Michael Tait Independent Chairman

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145 articles on Board Leadership, Company Turnarounds, Developing Businesses, Private-Equity, M&A and Corporate Finance

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MICHAEL TAIT – Independent Chairman & Business Advisor

Private-Equity & Venture Capital

Independent Chairman

Interim Chairman – Corporate Recovery

Non Executive Director

Business Mentor

Sales Development

 

COMPANY TURNAROUNDS – BUILDING BUSINESSES – MENTORING

25 years’ experience working as CEO, Interim Chairman or Independent Chairman in private-equity or venture capital backed businesses with extensive experience in developing businesses, turnarounds, refinancing and achieving exits.

Many years’ experience in setting up and running international subsidiaries in all the 14 major European countries, Africa, Middle East and Asia.

30 years Sales experience – Led some of the largest sales operations across Europe.

Available to help you grow your business, recover from a difficult situation, survive the current recession, or significantly improve sales.

Experienced International Chairman

  • 23 major assignments with leading international private-equity and venture capital investors
  • Experienced in change management, corporate recovery and turnarounds as well as building businesses
  • Strong corporate background as well as mid-range companies of 100 to 800 employees
  • Ran large corporate businesses accross all the 14 major European countries, Africa, Middle East and Asia
  • 30 years in leading, building and reorganising international sales and marketing operations
  • CEO and chairman experience in Computer Hardware, Software Services, Retail, Logistics, Vending, Coffee Retail, Care Homes and Insurance Services
  • Strong chairman skills for Board leadership and corporate governance
  • Available at short notice
Interim Chairman, Mike Tait - Starbucks Coffee

Corporate Background

  • Unisys Corporation
  • Digital Equipment Corporation
  • Tesco Stores
  • RHM Foods
  • Argos Stores
  • Rolls-Royce
  • Pye/Philips Industries
Interim Chairman, Mike Tait, Client Logos

Private Equity Clients

Interim Chairman, Mike Tait, Building
  • Connection Capital
  • Albion Ventures
  • Milestone Capital (2 assignments)
  • Sovereign Capital (2 assignments)
  • Investec Bank
  • Electra Europe
  • Advent International (2 assignments)
  • Hambros
  • 3i (4 assignments)
  • Atlas Venture (2 assignments)
  • Aberdeen Asset
  • GIMV Belgium
  • NIB Netherlands
  • ACT Ireland
  • Shore Capital
  • Frontiers Capital

Example Assignments

Chaired/Member/Vice Chaired for five years, the Board of Trustees for The Heart Education Trust in Norwich. The Trust has a number of infant schools and nurseries.

Chaired 23.5 Degrees, the leading UK Starbucks franchise network. Presided over a period of considerable growth to 40 stores and Drive-Thrus and the achievement of considerable growth in revenues and profits.

Chaired the development of Coffee Nation to a network of over 900 sites across the country with Tesco, Welcome Break, Sainsbury, Moto and other big retail names, and created and led the sale of the company to Costa Coffee for £59.5m.

Led as executive chairman, the turnaround and development of Claims Management Group, a leading Lloyds and London Market insurance services company. Subsequently sold the business to Capita Group Plc for £32m.

Built and ran a £500m Europe-Africa division for Unisys Corporation, the world’s second largest computer company and led the development of Unisys to become one of the leaders in distributed systems.

Built and ran the largest IT reseller network in Europe for Digital Equipment Corporation.

Restructured Data General Corporation‘ sales and subsidiaries across 10 European countries.

A range of services

  • Business advice and help with your business
  • Practical assistance with business issues
  • Situation and business evaluations
  • Non executive director
  • Independent chairman
  • Interim chairman
  • Turnaround leadership
  • Strategy formulation and business plans
  • Help with Board or investor problems
  • CEO and Director level mentoring
  • Refinancing through private equity
  • Guidance on going international
  • Establishing and chairing UK subsidiaries for overseas companies
  • Mentoring subsidiary management
  • Integration assistance with mergers and acquisitions
  • Practical help in developing your sales strategy and increasing sales

Mentoring

CEO MENTORING

Being a business leader can be challenging, stressful and often, very lonely. As Chief Executive you have the responsibility for leading your people, creating a positive and fulfilling working environment and delivering the results you promised in your business plan. As a manager in an organisation you have deliverables and targets that must be met.

It’s perfectly normal to wonder if you are doing the right things, have the right strategy and are making the best tactical decisions. You may also worry about your management style and whether you are having the effect you hoped for. Often there can be political undercurrents to worry about too.  Managing external investors can also be a minefield for those leading the company.

You won’t be alone in wishing you had someone of considerable experience to turn to for counsel – someone you can trust to give you valuable insight and ongoing practical help on a whole range of business disciplines and to be completely sensitive with your thoughts and struggles.

Sadly, it’s not always safe to share your worries with those around you. Mentoring is about helping with all these things and more – not in the form of textbook tuition but by counselling on real practical business issues, situations and anxieties.

Michael Tait has many years’ experience in mentoring CEO’s, other board members, and management level staff.

 

Sales Development

NEED HELP TO DEVELOP SALES?

Michael Tait has 30 years of experience in Sales and has run or reorganised some of the largest IT sales organisations across Europe. Michael also built and ran the largest IT sales distribution network in the UK and Europe and has considerable experience in utilising telesales within the sales model. Michael is well positioned to help with sales difficulties or structuring for increased sales.

 

Raising business finance

Brexit and Covid have caused continuing economic uncertainty and companies are increasingly looking for more innovative ways to raise finance and capital.

Private-equity and venture capital still remain an attractive route for expansion capital. Michael Tait is well connected in private-equity and venture capital and can introduce you to some of his long standing trusted relationships in the sector. Michael knows which firms will be interested to invest and which will be the most suitable financing or refinancing partner for you.

Michael also has considerable experience in working with leading London law firms, corporate finance advisers and M&A advisors, and has worked with business lending banks such as Investec Bank and Royal Bank of Scotland.

Articles written by Michael Tait on business and Board leadership

THE ESSENTIAL ROLE OF SUBCOMMITTEES

The role of Subcommittees - a vital role in the governance of a company. Michael Tait elaborates on their significance. Subcommittees play a crucial role within organisations and institutions, serving as[…] Read More

RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH COMPANY ACQUISITIONS

Company acquisitions pose many risks. Michael Tait, Independent-Chairman, discusses the mains risks with company acquisitions in his experience. I have heard it said that 5 out of 6 acquisitions fail to[…] Read More