Take the money and run – the end game

 

 

 

Carol has had a 30 year career, of which the last 15 has involved in running and managing companies. During this time she's led Management Buy Outs, successfully exited businesses, run PLC’s as a CEO and mentored a number of entrepreneurs and CEO’s.

 

The one common theme is that she has worked on developing brands and with products that are consumer related. She has been at the forefront of big change from manufacturing to consumer spending habits. Carol enjoys the dynamics of ever evolving businesses and knows that change is constantly around them. Today she sits as an executive and a non-executive director of a number of well-known businesses.

 

Carol will discuss how to build your business around a clear vision of what you want to personally achieve from it, be it a lifestyle or an end game to exit. Have this vision in sight with all the major decisions you take.

 

Ian has had a 35 year career in the security industry. He worked in his family firm until he left Northern Ireland and joined Philips Communications and Security Ltd in 1987 as a technical salesman. He left Philips in 1992 after leading the team that secured the largest CCTV contract in Europe. He became the director of Beacon Security and Communications in 1994, to focus on providing PC based integrated security solutions for blue chip clients. 

 

In 1997 he recognised that the ethernet network and internet would create a paradigm shift in the market and immediately started to change the company from a security company to an IT company specialising in security solutions. His business was recognised as disruptive in the market place and became the preferred supplier to many household blue chip organisations. In 2013 Ian was approached by the 5th biggest security company in the States and this led to a deal being completed in Jan 2014.

 

Ian will talk about being disruptive in a mature market and the benefit of building a strong self-reliant brand and business.

 

Andrew moved to Brighton in 1981 to do a degree in finance and accountancy. He joined KPMG in 1984 and qualified as a Chartered Accountant. 

 

Now Managing Director of Brunswick Developments Group PLC, Andrew founded the company 27 years ago for the purpose of undertaking residential and commercial development. 

 

In 1996, Brunswick acquired Brighton Marina and achieved planning for an additional 650,000 sq.ft. of mixed use development.  The complex comprises retail, residential and leisure.  In 2006 the company achieved planning for a further 8503 flats and additional restaurants, which are now under construction. He is Chairman of Fonthill Foundation, an Educational Trust helping disadvantaged children locally and overseas.

 

Andrew says “One thing for sure is that your proposed exit strategy is not going to be your actual strategy. There is a need to be resilient, flexible and do what is right for you. You will surprise yourself of what you are capable of.”

 

The discussion will be facilitated by Tim Rush. Tim is Managing Director of KPMG Enterprise for Surrey, Sussex and Kent. He has over 20 years’ experience working with private capital companies (whether privately owned or PE backed) from the initial start-up through to exit.  His role is to be the trusted advisor working in partnership with his clients through the highs and lows which are inevitable on the journey.