Pro-actions CEO Andy Linnett spent the first 25 years of his career leading businesses in the financial services sector. Since exiting the finance industry he has enjoyed helping and engaging with thousands of SMEs as advisor and coach. Andy is passionate about supporting owner-managers by helping to solve problems and add genuine value to their businesses. He has a wealth of experience across many of the pain points of business including governance, strategic planning, financial forecasting and financial management, and he also specialises in turnaround strategies and exit planning.

Commercially adept business leader Stuart O’Neill has a 20-year career operating within many areas of the banking profession. A strategic thinker and creative problem-solver, Stuart has an exemplary record for delivering, executing and managing high-growth sales and marketing operations.

Mike has spent almost 25 years in the IT sector in executive and senior management roles for both UK-based SMEs and global corporate organisations. He has expertise in managing and developing sales, marketing, operations and technical functions for businesses. Before joining Pro-actions, Mike spent four years managing a team of Business Advisors for SME owners at Business Link South East.

Jessica is an experienced commercial leader having spent over 20 years in the food and grocery industry developing and growing some of the nation’s best-loved brands including Heinz Salad Cream, Jacob’s Cream Crackers and Wall’s sausages. She has senior expertise in business planning, strategic marketing and sales generation. Jessica is also a trained Personal Performance and Executive coach, trainer and speaker.

Greg Nicol has previously held several senior management roles in the dynamic electronic industry including Managing Director roles of two UK businesses. He has an excellent track record of profitably developing organisations in volatile markets – invaluable experience that he shares with his clients.

Jeremy began his career as an Investment Analyst before moving into global executive search with a career spanning 25 years. He has led businesses in the UK, Europe and Asia and is a former Global Board Member and Head of EMEA of a major international firm. Jeremy brings his deep commercial awareness to drive profitability and growth to SMEs. He is a “positive maverick” for accountability, governance and sustainability efforts, and how businesses manage their relationships with their employees, suppliers, customers and community.

After graduating in Business Studies, Martin started his career at a logistics company which he eventually ended up leading as Managing Director. He has since worked in consultancy and marketing in both the UK and USA, supporting strategic growth and developing PR strategies to communicate company value. Martin works across departments to identify opportunities/risks and deliver areas for process and business improvements, resulting in impressive cost-savings and record turnovers.

Caroline boasts a wealth of experience working for multi-national companies and corporates from the financial sector; this has helped to her understand the pressures of a corporate business environment and to develop a deep knowledge about wellbeing for business professionals. Caroline has a strong commercial awareness of her client’s unique needs and financial budgets. She has also worked within the events industry, offering support and organisational skills to this particular market.

Eddie is an experienced financial services professional with 37 years in the industry in a variety of roles, mainly in the corporate sector. Taking a simple, straight-talking approach, Eddie places a strong emphasis on customers and creating practical solutions to challenges. He understands how to effectively and diplomatically navigate relationships and organisational structures to achieve desired outcomes. Eddie claims that he can even make financials fun!

Caroline is a highly experienced, commercially focused leader with an extensive career in the retail sector, both in the UK and internationally. As a business consultant she has successfully implemented a wide range of strategic projects and change programmes, delivering positive profit, performance and people outcomes for the organisations involved. Prior to joining Pro-actions she owned a franchise for 5 years; this hands-on experience of running a business herself adds immense value to the work she does with her Pro-actions clients.

Leyla has over 25 years’ international business experience, with a substantial track record in leadership management and development, executive and business coaching and talent acquisition, change management, team coaching, operations management and P&L administration in both the UK and EMEA. Leyla helps clients improve their operating efficiency, focus on targets and develop leadership skills. She has an MBA from Liverpool John Moore’s University, and is fluent in English, German and Turkish. Leyla is an EMCC Senior Practitioner in Executive Coaching.

Before joining Pro-actions, Bob worked as a high-performance sports coach and as an academic, holding a Ph.D. in Sport and Exercise Sciences. Bob combines expert coaching skills with a focus on leadership, planning, mentoring, strategy and governance. Bob brings a sense of calmness to any business situation, shaped by his early career in the British Army and his voluntary work as a disaster responder – which sees him deployed worldwide when natural disaster strikes.

Michael has worked in the commercial and not-for-profit sectors for over 40 years, with hands-on experience in business planning, strategic marketing and sales generation. He ran two leading industry trade associations, helping member companies grow and thrive in very competitive environments. With an eye for detail, Michael focuses in on the root of an issue then guides clients to find the solution and implement actions that will deliver success. He has completed his Level 7 Chartered Management Institute Leadership and Management Diploma.

Hervé’s passion for business and for effectively running SMEs started in his teenage years after he had witnessed his father struggling to run his own building company. After achieving a Master's Degree in Business, Sales, Marketing and languages, Hervé began his career in France as an Area Sales Manager for a major music distribution company. Since moving to the UK in 1999, he has worked for 2 corporates and 5 SMEs across various sectors, with global business development responsibilities as Head of Global Sales, Head of Export, Head of Contract Manufacturing and Head of UK Sales. In 2017 Hervé decided to pursue his purpose of helping SME owners to run their businesses so they can achieve the goals and lifestyle they want. Hervé is French/English bilingual and speaks some German.

Allan spent most of his career in banking, looking after business clients ranging from sole traders to AIM-listed companies with turnovers up to £100m. He later joined a firm of Chartered Accountants alongside running his own business consultancy – an “invaluable” few years that took Allan “to the other side of the desk”. Here he gained first-hand experience of the issues faced by SMEs - from finance and sales to HR and health and safety (and, not least, cash flow). Alan gets a real buzz from helping proprietors grow their businesses and wealth and seeing ideas come to fruition. He has also helped several clients with succession plans, which he has found to be a very fulfilling experience.

Mary is a Chartered Accountant and MBA with over 30 years of corporate leadership & business experience. The last 20 years she has worked in the UK, The Netherlands and the USA for Shell plc rising to sector CIO for Global Refineries and Chemical Plants. Over her broad career she has led teams from 2 people to 200 people, managed budgets from $5k to $500m, started new ventures and transformed existing ones with creative thinking, and made a big impact on people’s lives and careers. Mary is also an EMCC accredited coach & mentor.

Alan has held a number of senior management positions in the services industry sector and is also the owner/director of a commercial cleaning services business in West Sussex. He has a military background and experience of several fields, His passion is helping the owners of SMEs take their businesses to the next level, using his experience of running a successful SME with all the day to day issues that are associated with the service industry. His main aim is for business owners to enjoy what they are doing and achieve their goals.