Kingdom
• Musicians

• Senior Business Change Manager- Contract

  • Dec 2014 - May 2016

  Edinburgh, United Kingdom Verden Studios is a well -established recording and rehearsal facility in Edinburgh that after under taking a radical business model and opening on a new premises, decided to rebrand and market to a wider clientele. My duties included the following: - Setting up new business opportunities and meetings via a variety of channels - Planning and preparing presentations - Communicating new product developments to prospective partners - Overseeing the development of marketing… Show more Verden Studios is a well -established recording and rehearsal facility in Edinburgh that after under taking a radical business model and opening on a new premises, decided to rebrand and market to a wider clientele. My duties included the following: - Setting up new business opportunities and meetings via a variety of channels - Planning and preparing presentations - Communicating new product developments to prospective partners - Overseeing the development of marketing literature - Implementing a strong social media presence. - Designing and building a brand new website for the company Achievements • Partnering with Creative Scotland to develop a project for Youth Music Initiative 2015 • Produced a city-wide music event with finalists showcased at Electric Circus • Company making a profit of 15% over previous year and rising Show less



SquareFoot

• United States
• Real Estate
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Freelance Video Editor & Marketer

  • Sep 2012 - May 2016

  Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, United Kingdom Produced high quality videos for marketing residential and commercial properties in and around Edinburgh



Nikon

• Appliances, Electrical, and Electronics Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Sales and Account Manager-UK

  • Oct 2012 - Dec 2014

  Edinburgh, United Kingdom • Drive sales for entire Nikon camera range in Scotland • Assist in building positive, productive relationships with store personnel • Provide accurate and detailed product information along with sales support • Track and report daily stock quantities in all accounts • Identify and generating new business growth • Deliver top line profit and exceeding monthly targets • Create strong stakeholder relationships Achievements • Two consecutive years of growing sales… Show more • Drive sales for entire Nikon camera range in Scotland • Assist in building positive, productive relationships with store personnel • Provide accurate and detailed product information along with sales support • Track and report daily stock quantities in all accounts • Identify and generating new business growth • Deliver top line profit and exceeding monthly targets • Create strong stakeholder relationships Achievements • Two consecutive years of growing sales 120% • KPI’s tracked weekly with aggressive sales targets set by Nikon UK at a rate of £1500 per day of B2C new sales • National Ambassador at various events such as the Commonwealth Games 2014 Show less



Hk Photography Llc

• United States
• Photography

• Business Owner

  • Jan 2002 - Mar 2014

  Waco, Texas Area, Edinburgh Scotland --Ran the business part-time-- Created strong photographic imagery for a variety of clientele, research props, models, and locations and direct post production, negotiate contracts, purchase space, evaluate responses, organize educational workshops to promote products and services, establish fees, estimate costs, review terms, present contracts for review and execution Achievements: Internship on READ Photo campaign with famous faces for America's Libraries -NYC-2002 Charity… Show more --Ran the business part-time-- Created strong photographic imagery for a variety of clientele, research props, models, and locations and direct post production, negotiate contracts, purchase space, evaluate responses, organize educational workshops to promote products and services, establish fees, estimate costs, review terms, present contracts for review and execution Achievements: Internship on READ Photo campaign with famous faces for America's Libraries -NYC-2002 Charity Calendars for Cancer Awareness 2003/2004 Envy Modeling campaign-Chicago 2006/2007 Playboy Sponsored Night life Campaign 2007-Chicago Test Shoots for Model Team Glasgow 2014 Campaign for AGA UK 2014 Show less



Boise Cascade Company

• United States
• Wholesale Building Materials
• 700 & Above Employee

• Regional Director Of Sales And Marketing

  • Feb 2008 - May 2010

  • Led a 20 member sales force in the use of creative sales tactics in order to maintain existing key accounts while developing new business relationships in a downturn housing market • Helped create new training materials comparing competitors’ lines to our own • Created multiple promo/informative pieces for Seasonal Sales; • Created new product knowledge training for sales force • Designed a new credit memo process • Designed and developed a sales/customer service database… Show more • Led a 20 member sales force in the use of creative sales tactics in order to maintain existing key accounts while developing new business relationships in a downturn housing market • Helped create new training materials comparing competitors’ lines to our own • Created multiple promo/informative pieces for Seasonal Sales; • Created new product knowledge training for sales force • Designed a new credit memo process • Designed and developed a sales/customer service database • Developed a strategic business plan for entire sales force in order to create innovative sales opportunities in a challenging market. Achievements • Sourced an new in-house product line from China which generated the company over $400,000 in the first year • Developed innovative packaging and branding for a new range of in house products • Designed collaboration with in house graphics department and produced 42 page catalogue in both English and Spanish for Boise Cascade import fastener line for distribution in all markets-over 100 branch divisions • Reviewed and edited Spanish translations on all import labels for entire line of in house branded materials Show less



Breakthru Beverage Group

• United States
• Wholesale
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Key Account Executive

  • Oct 2006 - Dec 2007

  Greater Chicago Area • Responsible for Chicago on premise sales and marketing of Trago tequila while providing assistance to established FMCG accounts; managed and staffed all promotions; • Tracked percentage of monthly sales and revenue; developed business relationships with owners and managers; • Budgeted and submitted monthly marketing expenses; educated distributors and bartenders in best product use and promotion. Achievements • Developed new accounts each month including strategically… Show more • Responsible for Chicago on premise sales and marketing of Trago tequila while providing assistance to established FMCG accounts; managed and staffed all promotions; • Tracked percentage of monthly sales and revenue; developed business relationships with owners and managers; • Budgeted and submitted monthly marketing expenses; educated distributors and bartenders in best product use and promotion. Achievements • Developed new accounts each month including strategically bringing on large key accounts in all areas of the city • Recruited, trained, and managed a promotional staff of 15 members • Developed brand awareness through hosted celebrity events Show less



Connally ISD

• Education Administration Programs
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Senior Spanish Instructor

  • Dec 2002 - 2006

  Texas • Instructed over 600 young adults in Spanish I, II, and III, carried out successful and innovative classroom-management plan; • Ensured that all students were actively engaging in the learning process; demonstrated strong ability to motivate students, even those who initially resisted the desire to be involved in the learning process; • Used a variety of innovative teaching methods, including attention to various learning styles, thereby increasing class involvement and demonstration of… Show more • Instructed over 600 young adults in Spanish I, II, and III, carried out successful and innovative classroom-management plan; • Ensured that all students were actively engaging in the learning process; demonstrated strong ability to motivate students, even those who initially resisted the desire to be involved in the learning process; • Used a variety of innovative teaching methods, including attention to various learning styles, thereby increasing class involvement and demonstration of students’ language skills. Achievements • Designed completely new, innovative language curriculum with emphasis on conversational Spanish • Created an active after school club with over 100 participating members who became involved in the community outreach and with local colleges • Voted Teacher of the Year for 3 consecutive years Show less