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Profile

CHRIS STAVELEY

TECH ENTREPENEUR, CONSULTANT, NON-EXEC DIRECTOR

MY PERSONAL TRAITS

 

  • Probity
    I believe in doing the right thing and always act with integrity and diplomacy

  • Active listener
    I listen with intent to identify underlying issues

  • Strong challenger
    I can robustly test another’s position in a non-confrontational way

  • Tenacity
    My business success is a result of my resolute, goal-oriented personality

  • Down to earth
    I am a family man who enjoys golf, squash, snowboarding and cycling

Chris Staveley, Non-Executive Director, Business Consultant
THE VALUE I CAN BRING

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  • Board experience
    I was the CEO on a board established by investors to steer the business from investment through to exit; here I saw first-hand how the non-executives bring governance and challenge to the executive team

  • Build and exit experience
    I built an amazing sensing technology Company and sold it to a huge US headquartered oil & gas multi-national which, together with a side deal in aerospace, delivered a x6 ROI to shareholders

  • Business restructuring experience
    I have managed the administration of two businesses, one to restructure Company debts to allow ongoing trade, and another to extract a valuable technology Company from an insolvent group

  • New Company creation experience
    I took a cash cow customer out of a failing business and setup a new Company which traded for 6 years, delivering significant dividends

  • Proven method of strategy execution
    I adopted and implemented the “entrepreneurial operating system”, a robust process that drives an organisation to deliver its strategy via manageable, goal-oriented activities

  • Business Development expertise
    I have been the principal Business Development resource through most of my career, creating business development strategies and leading their execution

  • Deep understanding of technology
    I am a professional engineer with a sound understanding of many technical disciplines and have multiple patents from my early design career

  • Finely honed business and leadership skills
    I was a long-term member of the CEO mentoring and peer group Vistage, where I gained experience, insight and wisdom of solid business leadership

  • Strong network
    I have a network of business leaders from many industries, as well as technology end users and decision makers in several industrial sectors

NON-EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE

 

January 23 to present:

INVESTOR NED: RAB Microfluidics Ltd (UK developer of oil condition monitoring instrumentation)

  • Supporting the commercialisation of a new, disruptive monitoring technology

  • Representing the interests of the principal institutional investor

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October 2020 to present:

NON_EVECUTIVE BOARD ADVISOR: Sitigrid Ltd (UK CleanTech startup developing peer-to-peer energy trading)

  • ​Helped the Company find its strategy and now supporting the executives with their execution

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October 2020 to present:

TECHNOLOGY CONSULTANT: L2M Rail (Indian railway technology business)

  • Supporting the development of advanced metrology to improve safety on India’s rail network

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September 2020 to present:

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT: Proximion AB (Swedish fiberoptic technology Company)

  • Created a new business development strategy to help expand the business offering into new markets

 
EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE

 

2018 to June 2020:
EESSA OPERATIONS MANAGER: Halliburton (Global Oilfield Services Company)

  • Employed as a result of the acquisition of Smart Fibres

  • Managed the integration of the Smart Fibres business and technologies into Halliburton

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2002 to 2018:
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Smart Fibres Ltd (Fibre optic sensing systems Company)

  • Recruited to rebuild the business after the 2000-2002 technology market recession

  • Appointed an administrator to extract the Company from an insolvent group

  • Built and strategically led the Company from infancy through to trade sale

  • Board member with full P&L management and shareholder return responsibility

  • Prepared board agendas and information packs, managed board meeting actions

  • Built strategic alliances with major oil & gas and aerospace sector partners

  • Gave strategic direction and mentoring to a highly skilled team

  • Contributed to Company intellectual property portfolio (3 patents)

  • Negotiated and closed a >$30M business exit, realising value from both aerospace and oil & gas

 

2000 to 2002:
MANAGING DIRECTOR: Staveley Engineering Co. Ltd (CNC machining Company, dissolved)

  • Appointed to turnaround failing family business

  • Led business restructuring & negotiated a voluntary arrangement with creditors

  • Closed the Company and setup a NewCo to retain the principal customer’s business

 

1992 to 2000:

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR, DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER, PROJECT MANAGER, SENIOR ENGINEER: Frazer-Nash Research Ltd (Electric vehicle drivetrain and electronics R&D Company)

  • Commercial lead for £10M electronics R&D

  • Presented Company technology to VIPs and Heads of State

  • Led acquisition of new staff, technologies & facilities to support growth

  • Supported set-up of an electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Malaysia

  • Led integration of an acquired electronics manufacturing facility in Scotland

  • Established volume product manufacturing in Malaysia

  • Won a contract to supply 300 electric vehicles to the Sydney Olympics

  • Designed Helmet Mounted Display systems for Formula one

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1986 to 1992:
SENIOR SYSTEM ENGINEER: GEC Marconi Avionics Ltd (Aerospace Defence Contractor)

  • Designed Head Up Display and Helmet Mounted Display systems for military aircraft (3 patents)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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  • 1986 BSc Electronic Engineering – University of Kent at Canterbury

  • Highly numerate with exceptional IT skills

  • Born 26th August 1965 (fit, healthy, ambitious), three sons

  • Comfortable with domestic and international travel

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