Having previously held senior management roles at Marks & Spencer, Ed is one of the few practising consultants who understands what it is like to be at the “coal face”. Since 2005 he has been running his own consultancy business specialising in corporate responsibility, leadership development and executive coaching. He works with a wide range of clients across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.
From 2001 - 2005 he was Head of Corporate Responsibility accountable to the Group Board for establishing Marks & Spencer as the most trusted retailer through responsible business practice. He established and implemented the Company’s CSR strategy and under his watch M&S was judged Business in the Community’s “Company of the Year 2004”.
Between 1997 and 2000, he led Marks & Spencer’s Millennium programme and was responsible for the development and implementation of Children’s Promise which raised £23 million benefiting 43,000 children in need.
Before that Ed held a series of senior HR roles culminating in a six-year appointment as Head of Leadership Development & Learning.
Ed holds an Advanced Diploma in coaching and mentoring (EMCC level 7) and, as a member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council, he subscribes to their ethical code of practice. He is an accredited and licenced Myers Briggs practitioner. Ed undertakes continuous professional development through regular supervision and attendance at seminars and workshops to keep his knowledge, skills and practice up to date.
Ed has lived and worked in Zambia as a teacher with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO). He has had a range of non-executive appointments including Commissioner on the Barrow Cadbury Trust Commission on Young Adults and the Criminal Justice System, Deputy Chairman of the Corporate Responsibility Group, Chair of Alone in London, HR Advisor to the Royal National Theatre and a member of the Common Purpose North London Advisory Board.
He is currently an associate and advisor to the award-winning social enterprise Emerging World www.emergingworld.com and is a volunteer coach with Teach First www.teachfirst.org.uk. Ed also chairs the UK Advisory Board of the Indian children’s charity Dream A Dream www.dreamadream.org.
Ed was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2000.
No company could ask for greater commitment, insight or energy – nor find a leader more attuned to the challenges of today’s competitive business pressures.