NEWS
Where it all started.
OCTOBER 2025. AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURERS FACE SERIOUS CHALLENGES EXPANDING TO GLOBAL MARKETS.
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My experience in ensuring comprehensive and profitable geographical expansion of markets comes from having created my first technology manufacturing company in my home city of Hobart, Tasmania, and rapidly moving it to Silicon Valley, where I acquired my largest USA competitor, reverse listed on NASDAQ, and went on to dominate my global market technically and commercially. There were lessons learned along the way, some hiccups, but essentially a good product and good management team ensured success.​​
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Since then I have applied those lessons and that experience to leading and guiding other manufacturers to overseas markets and customers. Avoiding the pitfalls. B2B and B2C.
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Having lived and worked in some 20 countries on all continents has provided knowledge on jurisdictions, cultures, languages and business methods.
SEPTEMBER 2025. ON TWO OCCASSIONS COMPANIES I'VE TURNED AROUND HAVE COLLAPSED YEARS LATER.
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It's disappointing when I learn of that because it makes me wonder why they did not contact me again, especially since I saved the company for then back then. The fact that it is years later is important, since otherwise it would suggest my work was not sustainable. Not the case with those two. One was an AI company in Boston, the other was a feature animation company in Hollywood.. Perhaps they have been too embarrassed. More likely there have been a couple of changes of leadership since my involvement and the new management are unaware of their own company's history.​​
Just now I am involved again with a very exciting company that is struggling, that indeed has come back to me almost a decade after I turned them around. New management has taken over. Well done.
AUGUST 2025. ONE OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES of helping a company in crisis to recover is the lack of accurate and rapid decision making by the incumbent leadership. ​
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The most common problem encountered is the constant misguided view that their company needs an industry expert to turn it around. I am forever advising that what is needed is a company expert, a transitional manger expert, not an industry expert. The penny drops when I point out that it was an industry expert leading them up till now that got them into trouble. Companies are typically filled with industry experts in their production, marketing and service teams, so that is not the skill needed in their next CEO.​
What is needed is a special type of leader who can make the best of all the industry expertise within the company. ​​​
JULY 2025. Succession planning in private or family businesses is sensitive and can be traumatic.
Unlike engagements in public companies where professional leadership is the norm, the aspirations, legacy, commitment and personalities of the founders or family members must be taken into consideration. Afterall, you are coming in as a stranger to take over all aspects of leading their dream into the future.
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More than anywhere else, it is vital to listen and learn from the family. ITS A RELATIONSHIP THING.
At Thai Stair Company in Bangkok, with a host of very exciting companies including designing and manufacturing building materials, adding value to agricultural produce, formulation of specialty consumer beauty and food and health supplements, it also necessitates a broad understanding of portfolio management. Of particular prominence for me has been the roll out of the modular housing company to address house shortages and costs with rapid to assemble, high quality innovative design at low cost.
JUNE 2025. One of the joys of being a free agent is I hold positions on boards of charities. Since 2011 I have been a non-executive director of TRAVEL WITH A CAUSE, Australia's only not for profit travel agency, donating its profits to worthwhile community causes. For 3 years during Covid, when travel agencies were collapsing because of the bans on travel, I changed to be the (pro bono) CEO/MD and managed with my team to not only survive the pandemic but to thrive. In 2022 we were awarded the MOST SUSTAINABALE TORUISM OPERATOR IN THE WORLD by peak international industry body Skal and this year we have been awarded the best travel agency in Hobart, FOR THE 7TH YEAR RUNNING!
MAY 2025: Between projects can be fun. Just spent the evening at the fabulous Asiatic tourist site beside the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, dined on traditional Thai cuisine (pad thai for me with tofu and sprouts), saw my first carousel for many years, and watched the colourful river cruisers streaming in to load their guests. Last time I was here was 6 years ago for Loy Krathong, the solemn Thai festival respecting the water goddess, sending flowers and candles out on small lotus shaped paper rafts.
