Corporate Turnaround

Richard Parr

Richard has over 30 years experience in the manufacturing sector, the last 14 of which he has spent as CEO of subsidiaries and divisions of specialist vehicles and equipment manufacturers such as the Johnston Group, Remploy and Eadie Holdings.

He has run 11 (3-4 at a time) manufacturing businesses ranging in size from £2m to £50m, in three holding groups, completing 4 turnarounds and significant improvement and re-organisation in others. In total he generated £30m sales and £8m profit increase per year in businesses totalling £100m turnover.

Richard also has significant experience in acquisition, closure, relocation, restructure and change management in such engineering businesses. He is currently leading a major change initiative in a very high profile "Public Private Partnership" program delivering a very large infrastructure project.

His early experiences were in technical roles most notably as Technical Director of Schmidt UK and project manager in Leyland Vehicles during the defining years in the UK automotive sector. This background combined with clear business insights and the ability to get to grass root issues quickly, invariably enables Richard to deliver significant business improvement.

Ross Stuart

Ross has a wealth of experience with 18 years of full P& L responsibility in a wide variety of industries. He has primarily worked in manufacturing but has also been involved in wholesale and distribution and international project management. He has lived and worked on three different continents and has a successful background in international business management working for companies such as Emerson Electric, BTR/Invensys and Avon Rubber.

Ross's roles have included being Chief Executive of a fully quoted UK public company and a Divisional President of a major multi-national manufacturing business, as well as Managing Director of several businesses. Ross has particular expertise in business turnaround and profit improvement programs and has successfully completed a number of turnarounds, for example increasing profitability 43.5% in one division. He has considerable experience in areas such as divestment, re-structuring, acquisitions, strategic planning, change management, operational efficiency improvements, top and bottom line growth initiatives, lean manufacturing, cost reduction and shop floor control systems.

His wide sector experience covers Industrial Computers, LCD Displays, Gas Detection, Semiconductors, Pressings & Fabrications, Electric Motors, Instrumentation, Refrigeration, High Vacuum, Marine, Industrial Automation, Engineering Contracting, Automotive and Wholesale & Distribution

Ross has a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the University of Newcastle, Australia and a Fellowship in Manufacturing Management, Cranfield University. He is a Chartered Engineer with Fellowship of both the Institution of Electrical Engineers and the Chartered Management Institute. He is also an Associate member of the Society of Turnaround professionals.

Paul Webb

Paul has over thirty years experience in the manufacturing sector, eighteen of which he has spent as subsidiary or divisional CEO of industrial groups such as McKechnie, Bunzl and Dobson Park.

During the last seven years however, Paul as CEO built up a £30m plus specialist manufacturing group-Webgrove Holdings- through the initial MBI acquisition of a subsidiary company of Wagon PLC, which was followed, subsequently by four other related acquisitions.

Paul has proven experience in M&A including corporate financing, turnaround, multi site management, strategy and budgetary control, productivity management, HR planning & development and Marketing and commercial development in a range of sectors.