For the majority of my career I have been fortunate in being supported by a coach or mentor, someone to bounce ideas off, share concerns with or seek advice from. These experiences have led me to offer similar support to others during my executive career and more recently as a consultant and non-executive Director.

My approach is straightforward. Founded upon active listening I seek to provide constructive challenge, and to support clients through analysis of issues and subsequent action. I generally work with senior leaders on a one to one basis but on occasion support newly formed teams.

Being a critical friend means forming a candid, high-trust partnership with you where you can do your best thinking and hold yourself accountable for your growth.

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Leadership is tough, so you will feel listened to and supported by me. I will also challenge you to reflect honestly on the issues at the heart of your leadership. Our conversations will help you gain new perspectives and clarity to navigate the challenges of leadership. And, we’ll have a really enjoyable time doing that!

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I coach leaders and teams navigating change and draw on over 20 years’ experience within industry, of which thirteen at management levels in a leading Asset Management firm.

David is currently Chair of the Board of Consensus (Learning Disability support provider with 93 UK locations), Director of Meerson Editions (luxury watch designer and manufacturer) and is a regular speaker on the highs (and lows) of leadership.

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David has been a critical friend to Chief Executives and Finance Directors, being able to draw from 25 years of experience carrying out Chair, Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer roles in the UK and internationally.

David specialises in deep rooted turnarounds of multi site organisations with dispersed geography and teams, particularly in the regulated health and social care sectors, where integrity, compassion and quality of services are paramount together with the need for effective operating models.

David is married with 3 children and is never happier than being in the outdoors with family, friends and his dogs.  David is also a part time dog behaviourist focusing on helping reactive dogs live as normal a life as possible.

Dealing regularly with business restructuring and corporate transformation, Francis has deep expertise in strategy setting, organisation design, leadership effectiveness and culture change.

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He has held positions within the banking, manufacturing and management consulting sectors, living and working in Belgium, Sweden and France. Since 1996 he has consulted in North America, the Middle East, S.E. Asia and Europe operating at Board and top team levels.

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He has worked with a range of organisations across sectors and continents, including PricewaterhouseCoopers, HSBC, Shell, Royal Bank of Scotland, Nokia, General Electric, Ernst & Young, the British Red Cross, Arup, B&Q, United Utilities, Bank Of America Merrill Lynch, Philips, Cadbury Schweppes, Coors Brewing Company, Bayer, BBC News, Honeywell, SES Global, the NHS, Zurich Financial Services, Eon, and the Prudential.

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Francis holds a PhD in Organisational Behaviour from the Department of Systems Science, City, University of London.

Morgen Witzel is an internationally known writer and lecturer. His specialist subjects are ethics in leadership and management and corporate governance, as well as wider interests in detecting and dealing with toxic leadership and leading and managing people.

He is the author of more than thirty books, including The Ethical Leader and A History of Leadership, and he edited a collection of essays entitled Post-Pandemic Leadership to which several of our Critical Friends contributed.

He teaches at the University of Exeter, University of Edinburgh, Audencia Nantes and BITSoM in Mumbai.

I am an experienced CEO, non-executive director, and Professor of Practice (Leadership) at the University of Exeter Business School.

In a 30-year career, my board roles span the commercial, public, and third sectors.  My expertise is in OD/HR, transformation and board governance and assurance.

Previous roles include CEO of the Government’s national Centre for Workforce Intelligence, senior civil servant, NHS director, Nuffield Health director and private banker at Coutts & Co. Originally, I qualified as a teacher and, after Sandhurst, served as a British Army Officer. I am a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD and a Fellow of the RSA.

I work as a consultant operating as a Critical Friend to senior leaders and have also been a member of a number of boards.  My approach is to listen (so that I can understand) - to discuss (so that we can we can agree what needs to be done) - and to support.

My own leadership experience was with the Royal Marines including the operational command of 40 Commando and being responsible for all Royal Marines training.  I retired at one star level.

After leaving the military I was appointed the Founding Director of the Centre for Leadership Studies, Exeter University and subsequently was the co-director of the Exeter Leadership Partners (the predecessor to P4L).  I was also a Visiting Professor at Bristol Business School and have co-authored four books on leadership.

As for relaxation, I enjoy golf and also singing with a male voice choir and a five-man band.

As an Honorary Leadership Fellow at the University of Exeter, I am passionate about leadership. This passion has been a constant throughout my 17 years of service as an Army officer, on the expeditions I have led and participated in and in my development work with public sector and commercial organisations across the globe.

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I believe that clarity of intent, moral courage and kindness, along with the will to show vulnerability lie at the heart of relationships and the leadership that shapes them.

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I use Nancy Kline’s thinking partner approach for my coaching, focusing on developing the quality of relationships that deliver the quality of thinking that unlocks new perspectives.