entrepreneurs 15


Photographs by Angus Thomas


took it on as an independent consultant and gradually moved into consulting and change management.


What prompted you to set up Pro4 and Kivue


I managed a number of projects in places including Madrid, Paris and Germany and when I started placing people too, suddenly I knew I had the basis of an attractive business. I realised that my customers perceived real value in leadership and practical experience rather than pure consulting and they liked the fact that, despite never having done a project management course, I knew how to manage and deliver projects from experience rather than from a textbook, I had the basis of a scalable business proposition.


The original business was called Catalyst and I joined with another business in 2006 to create Pro4 Solutions. We saw a massive gap in the market for visualising project data into an engaging format and giving visibility of project portfolios to executive teams anytime, anywhere and so Kivue was formed. Today we have over 1,000 users of our software in Kivue and Pro4’s turnover is about £5 million. We employ 120 people, mostly associates, and our customers range from FTSE 100 and 250 businesses to smaller businesses who buy our software.


Tell us something we don’t know about you


Before Catalyst merged into Pro4, in 2003, I took the family and we went and lived up a mountain in Andalucia for two years, reforming and running an olive oil business.


I wanted to take my family to explore a different way of life, learn a new language and share an adventure. I was earning 50 euros a month coaching cricket at local Spanish schools and I fulfilled the part of me that wanted a real adventure, which was worth far more than any amount of money.


Of course it was a significant risk career-wise, but part of my make-up is that if you take risks you will get rewards – we still have the finca there today and have many customers of Fino Olive Oil.


I don’t feel I’m a person who has brilliant new ideas via “light bulb” moments, but I am someone who will take risks and I strive to be the best at what I do.


What advice would you give to a younger person starting in business?


Don’t get too straightjacketed too young. Allow yourself some time to freeflow and


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – APRIL 2016


experience things so you can find out what you’re really good at.


Who inspires you?


Rather than an individual, I’ve always been driven by the need to provide for my family and I think that’s because of my background. My wife and children are a huge inspiration to me.


You are involved in a project in Kenya


We support Footsteps UK, which is a brilliant project working with rural communities. We’ve built eight schools so far and a medical centre, I go out there every year with other volunteers and we do things like sports and arts and crafts with the children. It’s a great initiative and incredibly rewarding.


Where do you see your career going in the future?


At the moment, I’m still enjoying our two businesses and want to continue to build them further with a view to an exit at some point. Within five years, I’d like to be in a position where I can do things differently and focus on helping other people achieve their ambitions.


I couldn’t retire because work is too big a part of my life, but I’m not a workaholic, I switch off on a Friday night through to a Monday morning. In the future though, I want to have a better balance and spend more time with my family.


Do you see yourself as an entrepreneur? What do you do on your time off?


At 54, I still don my Lycra and you can find me doing a lot of cycling. I’m doing Ride London this year and I also do several sportive events. My other passion, apart from my family, is cricket and I played for MCC for 30 years.


Details: www.pro4solutions.com www.kivue.co.uk


www.businessmag.co.uk


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