Business Advisory Board

Mr. Sethi has a track record of achieving excellence in profitable and positive change management from strategy to successful execution, demonstrated abilities in broad conceptual thinking, and problem-solving with strong analytical and communication skills.

Prior to Verizon, Mr. Sethi has served with Santander Bank - UK, Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP - UK, Deloitte LLP - UK, and Deloitte Haskins and Sells - India in a variety of Assurance and Advisory appointments. He holds an ACA and Bachelor of Commerce, Honours degree from India.

Catherine previously served as a member of the Board of Trustees and the Remuneration Committee at Nottingham Trent University, and as a chair and trustee has stewarded defined benefit pension schemes through periods of challenging periods of change.

He speaks with the authority and confidence of the expert practitioner who has seen and experienced it all before. René draws much from his own unique experiences as managing director at IPC Magazines and serving on a variety of boards including Pepsi, IPC Media and the Inland Revenue.

The only position in the business that has no preparatory training or development whatsoever is the CEO. The most important and probably the most challenging job in the business, and on Day One, it is all brand new to the new incumbent, and there is no one around to show them what needs to be done.

It is the role that rarely has an appropriate job description and even rarer is there any form of handover. Far too often the opportunity presents itself rather suddenly and for whoever is approached, it is very hard to turn down.

René has acquired a reputation for providing first hand advice and support for a series of successful CEOs in the Fortune 500, FTSE 100 and all around the world. Many may claim to have worked at the ‘sharp end’ with many CEOs, but in actual fact very few have. He has worked closely with Jim Yong Kim – President of The World Bank, Antony Jenkins – CEO Barclays Bank, Mario Greco – CEO Generali and Maria Ramos – CEO Absa Bank, and hardly any can match his sustained track record of success.

There is no universal solution or approach for supporting a CEO, as each one is as individual as their fingerprints. It is without a doubt, the toughest job in the world, but it is also the best job in the world.

René acquires case studies and stories from the frontline and first hand. There are exciting adventures, emotional anecdotes and enough drama to excite any audience. René delivers learning wrapped up as never to be forgotten stories told by a master storyteller. You will want to hear them again and again.

René specialises in delivering performances that show precisely how contemporary leaders can electrify an audience through a powerful and authentic emotional connection. He demonstrates just how compelling an emotionally intelligent approach can be. He is never about theory - it is all practical and pragmatic leadership insights and tips. No one ever forgets being at one of his sessions.

René is an accomplished visiting professor at Cass Business School. His critically acclaimed latest book, Spike – What are you great at? enables all of us to unleash our inherent strengths and realise our true potential. As René says, “If you accept your limitations you go beyond them”.

Whilst working for the ‘big 4’ clearing banks in the United Kingdom, managing Global Markets balance sheets of up to £234b, Will progressed quickly through the ranks, via multiple promotions, where he forged a reputation as an effective and equitable business leader, who is not only results-driven, but consistently improves business performance through an inclusive approach.

Will has been sought-out for various roles during his career, from the Bank of England, where he rescued and managed a ‘Quantitative Easing Scheme’, to Lloyds Banking Group, where he received the prestigious ‘Outstanding Achievement Award’, for his contribution to the prominent TSB divestment programme. He has also accepted the positions of CEO and CFO for several fintech start-ups and in 2019, was granted permanent residency to Australia, via the “Distinguishing Talent Visa Program”, selected due to his international reputation as a fintech professional. He was in fact the first migrant from Europe and the first from the Global Fintech Sector to be offered this rare visa.

Whilst in Australia, Will founded DayTek Capital, an Australian Financial Services licensed business, which developed a range of innovative and digitally advanced financial service products and investment opportunities. In 2021, the business was acquired by two investment funds. Since then, Will has launched a Crypto Custody Bank and heads up a venture capitalist firm, backed by a large listed Chinese multinational.

To support students in Australia and the United Kingdom, Will has accepted the positions of Executive Advisor and mentor at QUT, Expert in Residence and mentor at Griffith University and sits on the Advisory Board of Roehampton Business School in addition to mentoring and lecturing, since 2008. From 2021, he has been providing business advise to the elders of the Queensland Wakka Wakka people.

Claire was previously the Global Procurement Director for BP’s retail business, which covered all aspects of supply chain and procurement, and Head of Procurement at Coca-Cola Enterprises UK.

Chad sits on JP Morgan’s BOLD EMEA leadership team (Black Organization for Leadership and Development) focusing on advancing black talent across Europe. He also holds a Master's degree in project management, finance and risk from City University and a BEng in civil engineering from Kingston University. As an advocate for continued learning, he also has his Prince 2 and Six Sigma Yellow Belt.

The transition from large corporate to running your own business was a massive change, with very different pressures but he found it very liberating and it freed up time to support other fledgling business owners.

John is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply and has been on the Advisory Board at Roehampton Business School since 2013 and has chaired it since 2017. He is also the sponsor of The Mobius Services Undergraduate Prize For Business Readiness.

Tim has a proven track record working with all levels of candidate from graduate to executive in providing strong commercial assistance in how to approach the market as a new entrant or how to stay relevant and keep up with the ever changing employment market.

David has held a number of roles both outside and within IT over his career, including responsibilities for IT, Customer Services and a major Customer Services Transformation Programme. He recently worked on the merger of Richmond and Wandsworth Council's, running a major IT transformation programme and was the Head of IT for the merged organisation.

David holds an MBA and is a Fellow of the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.

Leads on protocols and efficiencies to drive continuous improvement of business processes including software systems development, rights and availabilities, deals management and sales support. Open University Business Graduate. Executive Champion of Paramount’s Employee Resource Group “Thursday Think” - an employee led initiative to promote professional development for its members.  Advisory Board Member, the Business School, University of Roehampton.  Strategic thinker.  Life-long learner.

George was a lecturer in China Business and Economy at Sofia University (Bulgaria) before 2007 and also managed a Chinese business news and analysis service on Dow Jones Factiva and Reuters Business Briefing for four years. He has founded two technology startups in London, one of which won EU FP7 funding.

George did an MBA at Emory University (Atlanta) and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; an MSc in China in Comparative Perspective at the London School of Economics (LSE); and a BA in Chinese Studies at Sofia University and Anhui University (China). He was a Fulbright Scholar at Emory University and a Chevening Scholar at the LSE. He speaks Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Spanish and his native Bulgarian.

George climbed a 6,088 m peak in the Bolivian Andes in 2009. In his spare time he writes a blogs exploring the parallels between nature and business.

A Chartered Manager, a member of the Business Advisory Board of Roehampton University and an active member of ARLA, NFOPP and the NAEA. He holds a BA Joint Honours degree in Economics and Geography from Newcastle University, a Diploma in Management and Leadership from Cranfield School of Management and an MBA from Bayes Business School (formerly CASS)..

Having worked from a graduate trainee to Managing Director, Alexander has been instrumental in the organic growth of the business over his 20 year career. Leading the company for the last 8 years he reports to the Board of Directors with full P&L responsibility for the company sales performance across 100 employees. Career highlights include the successful acquisition of competitor agents, a thriving apprentice program, achieving #1 status nationally on an independent review website with in excess of 5000 five star reviews and redesigning the employee rewards scheme improving retention by 40%.

Beverley also runs her own business coaching, consulting and training company, ‘Next Level Business,’ and previously spent eleven years working for world-class learning and development providers.

Atul holds an Executive MBA and bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, both from the University of Bath. Atul is also the Chair of You Make it, a Charity based in East London, helping empower young unemployed women to realise their passions and pursue their goals.