The Evoke Team

Rob is a forward-thinking CIMA qualified Management Accountant. He has both founded and taken over existing businesses, as well as invested in a number of start-up companies. Rob’s passion is to help SMEs and entrepreneurs to move their business forward by providing flexible access to excellent strategic advice and guidance.

He has worked with a range of SME companies helping them overcome challenges and enhance business performance to take them to the next level.

At Evoke Management, Rob has grown a team of experienced portfolio Finance and Commercial directors who work on a part-time basis with companies to add value to the senior team by plugging a knowledge or skills gap. Rob has a hands on approach to keeping involved and remains engaged with all the Evoke clients that his team supports.

Rob also brings like minded business owners and founders together through his business International Leaders UK, where they learn from each other, as well as a community of trusted advisors and experts. In 2022, Rob started the Move Your Business Forward Podcast with a focus on sharing business insights and entrepreneurs’ stories to help inspire, encourage and educate others on moving their business forward.

When he’s not working, Rob loves spending time with his family, and can often be found near or on water – he’s a passionate Yachtmaster, partial to both sailing and motorboats.

David is a serial entrepreneur with over 30 years’ experience of starting and growing SME businesses, leading to successful exits to organisations such as Trader Media Group (AutoTrader).

His love of business began in his teens, as the UK national winner of the Young Enterprise Business Competition, before going on to head companies primarily specialising in sales and marketing.

He has a hands on, friendly approach, with a ‘been there, done that’ attitude and now thrives on helping other business owners realise their ambitions.”

Khalid is a senior business leader and entrepreneur with over 28 years’ experience across various sectors including FMCG, Manufacturing, Property Development, Education Management and Holding Companies/Family Offices spanning from the UK, Australia the Middle East and Europe.

With a commercial mind and rounded experience of developing and implementing business strategies combined with customer focused senior leader experience, he has successfully achieved growth, profitability and increased productivity through his ‘hands on’ approach with people and process innovation.

Khalid’s international commercial exposure has not only developed his network and ties within the Middle Eastern government and private sectors, but has also refined his cultural management and leadership skills in developing and forging successful and lasting partnerships.

Philip is an experienced entrepreneur and accomplished leader with a 25-year record in growing multinational businesses across all aspects including strategy, corporate and business development, operations and finance, drawing on deep operational knowledge of retail and hospitality, SaaS solutions, technical consulting and sales, data integration and analytics.

Philip is a manager who has built, mentored, and inspired successful multinational teams, with a founder ethos and an extensive network of C-level contacts around the world.

Most recently, Philip co-founded a successful bootstrapped SaaS start-up and grew to a market leading global organisation, providing solutions for the world’s largest retailers, before a successful sale and exit.

Ian is an experienced Business Leader with a broad ranging experience gained from over 40 years in the retail environment, with detailed knowledge across Sales, Aftersales, Customer service, HR, Team Development and Selection, Partner and Manufacturer relations, Marketing, Financial Management, Compliance and Business Performance Improvement.

Ian has worked for large corporations and smaller privately owned companies, including the London Supercar group HR Owen, and 18 years with Jardine Motors Group, part of Jardine Matheson, where he led several start-ups from scratch, integrating them into a multi brand, multi-site modular business with a £50m turnover and brand leading performance, which included taking a Bentley and Lamborghini retailer from business plan to a top five UK performing businesses.

He has worked primarily in the prestige and higher luxury retail sector representing iconic brands such as Aston Martin, Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari. With his passion for business improvement, staff development and building winning teams, he now enjoys working with business owners helping them to solve immediate challenges, identify efficiencies and areas for growth, setting realistic goals and taking steps to deliver them.

Most recent achievements include securing over £1m of government grant funding to help modernise a number of manufacturing businesses, as well as working within such diverse sectors as healthcare, and logistics.

A qualified solicitor, Ann has over 30 years’ experience of legal and policy advice, and consulting work, in the field of employee ownership. She advised on employee ownership schemes in a wide variety or public and private companies, setting up the first ESOP in the UK, in Roadchef Limited.

Ann implemented employee trusts on privatisation of the bus, air, electricity and coal industries.  She was also a founder member of Capital Strategies Limited and a Trustee of the Baxi Partnership Trust for 10 years to 2010.

From 2001 – 2013, Ann acted as Executive Director and Company Secretary of the Employee Ownership Association, during its transition from a small lobbying group to successful membership organisation. She advised Grant Thornton on their ‘Shared Enterprise’ scheme, and until recently was employee ownership consultant with Lewis Silkin LLP.

Ann is currently an associate of Mutuo, a trustee of Voice at CASA and Chair of Employee Ownership Insight, a new thinktank for the employee-owned sector.

Neil is a graduate in Marine Engineering and has sailed around the world as a ship’s engineer. Somewhere on that voyage he discovered a passion for personal development. Landing in California he worked for Dale Carnegie before returning to the UK to build a business for them in South London. Being entrepreneurial he quickly set up his own coaching and consultancy business. He has had the privilege of working with over 7000 people in 150 businesses in the US, Europe and the Middle East.

Neil loves creating innovative approaches to helping businesses develop
individuals, teams and divisions resulting in the formation of Perfect Teams in 2016. Using a unique algorithm ‘Perfect-Teams’ has become the new standard for helping businesses to understand the mix of people they have in their teams. Evoke Management, as a preferred supplier, have licensed Perfect-Team’s exclusive Intellectual Property [IP] to help their clients make sense of the people equation in an increasingly chaotic and fragmented workplace.

When not consulting or coaching you will find Neil running or trekking the Surrey Hills or similar vistas around the world.

Keith is a highly regarded Finance and Commercial Operations Director, offering businesses knowledge and experience gained from his notable media background. His creative calling motivated Keith’s desire to work in TV, film, broadcast PR, creative advertising and music. He is on a mission to prove that not all accountants are boring!

A qualified ACCA accountant, Keith’s strengths are strategic commercial thinking and a creative leaning that allows him to enjoy working with numbers – rather than crunching them.

Ranked 5th out of 2,000 as a top producing UK financial services sales executive within UK TOP 100 FTSE Company, Keith’s skills are sought after and impressive. His key business skills serve well at a senior commercial level, but his belief that people skills are fundamentally the most important aspect of working with businesses, makes his approach unique and continually proves to be conducive to success.

Keith’s diverse and invaluable experience across a range of sectors makes him an asset to Evoke Management. Emotionally intelligent, he understands his clients’ ethos and aims from a uniquely personal perspective and forms friendly and productive relationships.

He works hard, and plays harder. Frequent rest periods are required for battery recharge, and his favourite form of leisure is relaxing in the sunshine, preferably with the sound of the ocean nearby. A piano player since the age of 6, music is a creative driver for Keith. As soon as his schedule allows, he’s planning to sign up for a course on the science of sound – what switches your ear on when it’s a good tune – and why?

Dave is an experienced C-Suite executive, with many career roles in Marketing, Product management, and general management for both B2C and B2B businesses.  He has broad sector experience including FinTech, Travel, Gaming, Mobile, Retail, Science, and Education. The majority of Dave’s career has been working in disruptive businesses harnessing the power of new technology and digital to create new business models and opportunities.

Dave has worked for many listed companies including household names such as Amazon and Yahoo, as well as niche sector specialists such as Stepstone, Zattikka, and PrimaryBid. He has a proven track record of achievement across these businesses, ranging from major growth and customer acquisition activity, redeveloping commercial business models and driving significant product development projects.

Dave’s most recent in-house role was Chief Operations Officer for PrimaryBid, an award-winning FinTech business. Here he held a pivotal part in building the team who launched the website and mobile app, resulting in an 8x growth in business valuation.

Richard is an enthusiastic and engaging problem solver who is able to quickly absorb knowledge and get up to speed across many disciplines.  He can operate at the C-suite level as easily as on the shop floor.

His broad experience, from working for Top Tier Investment Banks down to a Family Owned Travel Business puts him in a unique position to be able to seamlessly fit into the culture of any client.

Recently, Richard has successfully worked with 2 co-working companies, bringing enhanced discipline to the finance teams and strategic guidance to restructure the business model and enhance bottom line profitability, both as a going concern as well as for a potential future sale.

Bernardus is an experienced Finance and Commercial Director with over 20 years of dedicated and results oriented experience. He has provided strategic direction, financial management, and advisory services to a variety of organisations from corporate to owner founders, start-ups, and PE/VC backed businesses. 

He has a track record in fast growing tech, SaaS, media, and digital environments with extensive experience in managing Finance teams and HR/operational. Bernardus is adept at building productive and cooperative working relationships with board members and other stakeholders to deliver corporate objectives.

Robert has been a CIMA Fellow for 25 years and has 20 years’ experience of operating as CFO in family owned SMEs involving technology, online & traditional retail, travel & transport across Europe. He offers strong financial stewardship, corporate governance and strategic planning, whilst retaining a ‘hands-on’ approach.

His achievements include:

• Steering a  travel & technology based Group thru’ the 2008 recession

• Prepared & sold 2 companies, one overseas, the other to a well-known Media Group

• Numerous acquisitions both home & abroad with appropriate due diligence

• Modernising premises & systems in traditional family owned Department Store

• Implemented the first Euro Compliant tills in the UK & across Europe

His strengths are in forwarding planning and project implementation, creating the space to think strategically and be pro-active rather than reactive and being able to evaluate, review and refine objectives as and where appropriate.

Robert prides himself on being an effective communicator at all levels, a team leader by example, constantly striving to improve performance and develop both the staff & systems around him.

Stephen has over 30 years of leadership experience in the UK, US and Middle East, spanning roles of Chair, Managing Director, Executive Director and Board Adviser, and more than 20 years as a business founder and owner. A proven change leader and team builder, he has worked extensively with SME businesses across sectors including manufacturing and operations, construction, architecture, design and project management. 

Pragmatic and collaborative, Stephen has led sustainable growth and profitability in each of these companies by establishing coherent sales and marketing strategies; implementing rigorous financial controls and procedures, increasing productivity, streamlining operations and driving efficiencies. 

He spearheaded the successful expansion of several companies into international markets and has personally led numerous high-value contract negotiations with multinationals and government organisations.

An excellent strategist and communicator, Stephen is focused on helping business owners solve immediate challenges, identify efficiencies and areas for growth, develop their company’s value and market position and meet their longer term aspirations.

Hugh is a senior finance executive and CIMA Fellow with over 30 years of experience in financial management in a US Fortune 500 MNC, at both a national and international level in Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and Asia.

Hugh is commercially focussed and is recognised for a proven track record of effective business partnering, complex large project evaluation and implementation (including capital projects, M&A and disposals, Sale of Equipment and Services), risk assessment, contract structuring, operational strategy development, data-driven operational financial analysis skills and change management.

Hugh possesses highly transferable talents in governance, business solutions, business planning, value-added partnerships and leadership. He has a hands-on approach to problem-solving, combined with an effective interpersonal communication style, adept at working in a multi-disciplinary environment. He is also an experienced member at BOD level of both Joint Venture entities and wholly-owned entities.

During Hugh’s career as a finance executive, he has gained broad M&A project experience in a variety of businesses and geographical regions within the world. This spans across numerous multi-million dollar deals, involving both the acquisition of companies and assets and the forming of Joint Ventures, but also with the exits/disposals of operations.

Hugh’s in-depth experience of M&A covers the full process, including target identification, due diligence, financial modelling, synergy planning, risk assessment, contract negotiations and post-acquisition integration and assessment of post-acquisition ‘lessons learned’.

Hugh’s success is evidenced by delivering on exceptional multimillion dollar profitable growth through large investment projects, operational management and effective implementation of structural change. He excels at aligning core business, revenue, and earnings growth goals to enhance performance.

Nigel is an experienced business leader with a breadth of knowledge across sectors ranging from retail to utilities, telco, media and outsourcing. 

His experience, encompassing eCommerce, customer services, business process outsourcing, digital operations and general management, has led to 15 years as a consulting practitioner focussed on real-world delivery and change projects in both the corporate and independent arena.

Originally based with Marks and Spencer, Nigel was part of the team that launched their very first digital offerings, working with organisations such as Amazon and IBM. He subsequently worked on the Selfridges.com launch, before supporting many other companies in their digital journey development, including Shop Direct, Sky, O2 and Npower. Service and operations design and delivery in an environment of growth and change were constant themes.

Nigel now mainly focusses on helping smaller businesses in the commercial and operations space to scale-up, recently supporting a small, growing technology company to launch a new delivery channel for Krispy Kreme, shortly to be rolled out in the USA.

Nigel also brings a wealth of international experience, having delivered projects in South Africa, India, the USA and Australia, and a sound understanding of FS regulated operations.

Sharon is an experienced part time Finance Director with a career across a variety of sectors including Digital Publishing, Digital Advertising, Investment Banking, Hotels and Leisure and Travel.  She possesses a broadly based business and finance background and is FCCA and MBA qualified.

Sharon has worked both for large corporations and small and medium sized businesses where she has gained knowledge and experience in all types of settings.  She has a wide range of capabilities across these businesses and has supported them in their activities including running their finance departments, analysing new business opportunities and assisting with preparation for sale.
 
Most recently, Sharon has been working with SME digital businesses as a part time Finance Director, where she is an integral part of the management team taking an active role in financial and commercial management.

Arno is a highly commercial qualified Accountant and Project Manager with over 25 years leadership experience at Director level roles across Financial, Operational ,Commercial and Strategic functions . 

Having developed his career in a range of UK and Internationally listed businesses he has since helped SME’s in the engineering , manufacturing , technology , telecoms and software development , construction services and IT /hardware markets to develop and execute sustainable high growth strategies whilst maintaining controls over costs and cash flow.

With a hands-on approach , Arno has helped clients expand their operations into the UK , Europe , US , Hong Kong , India and Africa.

He has developed significant expertise across areas of Cashflow & Profit improvement, Raising cash , Strategic planning, Business Acquisition and Sale , Forecasting & Analysis, Cost reduction, Business Development, Contract negotiations, Process improvement and Governance & Control. 

His optimism, can-do attitude and attention to detail, combined with a deep belief in sustainable and profitable growth is what inspired him to launch a number of industry changing commercial arrangements for manufacturers and service providers in the mobile and technology markets.

Arno’s passion is working in a positive and collaborative manner with business owners and leaders to help them succeed and achieve their goals in fast-paced, rapidly changing environments.

Colin is an Angel Investor and part time Financial Director.
Colin has been FD for over thirty companies in a broad range of industries.
Experience ranges from to multi-billion pound quoted companies such as Macrovision, Lotus, BAe Systems and NTT, to having worked with over a dozen start-ups.
Chartered Accountant, qualifying with Deloitte.
A lazy triathlete and a golfer.

Marcus is a strategic, commercially minded business leader with a passion for innovation and change. He has gained extensive experience from his time working with NasDaq 250 and FTSE 100 companies in the digital, creative and marketing services, retail, eCommerce and financial services sectors.

Throughout his career, Marcus has led successful change implementation programs including extensive and complex financial systems, regulatory compliance programs and business reorganisation activities. He is fully conversant with International Accounting Standards, ISO compliance, Basel, Sarbanes-Oxley and multiple ERP implementations.

Marcus has led multiregional teams across Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific and his infectious enthusiasm makes him an ideal fit for entrepreneurially minded environments. 

Most recently he has successfully listed a start-up on AIM and secured a Series B investment round for a boutique marketing and communications business in the healthcare sector. 

Stephen is an experienced, versatile finance, commercial and operational director with a history of shaping and driving strategic growth through businesses both big and small.

Stephen qualified as an accountant working across SMEs with Smith & Williamson, before moving into Industry where he spent 14 years working in all aspects of the Real Estate Cycle with JLL. He has proven his track record throughout his career, managing successfully both in downturns and as a start up - establishing the Corporate offering for JLL across EMEA - building it into a Billion $ business with strong annuity revenues. He designed and implemented new operating models, integrated multi million pound acquisitions, transformed under-performing business areas & contracts and provided commercial & financial leadership across all new and existing corporate contracts.

Most recently Stephen has moved into running his own property development business where he has navigated the turbulent impact of Brexit and Covid, ensuring the business is right sized and positioned on sound financial footings for the future. Working in both corporate and principal owner environments has made Stephen an entrepreneurial and risk aware decision maker.

Sam brings over 19 years of experience working closely with over 100 businesses in their strategic planning and implementation to unlock growth, commercial value and strategic direction.   With her passion for identifying and creating launch and growth opportunities in relevant product sectors and commercial markets she has worked on projects that include establishing and adjusting business plans, proposition development and market landscaping, initiating product, pricing, sales and marketing strategies, core positioning and messaging, customer alignment and contingency planning.

Not always a consultant, Sam is an award winning entrepreneur who started her first business at 26, following an MBA in Madrid, launching and distributing international brands into the UK market.   Since then she has worked for Start-ups and SME’s across multiple service and product industries to include luxury goods, FMCG, fashion, beauty and well being, healthcare, food and cleaning. 

With her extensive knowledge and ability to communicate across all structures she is particularly interested in helping companies understand their markets and competitive environments, achieve their long term goals, seize those opportunities and the resulting strategic implications

Jonty is a seasoned entrepreneur having owned and run successful consumer focused businesses gaining extensive experience in manufacturing, the start-up process, fast growth and building brands.

Over 11 years he founded, owned and ran Burts Potato Chips, a successful consumer brand,  manufacturer and high growth business, operating in an incredibly competitive market-place. He successfully exited in 2012.

He then set up and ran Portlebay Popcorn, another manufacturing consumer brand, gaining fast traction in the multiples and building another successful FMCG brand, before selling the business in 2018.

Jonty is equally at home advising on processes, systems and distribution, as he is securing investment, managing growth and selling businesses. He now uses this experience to pass on the lessons he has learnt.

Jerry is a highly experienced tech entrepreneur who has worked over the last 25 years in a variety of senior technical roles including SVP of Engineering, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Software Architect. Jerry has led the conception, development and implementation of software and solutions that delivered transformational change for some of the world's most recognised brands including Nike, Shell, Walmart, Tesco and Starbucks.

Jerry has deep expertise in software technologies and how they can benefit businesses by:

• Reducing costs and inefficiency through better use of automation and connected systems
• Driving better decisions and processes with data analytics and AI
• Setting and evolving technical strategy to continually improve business performance and maximise return on investment

Jerry is a strong communicator, adept at explaining complex technical concepts simply and with relevance to a specific audience. 

Most recently, Jerry co-founded an enterprise focused, SaaS business that grew into a market leading, global organisation before a successful sale and exit.

Liz is a versatile business leader with 20 years experience in a variety of sectors including financial services, telecoms, property and professional services. Having delivered results in both entrepreneurial and PE backed businesses, Liz has significant experience in working with regulated firms in the Financial Sector, and firms undergoing change and growth.

With a proven ability to influence at Board level, Liz has a high drive and work ethic to deliver pragmatic, business focused solutions in high growth businesses. She is a trusted partner within the C Suite known for her ability to achieve change and work with colleagues to drive results.

Liz’s areas of expertise include:

• Growth strategy
• Exit strategy
• Commercial strategy to tactical execution
• Change Management
• Marketing strategy and execution
• Client acquisition and retention strategies, client journey 

Her most recent role with Hamilton Court, as Chief Operating Officer, has overseen growth from £10m to £40m revenue in 3 years and headcount growth of 25 to 150 people, with a multi-brand strategy focusing on both top line performance and high profitability.

James is a senior Finance Executive with significant experience in improving business performance and results. He has an in-depth knowledge of the Construction and Service Industry having spent many years working for Otis Lifts and Chubb Fire & Security, identifying opportunities for revenue expansion and efficiencies and implementing the practical steps to deliver on the changes needed. More recently he has worked in the Gaming Industry managing the integration of the EMEA Zynga entities into their new parent company TakeTwo.

With the acquisitive nature of the businesses he has worked for, he has a wealth of experience in M&A in both due diligence and the onboarding and integration of newly acquired businesses.

Thriving on a challenge, motivated by making a difference, and fully understanding that a “one size fits all” solution is not right, he has a thorough but pragmatic approach, collaborating with stakeholders to deliver lasting changes to improve results.

Ian is a highly experienced Director with a proven track record in business leadership, strategic planning and people development. He has consistently delivered significant value across a wide range of industries and business sizes, both in the UK and internationally.

Although undoubtedly a generalist, his experience includes manufacturing, logistics and asset / financial services, along with the education, learning and skills sector. Most recently, he led the successful global launch of a market leading top-tier motor racing product.

Ian combines determination with a collaborative and engaging approach. His passion lies in sharing extensive practical knowledge and experience, showcasing genuine understanding of challenges faced at all levels of organisations. This was particularly evident during his 15 years as Chairman of an SME engineering skills training organisation.

Stuart is a much respected and experienced leader with extensive experience in strategy, finance, sales, product development, supply chain management, and marketing.

Initially qualifying as a  Chartered Accountant, his career to date has included a broad range of senior roles including FD, MD and CEO positions, from which he has led transformations and innovations to improve product quality, brand identity, customer satisfaction, sales performance and organisational efficiency. His strategies have led to global growth and record profitability levels, earning critical acclaim and industry awards whilst becoming more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Stuart's unique combination of strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and creative problem-solving makes him an ideal choice for businesses looking for a dynamic and principled leader to help them grow and thrive. He provides valuable strategic guidance, creates purposeful strategies and offers actionable insights to help businesses achieve their goals.

Edmond has 30 years of experience in finance leadership and business development in sectors including FMCG distribution, chain retailing, toys/gifts, pharma and household products, and founded a distribution business himself. He has worked for UK and US listed companies.

Commercially astute and practical, Edmond contributes in strategically growing businesses sustainably and profitably through devising route-to-market strategies, working capital optimisation, ERP implementation, acquisitions projects, logistics remodeling and distributor management. As finance chief, Edmond speaks with simple language and takes a teamwork approach to enable management strategic and day to day decisions based on data and facts. Seeing through numbers and signs is a critical tool for entrepreneurs and business owners in which Edmond excels.

Edmond has been part time director for a number of SMEs in sectors including robotics, AI, travel gear, luxury fashion, sizeable retailer, sourcing and a specialty online outdoor brand. With these clients, Edmond reviewed in house processes, optimised cashflow, building revenue and business models as well as supporting fund raising activities. With these clients, he develops a buddy relationship, walking next to entrepreneurs to see the possibilities, avoid pitfalls and drive things forward,