FRED METZGEN a Chair, CEO, Interim, NED and Mentor
I am an experienced Chairman, CEO, NED, Interim, and Senior Business Leader. A seasoned and professional senior advisor; a member of Mentorsme, set up by the British Bankers’ Association, and a ‘Growth Accelerator coach.
I bring more than three decades' worth of BUSINESS LEADERSHIP, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, and BUSINESS STRATEGY experience in the corporate world with over a decade of senior counselling experience in Corporate Governance, Financial Management, Operational Efficiency, Risk Management, Shareholder Management, Investor Relations, Talent & Source Management, Continuity, Revenue Growth, Go to Market Planning, Strategic Account Management, Marketing, and General Management Performance.
I have had an ‘exceptional’ background in Startups as well as in various international divisions of major corporations, developing their international sales strategy, growing their customer and revenue base, and setting up new operations, having worked for/with some of the world’s largest & leading IT & Telecommunication companies in the world such as
IBM, France Telecom, BT, AT&T, Lucent,
Masabi, i3 Group, OpenCity, and CityFibre
covering many aspects of today’s wider business/IT environment. I have also served on their boards of directors as the CEO, an NED, or INTERIM.
I have worked with a high degree of innovative thinking and thinkers about identifying opportunities that will support ambitious goals. As a senior executive, I bring a track record, within a corporate environment, of identifying growth opportunities through long-term plans and management of deals, from target screening to execution. This included:
- Assessing venture opportunities (working with PEs and VCs);
- Identifying and evaluating potential areas for partnership, acquisition, or investment;
- Led the negotiations of potential investments, partnerships, mergers, or divestments, including due diligence processes.
I have a solid public profile and am known to be an inspirational leader with vision, passion, and drive, capable of motivating and energising others. As an experienced Managing Director, I have
- Led the development and execution of EMEA strategies.
- Had full P&L ownership, including the top and bottom line
- Worked with Research Labs in evaluating the market potential.
- Developed, implemented, and executed the overall strategy for several Companies to grow revenue and new business across EMEA.
- Worked with Sales, Account Management, and Marketing to ensure a successful outcome.
- Developed and maintained systems, processes, and quantitative and qualitative input for strategic decisions in the group.
- INTERNATIONAL (I have also lived and worked in over 15 countries in Europe and North America, with frequent travel to the Asia Pacific region)
Achieving success depends on talented individuals working as a team, to maintain the operations; and keep an eye out for ways to improve the service level. I have a proven track record of successfully recruiting, developing, leading, and inspiring high-performing teams, holding them to account through rigorous performance management and ensuring the delivery of successful outcomes.
BRIEF HISTORY
I started my career in Finance, working for an American Investment Bank in the City of London, with clients such as NM Rothschild, J&A Scrimgeour, Samuel Montague, Morgan Grenfell, Warburg, Singer & Friedlander. 2 years later, IBM headhunted me after coming top in my Computer Programming exams.
During my 24 years of service in IBM, I held numerous positions from Chief Programmer/Systems Engineer/Salesman/Sales Manager to later working in IBM's European HQ in Paris, returning to the UK to head IBM's entry into the telecommunications market. During this period, I co-founded EDI (Electronic Data Interchange), the protocol for exchanging data electronically, supporting international trade today worldwide. I am also the author of the book "Killing the paper dragon" explaining the origins and evolution of EDI.
In 1990, I was headhunted by France Telecom to head up, as Director Generale, a new start-up venture (France Telecom Network Services), France Telecom's first overseas commercial entity outside of France. During my tenure, I grew this organisation from scratch, to become the most successful division within the FT Group, (with a turnover of over £240m in 2 years) as well as assisting them in expanding operations across 11 EU countries,
In 1995, I joined BT Global Services based in Paris, as Business Development Director to fulfil a key role in expanding BT services and partnerships across Europe. Here I helped increase the revenues tenfold within 3 years.
MY ROLE IN EDUCATION & CHARITIES
After holding numerous senior roles as a Chairman, CEO, and NED in several other IT and Telecom organisations, I decided to look at areas where my background and skills could be used to help young people succeed in life. It didn’t last very long before being approached by Southwark’s local authority, to head various Governing School Boards.
A key objective of mine was ensuring that every young person can access high-quality provision training, helping them to achieve the best of their ability regardless of location, attainment, or background
Over a 10-year period, I took on the additional role as Chairman of a Catholic School now rated in the top 10% of schools in the UK, and Chairman of Southwark's School Governor's Association encompassing over 100 primary and secondary schools within the borough.
I have also worked with several Charities including being Chairman of Allergy UK Nurses' Appeal. The charities I have contributed to include the healthcare of mentally impaired residents; the Myasthenia Gravis (in Children) Association, The Haemophilia Society, The British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research, Asthma UK, and more.
MENTOR to SMEs and YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS
I have also advised and mentored several early-stage and SME companies. This includes mentoring and helping youngsters with ambition and innovative ideas to solve various problems and develop a successful business plan.
Working as an executive mentor who has been down several roads before and can share insight, perspective and advice from my own experiences, giving realistic guidance, possibly new ideas, work style, frameworks, strategies and goals to increase your performance and possible success.
I have also ran the London Marathon twice, as well as the Paris-Versailles Race (also known as La Grande Classique).
CONTACT: info@metzgen.com