FEATURE
WORDS : DAVE ROBSON PICTURES : CHRIS BOOTH
How Teessider Ian can help firms fly
He ’ s the troubleshooting “ co-pilot ” who ’ s been helping firms through turbulence for more than 20 years .
But having travelled the world advising and supporting firms across various sectors , Teessider Ian Smith is now flying solo – and he ’ s determined to use his wealth of experience to ensure businesses are on the right course .
His new venture , TheStrategySmith , aims to “ empower and inspire growth for businesses worldwide .”
Tapping into Ian ’ s proven record of delivering projects across 100 countries and 150 locations , it specialises in business change and transformation , especially at C-suite level .
So , whether it ’ s as a global management consultancy , a catalyst for growth and change or as a mergers and acquisitions advisor , Ian says he can help businesses get where they need to be . And that ’ s where the co-pilot analogy comes in .
He explained to Tees Business : “ Being able to go into any business and work with the leadership teams to gain rapport and trust is something I ’ ve had to do all over the world – in some cases , only having a few days to get in there , get things organised and ensure it ’ s profit-making at the end of the month .
“ A lot of it is about going in and asking the right questions – where are you now , where do you want to get to and what are the challenges stopping you from getting there ?
“ Whether people are visibly passionate about the success of their business , or going through chosen or unchosen growth or change , the key to generating trust is just to listen .
“ And then it ’ s almost like becoming a co-pilot for the business – you ’ re willing to take the reins if necessary , or just oversee and touch base if and when needed .”
Middlesbrough born-and-bred , on leaving Hall Garth School , Ian went straight into a modern apprenticeship with North East Chamber of Commerce .
After NECC secured him an assignment in an architectural company , he worked as an architecture technologist for seven years , managing construction projects such as a complex in Consett and Middlesbrough ’ s groundbreaking Boho One development – “ before the college was built ” – for Faithful + Gould .
Redeployed into the wider Atkins Group with Atkins Asset Management , Ian managed capital plans for some large accounts , including Lloyds Banking Group and the Metropolitan Police .
Confidence - Ian believes he can put his experience to good use .
He recalls : “ We had thousands of properties and hundreds of thousands of assets to maintain . I managed the capital plans for those in order to forecast maintenance activities and plan for capital budgets .”
When the business was bought by Sodexo , Ian was introduced to the world of mergers and acquisitions ( M & A ) – now one of many strings to TheStrategySmith ’ s bow .
And while Teesside was always home , he began travelling the world .
He says : “ When I started working for Sodexo , within a year I was working internationally , deploying contracts across Europe that we ’ d won and going into support sites . I was mobilising across different countries and continents .
“ I was the person who ’ d work across all segments , developing services , best practices and building networks of expertise so we could deliver , at speed , innovations for our biggest clients , such as Unilever , Nokia , Microsoft , Zurich , Astra Zeneca and ING Bank .”
His work took in several sectors , including healthcare , education and , recently , oil , gas and mining , working with Shell , Chevron and Rio Tinto .
But what all the roles had in common was a need to work closely with executives and C-suite level leaders to help them implement strategies – and a clarity of thought as to how businesses could be developed .
Ian , who has a masters certificate in project management , said : “ I ’ ve got a lot of sector , agnostic and global experience working with businesses from six to 11 figures – billions of pound turnovers .
“ It ’ s all about working at group level to steer the business into different services and become more profitable .
“ And when you ’ re able to demonstrate there are small things that can add value and be prepared to do it for them , that ’ s when the relationship and trust is formed .” After leaving Sodexo in January after
15 years , Ian launched TheStrategySmith in March , although it ’ s a project he ’ d been nurturing for some time .
But now it ’ s full steam ahead for Ian , 39 , who ’ s been married to Nicola , a business travel consultant , for 19 years and has two children , Benjamin , 14 , and daughter Hannah , 13 .
Being based at home in Middlesbrough means Ian can more easily enjoy hobbies such as fly fishing , exercise and “ family time ”, as well as actively targeting more Teesside businesses to help , especially with the flurry of economic activity set to be prompted by the likes of Teesworks and the freeport .
He also delivers project management training and qualifications accredited by the Association for Project Management .
And he ’ s confident the fundamentals that have served his career well so far – in particular , the importance he puts on preparation , questioning and listening – will continue to serve him well as he strives to “ help decision-makers in business sleep at night .”
He said : “ Setting up on your own is a rollercoaster ! I always had the security of a big business behind me , but now it ’ s my name above the door .
“ I ’ m really looking forward to helping more Teesside businesses , though , especially with the level of industry that ’ s coming here with the freeport and everything else .
“ I honestly think I ’ ll be able to help a few businesses hit the ground running when they get here . Or , if they ’ re already here , I can help them see how they can grow exponentially with the level of industry coming to Teesside because it ’ s going to happen so quickly .
“ As I say , it ’ s a bit of a rollercoaster , but I ’ m really looking forward to it .”
Visit thestrategysmith . com
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