Stephen Newton

I have had a varied career as an army officer, sales director of a major mutual funds business, operations director at two major investment managers, as an executive coach and consultant to major financial and professional services firms on strategy implementation and business development, about which I have authored a number of papers and 4 books. As Operations Director at Mercury Asset Management, I had a brief to reorganise the firm's UK business, leading to the creation of five investment teams segregated by client size and risk appetite, each with competency frameworks to support recruitment and performance assessment as well as a comprehensive training and a management development programme. I had a similar role at Schroder Investment Management. A series of papers on Learning and Development, co-authored with Dr Nigel Spencer, won the Managing Partners' Forum Award for Best Knowledge Provision to Clients. My latest book, The Practice of Leadership in Higher Education, co-edited with Dr Kendall Jarrett of the University of Bath, was published by Routledge in 2021. Now semi-retired, I continue to write on business management, entrepreneurship and career change, as well as undertaking some consulting and mentoring work on a selective basis.

The focus of my work is to enable individuals to enhance their own performance, particularly in terms of business and client relationship development, and the leadership and management of others. When working with individuals I typically recommend a series of up to six sessions, each lasting 60 to 90 minutes and delivered over five to six months. These follow an initial, introductory / 'chemistry' session of up to 60 minutes during which we discuss goals and how success is to be measured. That initial session is free of charge. Sessions can take place at the client's place of work, if that is in London, or online.

I seek to take an entirely practical approach in working with clients, recognising that an effective and timely "best solution possible" is usually preferable to theoretical perfection. I also take the view that what can be achieved will be influenced by both individual and organisational capabilities.