Meet Our Coaches

Sean McPheat

Sales, Leadership & Entrepreneurialism

Sean is the founder and MD of The Executive Coaching Studio. Sean's passion and expertise is in sales and leadership coaching.

Sean has also appeared on TV on several occasions as an expert in the field of personal and professional development. Being a finalist in the 2007 British Business Awards for his Entrepreneurial achievements, Sean knows what makes businesses successful.

Sean has been featured on CNN International, BBC, ITV, The Guardian, Arena Magazine , Marketing Weekly, The Hong Kong HR Journal and radio stations such as BBC WM and LBC (London's Big Conversation).

As well as delivering management and leadership skills Sean also specialises in delivering Train The Trainer courses and is well known for helping TV and showbiz personalities with their communication and presentation skills including TV presenters, Big Brother evictees, professional footballers and top public speakers.

"Sean's style was excellent and really made me want to learn more. It was upbeat, energetic and fun"

Olivia McLaughlan - District Manager - Claire's Accessories

"Thanks to Sean's wonderful tips, techniques and his humour and approach I was able to understand what I needed to do back in the workplace to run effective meetings. The practical exercises were fun and I really got some meaningful learning out of each one - Sean had the uncanny knack of being able to make learning an enjoyable process for the whole 2 days. Thanks!"

Ian Dobson - Communications Manager - Lloyds TSB

"I had a really great time and it will be really useful going forward. Was exactly the insight and catalyst I needed to step up my game. A very good course"

Steven Wyer - Data Governance Manager - Capital One Bank

"The course was exceptional. What I liked about it was that it was very good information, funny, affirming (as individuals and as a group), practical and has benefits far beyond the content. The facilitation was excellent.Thanks for all this. You are an exceptional person Sean and it was great being on the course"

Susan Grant - Manager - Duni

"A really BIG THANK YOU Sean. The course was BRILLIANT. I really did appreciate all your help and training getting me over the final hurdle - I couldn't have done it without your encouragement and input, it was as you say AWESOME"

Ian Daniels - Manager - Greencell

"After the training had finished my manager could not believe the impact that Sean had on me. He thought he had employed another person!"

Phil Hayman - Head Buyer - Faccenda

Sean’s commitment to his fresh, hip and trendy approach to the way he trains is surpassed only by his passion to make a difference to your business and to provide your staff with a memorable training experience.

Mark Williams

Executive Development, Leadership & Sales

Mark specialises in the design and delivery of executive development programmes. Mark is always in great demand and he has managed programmes across the UK, Europe, Japan, China and the Middle East.

Mark's dedication to providing tailored, bespoke solutions is matched by his positive attitude, experience and practical approach to every event that he delivers.

"I found Mark to be an excellent communicator. He clearly knows his subject having studied it for over 20 years! His style was both informative and fun and he had the whole room's attention"

Judy Clarke - Defence Academy - Joint Services Command & Staff College

Thanks for the course, it was great. Rest assured, I wouldn't have any problems
recommending the course to my fellow managers. I found it extremely useful and thought provoking and thought Mark was a great facilitator and tutor"

Garry Cochrane - Account Manager - Fine Ltd

"There were no switch off spells as the course was excellent. The presentation style was both friendly and humourous. I now have a method of structuring my management style and have a great understanding that different people need to be

motivated in different ways"

Bakhtiar Hanan - Head Of Buying - Videogames - Toys R Us

"The sections on coaching and managing conflict were excellent. The module enabled me to learn how to develop my team members and also work on my weaknesses as a leader.The course met my needs completely"

Julie Parris - Team Leader - Pfizer Ltd

"I found the whole course to be very interesting indeed. I can now approach my staff with confidence in a way that will work! The course was very useful and Mark (the trainer) was informative, open and approachable"

Simon Harper - Head of Design - Maritz Ltd

"The course was really helpful. I had never done any coaching before but I can certainly see the benefits of it. Mark used effective ways to communicate with the group and was easy to talk to. Thanks!"

Sarah Jones - Sales Office Supervisor - Roland UK Ltd

Mike Clarkson

Sales & Business Development

A professional Business Developer, Trainer and Senior Manager having extensive experience in the Retail and Corporate Services sectors. Proven sales, management and leadership skills, passionate about the development of people. An effective communicator at all levels, internally and externally. Good problem solving, influencing and negotiation skills.

QUALIFICATIONS and TRAINING:

• Competent Leader Award, Toastmasters International, 2005
• Competent Toastmaster, Toastmasters International, 2003
• Accredited Insights Associate
• Insights Performance Coach
• Certificate in Managing Customer & Client Relations, Open University,
• CIPD Certificate in Training Practice, Salford University
• Advanced Presentation Skills
• Inducted into 'Ryder Roundtable' a 'Hall of Fame' society

ASSOCIATIONS:

• Fellow, Institute of Sales & Marketing Management
• Associate, Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development
• Area Governor, Toastmasters International
• Immediate Past President, Manchester Orators
• Member, Manchester Chamber of Commerce
• Associate Member, Professional Speakers Association

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS:  

• Authoring new material including 'Successful Selling' a 30-part sales training manual published by Echelon and Video Arts

• Directed top performing regional sales team responsible for new business sales of 50m and customer revenues over £300m

• Created, managed and delivered Sales Academy training for two major UK dealer networks supporting over 120% target growth

• Co-led Ryder Plc Investors in People programme

• Led Manchester Orators to achieve 'Select Distinguished Club' Award with Toastmasters International, and appointed Area Governor

• Top salesperson award from over 35 in UK for Ryder Plc

• UK winner of Company Sales Incentive award to The Bahamas

• International Director and UK Chairman of Ryder Roundtable

• Adapted and delivered US Advanced Sales Training programme in UK

• Implemented UK employee scholarship programme across 3600 employees

Here are some comments from Mike's courses:

"Mike Clarkson was excellent, and his practical approach enabled us to deal with key issues in a clear and analytical way. I have received positive feedback from all of the delegates and comments afterwards included the following responses: "well presented, enjoyable, well rounded, informative and fun. I would have no hesitation in recommending Mike Clarkson"

Catriona Urquhart-Lintz of Marketing Manchester 

"I recently attended the Psychology of Sales course with Mike. This is the third course I have attended which Mike has taken, and like the previous ones, I left better, sharper and re-focussed.

Mike had the difficult task of working with a very mixed ability group, and managed neither to overwhelm the less skilled nor bore the more skilled members of the team. Mike delivers in a relaxed manner, yet keeps delegates on track. I look forward to my next course with Mike and have no hesitation in recommending his services to sales professionals of whatever level."

Tony Ware of Ryder Plc 

Sales training is always difficult to run with sales employees at different levels of experience. Mike evaluated and assessed our requirements and what we as a Company wanted to achieve. He offered several options and advised us on the best course of action we needed to take to achieve our overall goals within our time frame. A really professional, in-depth training session followed, with another 3 pencilled in for the remained of the year. I would certainly recommend Mike to other potential customers"

Maria Vizard of Burnt Tree Vehicle Hire

"All our managers now really understand the benefit effective appraisals can make to the business, and they are currently in the process of putting their new-found skills to the test. The course tutor, Mike Clarkson, was extremely popular"

Kathy Parrish, Kingsland Wines

Brian Perry

Executive Development & Leadership

Brian brings a wealth of experience to organisational change and people development and is comfortable operating at effectively at all levels of private and public sector businesses, regardless of their size.

He has helped Organisations, Teams and Individuals to improve their performance by establishing not just what needs to change and why but how the changes need to be effected. One of the hallmarks of his reputation with clients is his ability to transfer skills to the team throughout the implementation process.

With his relaxed and pragmatic approach, he works with Organisations to identify their vision for the future and helps bring that vision into reality.

He understands and appreciates that satisfying a vision can only be achieved by effective leadership and people management. Brian has significant experience of helping individuals to take greater control of their personal development, and has designed and facilitated a variety of development events. He utilises a significant range of feedback tools and is qualified to use a variety of psychometric tests.

Training Expertise:

• Performance Management
• Team Building
• Translating business strategy into practical action ? Culture development within organisations
• Leadership development
• Communication consultancy
• Facilitation / behavioural and attitude change
• Behavioural Training
• Customer relations Management
• Psychometric Testing

Previous Assignments include:

• Developed and facilitated a culture change programme to improve business performance and team and personal behaviour.
• Visioning, leadership and team working initiatives.
• Trained 300+managers covering Leadership & Personal Effectiveness for major High Street Retailer. An experiential learning process utilising the outdoors.
• Aligned job responsibilities and accountabilities to fit with the vision and values of the organisation.
• Established an appropriate organisational culture for a ‘greenfield’ site and designed recruiting processes appropriately aligned with the requirements of the culture.
• Aligned teams to fulfil a common purpose.
• Designed and implemented individual performance appraisal schemes.
• Achieved excellent customer service initiatives.

Qualifications and Affiliations.

Brian holds the British Psychological Society Statement of Competence in Occupational Testing (level A & B) and he is an accredited user for Psychometric Testing including:

• Myers-Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI)
• Occupational Personality Questionnaires (OPQ)
• Firo-B
• Occupational Culture Inventories (OCI)
• Life Styles Inventories (LSI)
• Strong Interest Inventory and Thomas International

He is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and holds their Diploma in Training Management.

Gary Lucas

Sales, Leadership & Executive Development

Gary is a very experienced and successful sales and management coach/trainer. He has spent many years in challenging roles on the frontline of sales and sales management leading teams and campaigns. This depth of experience helps him to generate credibility, respect and rapport among senior managers and sales professionals and also to design and deliver training and coaching interventions that make a real difference.

Gary worked in IT publishing for many years holding senior management and sales positions before moving to sell high value network services in the telecoms sector. He has lead a team of 50 sales people and managed sales channels in the USA, Europe and Asia as well as complex solutions to communications service providers across Europe.

Gary has advised, trained and coached around sales and management topics for companies in many sectors including Publishing & Online Media, Events, Financial Information, Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, Professional Services, Logistics, Software and Communications. He also coaches entrepreneurs and MD/CEO level executives on business strategy and also on influencing techniques to help them manage complex political relationships at board level.

Industries That Gary Has Delivered Solutions For:

• Commercial banking
• HR Consultancy
• Pharmaceuticals (Manufacturing and Marketing)
• Telecommunications
• Exhibitions
• Conferences & Events
• Printing
• Construction Services
• Rail Operators
• Business Services
• Software
• Logistics, Distribution and Supply Chain
• Express Parcels
• Government Sector (Skills Council)
• Charities
• Managed Office Facilities
• Magazine Publishing
• Online Media
• Legal Services
• Healthcare Products
• Educational Establishments (Colleges)
• Hospitality Sector (Restaurant and Bar Management)
• Wines & Spirits