Jim McLaughlin
Jim founded Optima in 1998. Prior to that, he was a Management Consultant with the boutique firm etc limited. An English graduate and a qualified marketer, Jim now provides companies and MDs with consulting, facilitation, coaching and training programmes. He is highly experienced in the Business Support field and has trained hundreds of Business Advisers. Recently, he has co-authored reports for two Think Tanks - on Small Business Learning through Networks and on Diagnostic Assessment of Small Businesses. He is a practitioner of Accelerated Learning and a Master Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming. In addition to his consulting business, he own the leading diagnostic software package Online Business Review and is involved with a number of other entrepreneurial businesses. He has recently published The Excellent Board Members Pocket Book.
Robert Craven
Robert trains entrepreneurs and is one of the best known and respected speakers in the topic in the UK. He entertains tens of thousands each year with his mixture of creative thinking, common sense and juggling antics. His themes are: customer focus, innovation, smart marketing and strategy. He is author of two books, the best-selling Kick Start Your Business and Customer Is King (both Virgin Publishing). He holds degrees in Engineering and an MBA from Warwick University
Colin Wilkinson
Colin's first went into business at university - selling handmade cakes and then producing a world-leading violinist at the Edinburgh festival. Following career stints at Anderson Consulting, Energis and Eidos (where he was the youngest marketing director of a listed company), he went on to found a teleconference company, The Virtual Meeting Company, with Noel Edmonds. Colin works on strategy and marketing consulting assigments. He has a rare ability to blend sublime creativity absolute rigour and logical precision. He is also a partner in a range of entreprenerial businesses.
Resli Costabell
Resli is a leading Coach and Trainer. She provokes thought, action and laughter in equal measure. She deservedly wins brilliant evaluations and plaudits. Her specialities are personal skills such as time management, presentating, appraisal and performance management, on-the-job coaching, work-life balance and emotional intelligence. She developed her skills when working with prison inmates and substance abusers. She is highly regarded among coaches in the UK and regularly counsels others in the profession on problems they encounter. Her coaching has been featured in numerous publication such as The Times and The Telegraph. She has worked with many of the world's leading companies.
Steve Harriott
Steve is a very welcome new addition to our Associate team. He is providing consultancy and facilitation services. He is a results-driven former Chief Executive with over 20 years experience of working within local authorities and housing associations, the last 10 of which have been at Chief Executive/Managing Director level. Most recently, he was Group CEO of a large organisation with 1,300 staff and a £140m turnover. With an ability to combine strategic insight with attention to detail, Steve has delivered a number of significant change projects and, in particular, has successfully managed three large mergers in the housing association sector. He has a strong focus on strategic planning, risk management, performance, quality and assurance which has delivered success in all his roles. He has excellent communications and leadership skills and has operated with a wide range of stakeholders at all levels. He a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Oxford Universtity and an MSc in Strategy and Resource Management. He is joint author of Introducing Social Housing, the major text book in housing.
Timothy Cumming
Timothy is our online Marketing specialist. He is a specialist on realising commercial strategies via digital technolgies. He has worked on a assignments for many leading FMCG brands and has helped to start seven companies. He creates web sites and integrated marketing campaigns that deliver a profit. He is exceptionally creative - both visually and conceptually. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Artificial Intelligence and is author of Little e, Big Commerce (Virgin Publishing).
Robin Hogg
Robin is a leading light in the HR world. He started his career at J Sainsbury becoming Graduate Recruitment and Development Manager. He joined Robson Rhodes and then co-founded etc limited. Robin was a pioneer of the Investor in People standard. He has an oustanding record of success in bringing clients to achievement and is a Senior Assessor. He works with a wide range of organisations as a consultant and trainer. His specialities are Manager Development and People Management Skills for Line Managers, including Performance Management and Leadership.
Emma Neary (nee Wray)
Emma is Optima's superb Project Manager for our Online Business Review sites. She is a graduate in Biochemistry and, before working with Optima, worked in the US and with a small innovative web development agency.