David Garman
David’s energy, passion and real life examples bring enthusiasm, motivation and inspiration to meetings.
David brings a wealth of experience with 35 years in executive management and 15 years’ as a non-executive director/business advisor. He has worked in and advised companies such as TDG, Associated British Foods, United Biscuits, John Menzies, Speedy, Amberon and Babble.
David’s key strengths include delivering advice and support to a range of businesses, leadership and coaching, growth strategy development and execution, performance improvement and value crystallisation.
Favourite quote: “Most executives approach strategic priorities in their spare time but they don’t have any.”
Benjamin Didier
First-hand knowledge of successfully running SME businesses and delivering results in corporate management positions are key to what Benjamin brings to our clients.
Benjamin has over 15 years’ experience across a range of disciplines including commercial, operations and finance. Roles such as Group Finance Director and Divisional Managing Director mean that Benjamin brings a balanced and overarching perspective to the challenges within SME businesses.
Ben’s key strengths include financial analysis and reporting, leading to actionable insights that drive sales, profitability and efficiency.
Favourite quote: “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
James Garman
James enjoys supporting businesses as they grow. With a wealth of experience across a range of disciplines including business development, marketing, operations and supply chain, leadership and strategy, he has spent more than 20 years delivering dynamic results.
During that time, he has brought a unique enthusiasm and passion to working with organisations such as Allied Bakeries, CHEP (part of Brambles), Nielsen and Coeliac UK.
In collaboration with business owners and management teams, James’s key strengths are providing growth strategy development, advice and support to SMEs.
Favourite quote: “Growth is never by chance, it is the result of working collaboratively together.”
Jaynie Smith
Jaynie enjoys advising businesses on integrated marketing communications. With 15 years’ experience in marketing and business development predominantly within the services industry.
Jaynie’s expertise consists of market and product insights, employee and customer interviews and marketing collateral for SMEs. This includes branding, website, CRM, social media and events.
In collaboration with business owners Jaynie’s key strengths include project management, delivering consistent marketing messages and turning great ideas into reality.
Favourite quote: “If you look really closely, most overnight successes took a long time.”
Rupert Lyle
Rupert is a Director and Associate at Oakwood. He advises on growth strategy, businesses becoming investment ready and equity stories. He has managed investments in High Growth Businesses for 3i, West Midlands Enterprise, The Baring English Growth Fund and Barclays Ventures and Catapult Venture Managers in the Midlands.
As well as a skilled professional investor and advisor, Rupert also has a strong entrepreneurial streak.
This blend of professionalism and entrepreneurialism means Rupert has always had a strong affinity with the Founders and/or CEO’s of High Growth Businesses. However, whilst sitting on the Advisory Committee of the London Co-Investment Fund, he realised that due to the fragmented nature of support and funding in the Midlands the entrepreneurial talent running High Growth Businesses were being poorly served. With a vision to address this he helps foster a spirit of cooperation amongst the existing fragmented ecosystem.
Favourite quote: “A vision without execution is a hallucination” (Thomas Edison)
Oakwood provide commercial insights – not just support. The Oakwood team really understood our business and were able to give options that translated to profitability and bottom-line growth
Oakwood helped us create a 5-year strategy to take our business up to $10 million from just over $1million, becoming a market leader. This strategy focused on making our proposition more compelling and how we would communicate and then deliver this to the end user. Oakwood have a wealth of experience and real-life examples which is a refreshing change from other businesses used in the past. I would not hesitate in recommending the Oakwood team
Establishing the right strategy often remains the key delta between business success and failure, particularly when you are evaluating new markets and targeting strategic growth. Partnering with Oakwood enabled us to prioritise and focus our efforts and to ensure the sustainability of our key goals. I have recommended Oakwood to several colleagues within my network as a first-class partner for strategic assessment and support.
Oakwood gave us an excellent insight into our capacity for growth, the sustainability of our business model, the opportunity for efficiency improvement and the capability of our management