Nicola B.

Experience

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  Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard

  Oct 1996 - Mar 1998

  Board Business Change Advisor-Director

  Secondment to Board as transformation director/advisor to lead this heritage organisation through the change needed for 21st century success in a highly competitive wine and spirits industry. Briefed by the Chairman to be “a robust and active catalyst for change”, I shaped a series of transformation programmes across the business, blending strategic thinking with tactical management capability to achieve lasting change in this unionised environment including: new vision and goals; consolidating three sales organisations with union and political agreement; restructuring international sales, marketing and shipping to move to case based working; and implementing a new operating model based on customer insight. These programmes delivered step changes in operating efficiency and profitability of the overall business. Show less

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  IBM United Kingdom Ltd

  Jan 1998 - Aug 2007

  Government Industry Executive Director

  In four years as Government Industry Director, I led IBM’s $1bn-revenue per annum business development and senior relationship management across Whitehall, working with commercial partners to sell multi-million pound/’billion-dollar’ technology-led solutions to fix service delivery and transformation challenges blocking public service reform in central/local government and defence/security. I also led a series of transformation projects to change how IBM operated in government. This included designing a new operating model to drive joined-up engagement across business units and led to 24% sales growth in the first year and market share taken. Prior to this role, I held a variety of posts as part of IBM's 'NextGens' leadership programme including:- 1.5 years as chief operating officer with full P&L responsibility for IBM's $2.3bn sales business in the media, telecoms and energy/utilities sectors across EMEA. I also lead on managing the portfolio of sales opportunities within a >$6bn pipeline.- 1.5 years establishing IBM's Institute of Business Value in Europe, including advisory work with firms in the banking, telecoms and retail sectors to set e-business and market entry strategies. I directed the content of >1000 pages of intellectual capital on vision and strategy for e-business innovation, peer reviewed by academics in Europe and USA.- 2 years in IBM's corporate strategy unit working on European mergers and acquisitions, including integrating two services firms into the IBM UK operating structure. Show less

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  The Home Office

  Sept 2007 - Apr 2010

  Strategy and Programme Director, HM Passport Office (formerly Identity & Passport Service)

  During this time I led strategy development for the National Identity Service and corporate strategy development for the passport processing and civil registration operations of the Agency, which included a strategy for joint working with other agencies in the HO like the UK Border Agency. As programme director, I led delivery of the IT-enabled business change programme to modernise passport applications and front office, putting them online and digital by default. Working in a traditional unionised UK infrastructure-critical operating environment, this included commercial delivery oversight of a consortium of IT providers operating under a £365m contract with an innovative incentivised pricing framework, Guaranteed Maximum Price Target Cost. Show less

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  Cabinet Office

  May 2010 - May 2014

  Programme and Change Director

  During this time, I led policy delivery work which focused on strengthening the government’s operational centre and finding more efficient and better ways of providing public services. This included leading the cross-Whitehall programme of work to strengthen civil service capabilities in eight functional areas (HR, finance, legal, internal audit, communications, commercial management, IT and property). The new operational models designed for each function unlocked the realisation of £1 billion of efficiency savings through improving the quality and resilience of the functions being delivered by over 37,000 civil servants. Show less

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  Department for International Trade (DIT)

  Jun 2014 - Oct 2016

  Managing Director for Trade

  Reported to the CEO at the government’s export and inward investment promotion agency (UKTI), I had direct management responsibility for the outcomes from 600+ UK staff who provided export advice to UK businesses of varying sizes, from micro to large corporates across all sectors. I had budget responsibility (including income generation) to develop and deliver the products and services that would help 50,000 firms win £25bn of business abroad due to the export support that only government can provide through its network of trade officers in over 100 countries around the world. I also had UK inward investment operational responsibilities for the creative, technology and retail sectors, working to attract the high-quality foreign investors these industries need to be able to export even more.As a member of UKTI's Executive Board, I also contributed to strategic leadership of UKTI’s transformation effort, specifically by leading development of a new strategy and operating model for UKTI’s offer to new and existing exporters, including the digitisation of service delivery, and by championing various other change projects. The new strategy and operating model was subsequently implemented by the chief executive.As UKTI’s diversity and inclusion champion and Chair of the People Committee, I focused on raising awareness of the benefits that a diverse workforce and inclusive approach to the workplace can bring to UKTI and business more generally. Show less

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  Healthcare UK

  Oct 2014 - Jun 2016

  Board Member

  Public/private sector Governance Board for Healthcare UK, jointly funded by the Departments of Health and International Trade and NHS England to help healthcare providers export more and strengthen NHS capacity to operate and succeed internationally. Board responsible for strategic oversight, performance monitoring and risk assessment of HCUK. Led recruitment of HCUK Managing Director for HCUK Chair, Sir Ian Carruthers.

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  Institute for Apprenticeships

  Jun 2016 - Oct 2016

  Shadow Chief Operating Officer

  On secondment to set up the Institute for Apprenticeships. Developed organisation structure and recruitment plan/process, including the transfer of staff from the Departments for Education and for Business, Energy, Innovation and Skills. Led design of new digital delivery model including external consultation with apprenticeship providers. Deputised for shadow CEO in external representation.

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  Acumen@Work

  Nov 2016 - now

  Managing Director

  Business Founder. Consultancy client list includes the City of London Corporation.

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  St Giles International

  Jun 2018 - Feb 2020

  English Second Language Teacher

  Fulfilled long held ambition to qualify and teach English as a second language. Private college of 525 students, average age 25. Taught general and business English to mixed nationalities from beginner to advanced levels, both individually and as a class. Had to be quick to understand different backgrounds, customs, and cultures, and work to make students feel comfortable. Responsible for developing class curricula and materials to meet student needs on a rolling term basis. Contract not renewed due to Covid-19. Show less