Robert Leechman
Non Executive Chairman at Sneak Energy- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Credentials
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Certified Practicioner in Coaching and Leadership Development from the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations
Tavistock Institute Of Human Relations(the)Jan, 2012- Sep, 2024
Experience
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Sneak Energy
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United Kingdom
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Food and Beverage Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Non Executive Chairman
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Jan 2022 - Present
Sneak is an alternative, zero calorie, natural flavour energy drink with a core customer base of new-media creatives, creators and gamers. Its route to market currently is almost entirely DTC. Created by serial entrepreneurs Jonny Teeling & Will Peirce, the consumer specialist PE house True Global took a majority stake in mid-2021. My role is to work with True, the founders and the senior executive team to deliver a high growth strategy across the UK, US & Europe over the next three years. Sneak is an alternative, zero calorie, natural flavour energy drink with a core customer base of new-media creatives, creators and gamers. Its route to market currently is almost entirely DTC. Created by serial entrepreneurs Jonny Teeling & Will Peirce, the consumer specialist PE house True Global took a majority stake in mid-2021. My role is to work with True, the founders and the senior executive team to deliver a high growth strategy across the UK, US & Europe over the next three years.
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Wild Nutrition
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United Kingdom
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Wellness and Fitness Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Non Executive Chairman
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Jul 2021 - Present
Wild Nutrition is an online natural health supplement brand with Food-Grown formulations delivering natural, sustainable & ethical solutions to people's health issues. Founded in 2013 by husband & wife team Charlie & Henrietta Norton, Piper PE invested in early 2021 to help expand the management team, its e-commerce strategy and international business. My role is to work with the CEO & founders in those key areas and harness the experience of Piper and WN's other significant shareholders in that exciting growth journey. Show less
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Non Executive Chairman
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Aug 2019 - Present
HCC is the UK's leading independent third party contract canning company serving customers in both the alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages industry. Its state of the art manufacturing facility in Hereford offers the highest operational flexibility in the market. The PE house Rutland Partners took a majority stake and I have been appointed NEC to work with the senior management team to build and execute an exciting three year plan that will more than double capacity and deliver outstanding financial returns to its investors. Show less
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Non Executive Chairman
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Jul 2018 - Aug 2022
Cuts Ice is a leading UK manufacturer of e-liquid for the UK and Europe vaping industry. It has produced its own brands and private label products in this fast growing market sector since 2011 and is based in a state of the art facility in Park Royal. In 2016 the PE house LDC took a significant minority stake in the business. My role was to work with the CEO, his senior executive team and Board on an ambitious strategy for its primary markets, the UK, France and Germany to grow our brand T-Juice share of the overall vape market. In August '22 we successfully exited to AIM-listed Supreme Imports, owners of the leading 88 vape brand. Show less
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Non Executive Chairman
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Jan 2016 - Dec 2019
Tribe is a multi-channel e-commerce, retail & subscription business that delivers innovative natural performance nutrition products to health conscious people. As an investor and Chairman I worked with the three founders on strategy, governance, digital & social media marketing, fund raising & investor interface. During my tenure we executed two successful fund raises and the business was in a strong position when I stepped down due to other business commitments. Tribe is a multi-channel e-commerce, retail & subscription business that delivers innovative natural performance nutrition products to health conscious people. As an investor and Chairman I worked with the three founders on strategy, governance, digital & social media marketing, fund raising & investor interface. During my tenure we executed two successful fund raises and the business was in a strong position when I stepped down due to other business commitments.
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Promise Gluten Free
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Ireland
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Food and Beverage Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Non Executive Chairman
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Jul 2017 - Sep 2018
Promise is a highly innovative bakery which entered the gluten free market in 2012 and in July '17 sold a majority stake to Mayfair Equity Partners. With an office in Dublin and its main factory in Donegal Promise has experienced rapid growth in its domestic market Ireland, but also in the UK, Australia & the US. My responsibilities were to support the three founders of the business through the transition and recruit an executive team to take Promise to the next stage of development, both of which were concluded successfully. Show less
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Commercial Advantage Consulting
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Business Consulting and Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Non Executive Chairman
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Jan 2010 - Jun 2018
CA is a management consultancy working exclusively with leading consumer goods companies to help them deliver world class operational excellence and drive growth. I am responsible with my CEO for client acquisition, client care, consulting, partner selection & co-ordination, strategy, senior retailer interface & delivery. We have created a unique software platform, 3-D Diagnostics that helps create bespoke strategic growth plans for our clients who include - The Coca-Cola Company and its two major European & African Bottlers; Mars Chocolate & Petcare; United Biscuits; Burtons Foods; Findus; Birds Eye Iglo; Kimberley Clark; Unilever & Molson Coors. Show less
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Non Executive Chairman
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Nov 2012 - Dec 2014
Sanitarium (trading as LHFUK) is the leading health food business in Australia & New Zealand with significant brands in breakfast cereals, chilled dips and other health food segments. My role was to work with their leadership team on their launch strategy for the UK, attract an investor partner willing to put £10mm into a 50/50 JV and recruit the senior executive team. Completed by year end 2014. Sanitarium (trading as LHFUK) is the leading health food business in Australia & New Zealand with significant brands in breakfast cereals, chilled dips and other health food segments. My role was to work with their leadership team on their launch strategy for the UK, attract an investor partner willing to put £10mm into a 50/50 JV and recruit the senior executive team. Completed by year end 2014.
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G'NOSH Limited
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Food and Beverage Services
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Non Executive Chairman
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Sep 2012 - Dec 2014
G'NOSH was the first significant branded entry into the UK chilled dips market. Launched in early 2012, I was an early investor and as Chairman worked with the Founder & Managing Director and her team on expanding the range, distribution and marketing of the brand. In March 2014 we negotiated a sale with Winterbotham Darby, a leading food manufacturer for the UK grocery trade, owned by the PE houses Equistone & LDC, who took the majority share to accelerate growth of the brand. G'NOSH was the first significant branded entry into the UK chilled dips market. Launched in early 2012, I was an early investor and as Chairman worked with the Founder & Managing Director and her team on expanding the range, distribution and marketing of the brand. In March 2014 we negotiated a sale with Winterbotham Darby, a leading food manufacturer for the UK grocery trade, owned by the PE houses Equistone & LDC, who took the majority share to accelerate growth of the brand.
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Pulse Electronics Corporation
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United States
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Appliances, Electrical, and Electronics Manufacturing
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300 - 400 Employee
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Non Executive Chairman
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Nov 2011 - Sep 2012
Pulse Home Products was owned by the PE house, Rutland Partners. Its brands included Breville, Nicky Clarke Haircare, Hinari & Dirt Devil. It was the UK market leader in small domestic appliances (kettles, toasters, irons etc) through the Breville brand. My role as Chairman was to prepare the business for exit through re-focusing the commercial strategy; mentoring the CEO and Sales & Marketing Director; and pursuing a more aggressive e-commerce strategy. In August 2012 Pulse was bought by Jarden Corporation, a US Fortune 500 company for 11.5 x EBITDA. Show less
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The Coca-Cola Company
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United States
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Food and Beverage Services
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700 & Above Employee
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Chief Customer & Commercial Officer, Member of Executive Board
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Aug 2005 - Dec 2009
21 years experience with Coca-Cola in the UK, Middle East, Australia, Central Europe & Russia, and then at Head Office in Atlanta, USA. The last five years running the customer & commercial function first for Europe & then globally. In this role responsible for 25 Global Customers ( WalMart,Tesco, Carrefour, Metro, Compass, BP etc) and the global account teams and the commercial leadership function ( best practice in route to market, shopper marketing, revenue growth management, supply chain etc) Show less
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President, Central Europe & Russia
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Apr 2001 - Aug 2005
Responsible for thirteen countries, 280 employees, turnover $535mm, inc Poland, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Russia & Ukraine. A significant period of growth and success for Coca-Cola in all these markets as many acceded to the EU and strong economic growth in the emerging markets such as Russia.
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Miscellaneous
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Jul 1988 - Mar 2001
Various senior roles in Sales & General Management initially in the UK, but then 1990-97 in the Arabian Gulf, latterly as Region Manager for all the Gulf States based in Bahrain. Then 1998-2001 as General Manager, Sydney 2000 Olympics responsible for the activation of all sponsorship rights.
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Mars Corporation
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Vietnam
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Business Consulting and Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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National Sales Manager
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Sep 1979 - Jun 1988
Joined Mars Confectionery as a graduate management trainee in sales and progressed through several management positions including a one year assignment in the US, before transferring to head up the sales function at Mars Petcare. Joined Mars Confectionery as a graduate management trainee in sales and progressed through several management positions including a one year assignment in the US, before transferring to head up the sales function at Mars Petcare.
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Education
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1976 - 1979
University of Oxford
MA (Oxon), Modern History -
2011 - 2012
The Tavistock Group
Certified Practitioner in Coaching for Leadership & Executive Development -
2005 - 2005
IMD (International Institute for Management Development) - Business Programs
Programme for Executive Development, Business Administration and Management, General -
1966 - 1976
Bradford Grammar School
Modern Languages & History
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