Issue 4 2023 #MakeItalyGreen Vertical Future: The Vertical Future of Agriculture Featuring: Italy is making huge moves towards a sustainable future, and there’s someone driving the Green Movement in a way that both inspires us and leaves us in awe. With a central role at E.ON Italy, CEO Frank Meyer has created a pivotal point for Italy’s society and economy. Here we learn more about Frank’s mission, and E.ON’s green impact, as he wins Most Influential Energy CEO 2023 – Italy from CEO Monthly. Also Featuring:
Welcome to the April 2023 issue of CEO Monthly. Welcome to the April 2023 issue of CEO Monthly. As always, CEO Monthly is dedicated to providing the latest news and features across the business world to our readership. By sharing knowledge, insights, expertise and success stories from around the globe, we aim to inspire individuals and promote positivity in a world that is in a constant state of evolution. As we experience the transition from winter to spring, we acknowledge the importance of change and how it should be embraced – especially as a CEO. Visionary leaders who welcome transformation are able to guide their teams through the rainiest of Aprils, and ultimately, the harshest of storms. When it comes to rapidly changing market conditions and customer needs, CEOs needs to be agile and flexible, taking every opportunity to remain competitive and ahead of the curve. An example of such a CEO is pioneering Frank Meyer who spearheads the operations of green energy behemoth, E.ON Italy. Frank places great importance on community and looking after the environment, and he plays an incredible role in the eco-friendly work of this revolutionary company – for he never shies away from a challenge or hesitates in taking the bull by the horns. We’re delighted to be recognising Frank for his hard work and look forward to following E.ON Italy’s movement, #MakeItalyGreen as it relentlessly strives towards the constant improvement of its energy solutions. That’s not all; among these pages, we celebrate a variety of exciting, innovative CEOs that are truly standing out as extraordinary. We hope you find their stories to be inspiring and look forward to welcoming you back again next month. Rebecca Scotland, Editor Website: www.ceo-review.com AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility.
4. News 6. E.ON Italia: #MakeItalyGreen 7. GüipUp!: Making International Expansion Happen 8. Project One: Consulting for Grown Ups 10. Vertical Future: The Vertical Future of Agriculture 12. Proactively Addressing Employee Mental Wellbeing to Drive High Performance and Happiness 14. The Appeal Guru: The CEO Behind Smooth Selling 15. Sifflet: It’s a Numbers Game! 16. Northcroft Law Middle East: Leading Law Firm CEO of the Year 18. Allect Design Group: Perfect by Design 20. Global 13: A Sporting Chance 21. Shepherds Friendly: Putting Members First 22. KPS Group: Leading with Passion 23. One Global Market Limited: Trading Places 24. The Coaching Masters: Coaching with Passion 25. UNICSKIN SL: Beauty is in the Eye of Beholder 26. Dubit: Metaversally Speaking! 27. Negocios TV: Striving for Global Leadership 28. Tuesday Media: A Story to Tell 29. PeopleCheck: Smart Tech Supported by Smart People 30. Gorilla Agency: Going Through the Motions 32. Luxaviation UK: A Highflyer! Contents
NEWS ROHIT MEHTA APPOINTED CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF HORIZONS ETFs
ZUG, Switzerland, April 4, 2023 /CNW/ - Essence Investment AG (“Essence” or the “Company”), a leading Swiss holding Company investing in the growth of the European cannabis industry, announces the appointment of Rico Uesluek as Chief Executive Officer of its portfolio company, Marry Jane AG (“MJ”). Mr. Uesluek will assume the role on 1 April and will be joined by Christoph Tepr as MJ’s new Vice President of Sales. The appointments of two noted consumer product veterans to MJ’s leadership team come as the liberalization of Europe’s cannabis markets gains momentum. Already operating at cashflow positive, MJ’s sophisticated cultivation and manufacturing facility in Breitenbach, Switzerland, is an exceptionally competitive platform which builds high-quality branded offerings featuring a range of rich terpene and cannabis profiles. Afrim Saliu, the entrepreneurial and engineering leader who pioneered MJ’s development, welcomed his new colleagues, “Rico’s track record speaks to his exceptional competence at executing and driving sustainable growth while building high-performing teams. Both Rico and Chris inspire deep trust in partners and bring us a passionate commitment to customers that will be the hallmark of the Marry Jane brand.” Mr. Uesluek joins MJ from Munich’s Whacky Food Company, a superfood start-up he founded following a combined thirteen years of experience in senior leadership positions with Logitech and Coca-Cola. Prior to his move to MJ, Mr. Tepr was Juul’s Senior Sales Director for EMEA, a position that capitalized on a career that featured multiple roles with Philip Morris. “We are thrilled to bring together this kind of leadership,” said Henricus J. Stander III, a Member of the Board of Directors of Essence. “The developmental and operational successes of the MJ team mark Afrim Saliu and his brother Kujtim Saliu as stand-out talents in the global cannabis industry. Adding the demonstrated skills in brand-building, distribution and marketing that Rico and Chris bring, MJ could not be betterpositioned for the consumer-led growth we see in European markets.” Essence Investment Appoints Rico Uesluek as Marry Jane AG CEO Respected industry veteran to lead Horizons ETFs through next chapter of growth. The Board of Directors of Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc. (“Horizons ETFs”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Rohit Mehta as President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Horizons ETFs, effective May 1, 2023. Horizons ETFs’ interim CEO, Jasmit Bhandal, will continue with the organization as Chief Operating Officer and as a Director. A well-known name in the Canadian investment fund and asset management sectors for over two decades, Mr. Mehta is a proven leader with an unparalleled track record in product innovation and realizing businesses’ full growth potential. Most recently, Mr. Mehta served as Senior Vice President, Head of Distribution, Guardian Retail Asset Management for Guardian Capital LP, and as Executive Vice President, Head of Marketing, Product and Data Analytics for CI Financial Corp. “Rohit brings extensive and diverse experience in the investment fund, wealth and asset management sectors, as well as a record of demonstrated success to Horizons ETFs,” said Thomas Park, Director of Horizons ETFs and Co-CEO of Mirae Asset Global Investments (USA). “After a thorough search by our Board, we are thrilled to welcome Rohit to Horizons ETFs and the Mirae Asset family and look forward to benefitting from his unique expertise in bringing brands to their next level of competitive growth.” Mr. Mehta has served in a variety of senior leadership roles at leading Canadian asset management firms, where he spearheaded industry and Canadian firsts that have helped the investment community better meet investors’ evolving needs, while also significantly growing organizational assets in an increasingly competitive landscape. During his time leading Guardian Capital’s distribution business, the firm built an ETF platform and modernized its mutual fund offerings and also launched a first-of-its-kind retirement suite. While serving as Executive Vice President at CI Financial, he launched many of the firm’s most successful funds, including its liquid alternatives business. Additionally, Mr. Mehta served as President of First Asset where he grew the business from $3 billion to $10 billion in only three years. “Today’s investment landscape is unlike any that we’ve seen before. Staying ahead requires a capable, experienced and talented executive team that is willing to push boundaries and drive product innovation to meet the unique needs of the modern investor,” said Young Kim, Head of Global Business at Mirae Asset Global Investments. “We have the utmost confidence in Rohit and in his capacity as President & CEO of Horizons ETFs to answer this call, while effectively navigating rapidly evolving conditions. His depth of experience, commitment to innovation and dedication to investors strongly align with our core values, and we are thrilled to welcome him aboard.” “I’m excited to join Horizons ETFs at a pivotal moment for our industry and look forward to working alongside this worldclass team through our next chapter and beyond,” said Mr. Mehta. “Horizons ETFs has always been uniquely dedicated to providing Canadians with diverse solutions that suit every investor need, level of investor experience and investment objective. Today’s market headwinds mean Canadian advisors and investors need the commitment to product excellence, innovation and accessibility for which Horizons ETFs is renowned – a commitment that I share.” Mr. Mehta succeeds Jasmit Bhandal, who served as interim CEO from November 2022, and will continue supporting Horizons ETFs as COO. Ms. Bhandal will also continue to serve on the Board of Directors, where she will draw on her nearly 25 years of financial services expertise to provide Horizons ETFs with strategic oversight.
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 4 2023 6 n recent years, the Green Movement of Italy has become more than an extremely popular topic – it has become a living, breathing reality. Thanks to a more green leadership within the Italian institutions, the country has rapidly begun to alter the way it generates and consumes energy. This has led Italy to prioritise the battle against climate change by acting in a more sustainable way. For CEO of E.ON Italy, Frank Meyer, this is a wonderful development for the country – and for his career. Before working with E.ON Italy, Frank was responsible for turning a decline in revenue around for Vodaphone. He “introduced new approaches and solutions to transform it to a growing business again,” and this resulted in a 3% growth during his time with the business. It was his sheer commitment to innovating the business’ structure that led it to success and expansion. This includes constructing relationships that would stand the test of time – forming bonds between team members as well as between company and customer. He informs us, “Purpose plays a huge factor in our psychological wellbeing.” By providing this strong sense of purpose to his team, Frank ensures each of them feels heard as well as being aware of their impact on the world. He says, “You as an employee need to feel that you are making a difference, we make people feel part of the process, everyone can be part of the design of the new strategy.” By believing in people, Frank has built an empire of an enterprise. He encourages each person to “access their full potential and feel fulfilled,” so that they can go home every day feeling part of something bigger than themselves. By growing in his role, his organic advancement has resulted in creating a “I love the power of people and what they can do if they follow purpose.” “ “ #MakeItalyGreen Italy is making huge moves towards a sustainable future, and there’s someone driving the Green Movement in a way that both inspires us and leaves us in awe. With a central role at E.ON Italy, CEO Frank Meyer has created a pivotal point for Italy’s society and economy. Here we learn more about Frank’s mission, and E.ON’s green impact, as he wins Most Influential Energy CEO 2023 – Italy from CEO Monthly. greater impact on society not simply for Italy, but for the rest of the world. The globe looks towards more eco-friendly options as we all take part in the fight against climate change, and E.ON is leading the way to a brighter, greener future. Frank firmly understands the importance of community and belonging. His work to introduce new ways of producing and consuming green energy is at the forefront of the ground-breaking industry, and we’re all looking to businesses like E.ON for pioneering concepts that ultimately guide us to positive results. Five years ago, E.ON Italy carried out around 500 installations in comparison to its now 35,000 installations in photovoltaic business. Frank worked hard to deliver, and his work has paid off exponentially – all by utilising his skillset, bringing people together, and supporting the entire company throughout personal and professional development. Frank believes that you can make any challenge an opportunity and, with a sharp focus on logistics, he procures technologies for knowledge and understanding. Building the Future Energy Home (FEH) and E-Mobility business, Frank is preparing the Italian market to become entirely green. Creating a feeling of belonging, E.ON Italy’s Green Movement is a community effort. As part of a community, Italy now has solutions such as energy sharing via generators within homes and schools. It is this unified state that is producing results for the country, whilst motivating the rest of the world to be more environmentally conscious. Now, Frank has won Most Influential Energy CEO 2023 – Italy. His future with E.ON looks incredible as he dedicates his full attention and care to its overall mission. He consistently supports the company’s team, ensuring each member feels seen and heard, and uses his innovation to tremendously improve the movement across Italy. Frank’s ambition is to continue improving the energy solutions in Italy to #MakeItalyGreen. You can find out more about Frank via E.ON’s website below. We want to wish Frank a huge congratulations as he gains his new title from CEO Monthly – leading such a lifechanging movement is no small feat, and we can’t wait to see where his passion and drive takes him, and the globe, next. Contact: Frank Meyer Company: E.ON Italia Web Address: www.eon-energia.com Jan23462 I
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 4 2023 7 Mar22259 Making International Expansion Happen In 2018, international expansion experts Lourdes Cuevas and her colleague launched a company set to disrupt our ideas around trading on the world stage. Aimed at mediumsized companies looking for international success, GüipUp breaks down the barriers many businesses face when looking to trade abroad. Lourdes Cuevas is our Most Influential International Trade CEO 2023 – Spain, we speak with her to find out more. GüipUp translated means ‘Whip Up’ – to cause or encourage a strong feeling or reaction in someone or something. Since starting the company in Barcelona in 2018, Lourdes and her team have done exactly that. The world of international trade is a complex place where the rules are often completely different from one country to another. But after 20 years in the business, Lourdes is well aware of the issues that organizations face. She comments, “Expansion can be a complex process but at GüipUp we make it easy. There are lots of considerations such as understanding different markets, regulations, and frameworks. Cultural and language barriers often play a part too. Taking into consideration the inevitably steep learning curve, it’s no wonder many businesses are hesitant to take the leap. At GüipUp our unique solution enables clients to expand in an affordable and controlled way.” GüipUp’s unique business model provides its clients with the tools and resources they need to feel confident in their endeavours. Clients have complete autonomy to make decisions and have full visibility and control of the process. As a women-founded company, GüipUp has built a team of talented executives attracted by the company’s flexible and inclusive work conditions. Lourdes says, “Our company started as a dream but became a reality when we were able to start building our team. The way we work and the flexibility we provide foster an atmosphere of cooperation, team thinking and loyalty. We’ve attracted female talent which has been crucial for us. But the GüipUp ethos doesn’t only appeal to women, our talented male team members benefit too. That’s what I call inclusion.” Before founding GüipUp, Lourdes worked for a US Corporation for 10 years. Around 7 years ago, she arrived in Barcelona to execute an expansion plan on their behalf. When the project was delayed, Lourdes came up with the idea for GüipUp. She explains, “Since the beginning of my professional career, I’ve been leading international market strategies. It’s given me a lot of experience and the opportunity to understand different business cultures. This means I’m able to navigate the communication process with ease, and that’s any organization’s main challenge when facing a ‘new market’.” The daughter of an entrepreneur, Lourdes knows that to lead, it’s important to understand every phase of a process. In her words, “A plumber can’t make good decisions while making assumptions behind a desk. It’s imperative to go into the pipelines to understand what happens there. My leadership style is about being humble. I never stop learning, taking part in experiences to gain resources and knowledge, and creating a team-thinking culture. Life is so much easier when we share values of trust and confidence.” So far GüipUp has made a range of alliances that enables the company to provide its clients with a turnkey solution to expansion. From qualifying the original idea to choosing the right portfolio of products, sourcing legal, regulatory, and logistical resources, sales, and supply chain tracking and traceability, GüipUp has it covered. Plans for the future include continuing to build on its trusted supply chain that helps clients expand into North America, Mexico, Colombia, and Western Europe. And what about Lourdes’ own plans? She tells us, “I’ve been preparing myself for this specific professional moment. I have a clear vision of where we are as a company and where we want to go and I’m enjoying every single day. As a woman CEO and Founder, I have a strong responsibility to be an example for other women. We are stakeholders in creating abundance and a better world for all.” Contact: Lourdes Cuevas is CEO Company: GüipUp! Web: www.guipup.com Jan23215
Consulting for Grown Ups
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 4 2023 9 Feb23503 Change and Transformation affects every organisation. All change is ‘Business Change,’ irrespective of whether it’s enabled by technology, the people side of change, or regulatory requirement. However, this does not mean every organisation keeps the required resource and capability in-house to deliver their change and transformation successfully. Project One is a leading, independent, business transformation consultancy, led by CEO James O’Sullivan, who this month has been named the ‘Most Influential Business Transformation CEO of the Year 2023 – London’. Celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2023, Project One is a challenger brand to the traditional large-scale global consultancies, with an operating model that focuses only on leading change and transformation delivery. In this feature, we learn more about the consulting industry and how organisations benefit from partnering with boutique consultancies like Project One to make real change happen and make a real difference to their businesses and their customers. Consulting is an industry that follows the oscillations of the global macroeconomic conditions. In 2018 and 2019, the industry was impacted by the non-committal nature of the Brexit negotiations, as organisations slowed their change agenda until they had clarity around whether the UK were leaving the EU trading block. In 2020 and 2021, COVID-19 impacted the industry as some organisations closed their doors, whilst others ran slower than planned with their change agenda as they negotiated the pandemic. The impact to consultancies of such events is both positive and negative, simply by the nature of what they do for a living and the service they provide their customers, in both good times and bad. Established in 1998, Project One has 25 years of experience in observing the continuous oscillations that come with the industry. There have been significant technology developments in the last two decades, and the role of Project One is to support their customers in remaining relevant and competitive. Chances are, if you’re a business of any significant size, you’ve encountered the need to change or transform. Every industry is constantly changing, adapting, and adopting to new developments in products, services and underlying technology solutions. The need to transform your business to suit these emerging demands can become complex and requires a clear shared vision. Aligning all aspects of your business towards much-needed change can feel challenging. Project One looks to address this issue by making what appears complex, more simple. Largescale, global organisations such as AstraZeneca, BAE Systems, IAG, RollsRoyce, Unilever and VMO2, to name a few, trust Project One to help them change and transform their business. Dedicated to making change and transformation delivery as simple as possible for their customers, Project One approaches change from the Boardroom down, building long-term, trusted relationships with their C-Suite customers. A key differentiator for Project One is that every consultant has significant change leadership experience to work at this senior level. The benefit to their customers is that they can draw on the combined experience of what is likely the largest team of change leaders in the UK, bringing this added value to every conversation. James commented, “No person is an island, and no consultancy can be a success based on the critical few. The beating heart of Project One is our people, they are our business asset, and our continued success and growth is based upon the ‘power of the team.’ Whilst we all have our own individual roles to play, accountabilities and responsibilities to deliver upon and live up to, the collective power that we bring to bear for our customers through our collaboration is tantamount to our success and that of our customers.” One aspect that makes Project One stand out in a competitive market is their experienced CEO, James. After working in the business change industry for nearly 30 years, he has an unwavering passion for finding a solution to complex business problems and is most at home when sat with his customers, in front of a whiteboard with a pen in his hand. James continues to build and grow the reputation of this award-winning business, earned over the past 25 years. Taking and blending an innovative approach, alongside respecting the heritage, ensures that his team remains happy, productive and celebrate successes along the way. Different to larger consultancies, this is consulting for grown-ups. His consulting team has no traditional performance management, balance scorecards or sales targets, just a pure focus on their customers’ change delivery agenda. This enables an astounding rate of productivity that’ll serve his customers well during their business change and transformation. One long standing customer, Global CIO, said, “Having a small team from Project One in our business creates a community of excellence. They’re all a certain standard of capability, drawing on their experience to join the dots. This is why I repeatedly choose Project One.” Above all else, Project One sticks to their values and has done since 1998, making the complex simple is what Project One truly excels at to stand out amongst the rest. Transforming your business doesn’t need to be complicated or intimidating, and Project One will be there to support you. Thanks to their incredible CEO, Project One has become something truly special. With James O’Sullivan’s fantastic leadership skills and dedication to his customer’s satisfaction, Project One is a brilliant company to work alongside. No matter your challenge, or your change and transformation agenda, no transformation partner will be better for you than Project One. After all, with an award-winning CEO at the helm, there isn’t much that Project One can’t do. Contact: Hayley Saich Company: Project One Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ project-one-ltd Web Address: https://projectone.com/
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 4 2023 10 The Vertical Future of Agriculture Our world is facing a crisis within the farming industry. Crops are becoming more of a challenge to successfully cultivate. With an increase in pesticides and harmful genetic modifications being applied to a worryingly high percentage of ‘natural’ produce, it’s getting ever more difficult to determine whether what we’re eating is any good for us anymore. However, thanks to Jamie Burrows’ vertical farming company, Vertical Future, sustainability and quality of produce is guaranteed. But what is vertical farming, and what are its benefits? We learn more about this new frontier as Vertical Future wins Most Influential AgriTech CEO of the Year 2023 – England. ith over 15 years of experience in the way we can work in tandem with our ecosystem to maximise its potential, all whilst helping it to thrive, CEO and Founder of Vertical Future, Jamie Burrows, has recently become a pioneer for a change in the way we, as a population, approach farming entirely. With the vast expansion of cityscapes across the globe in recent years, the land upon which farms can be built is steadily starting to dwindle. As a result, there’s becoming less and less space in which to nurture naturally grown crops. However, vertical farming aims to tackle this issue at the root and has developed a system that is truly revolutionary. Combining agriculture and technology seems like a conflicting goal to pursue. However, Jamie spotted an opportunity to partner the two, all to employ a farming system that could flourish beyond anything anyone had seen before. Now, with 6 vertical farms established in the UK alone, and plans to go global, Vertical Future has been able to completely transform the way we grow our produce. Since vertical farming can be constructed within compact, limited spaces, it paves the way for crops to be grown and distributed, even within the city. As such, Jamie founded Vertical Future with one core aim – to utilise both the power of technology and ingenuity to create a better method of farming that could, in theory, tackle climate change and the deterioration of the population’s overall health. Our wellbeing is influenced by what we eat – it’s what contributes to whether or not we’re adhering to a healthy diet. If we eat products that are bathed in pesticides and have been genetically modified, the ‘natural’ aspect of farming completely falls apart, and we could suffer as a result. However, Vertical Future looks to promote a farming industry that can do nothing but benefit both us and our planet. Additionally, having studied at a PhD level, and as someone who holds an immense passion for his craft, Jamie has proven that he is definitely the man to serve as the spearhead for this drastic, much-needed change within the UK. Agriculture is such a fragile industry that every person relies on to survive, and innovation is mandatory to help us progress as our society advances. This is why the brilliant minds at Vertical Future have devised a system that operates alongside its hardware to ensure a seamless growing experience. DIANA is a Software as a Service (SaaS) capable of managing a myriad of services within Vertical Future’s vertical farms. With its intuitive design allowing for increased control over the growing process, all through the use of thousands of efficiently designed sensors, DIANA is a ground-breaking software that pushes the boundaries of what defines ‘technology’. Vertical Future has already managed to emphasise a solid blueprint for any others looking to make the switch to vertical farming and is eager Feb23218 W to help nurture those who share its passion for change. It strives to spread its ambition, providing revolutionary products and services to any who wish to be a part of the With over 15 years of experience in the way we can work in tandem with our ecosystem to maximise its potential, all whilst helping it to thrive, CEO and Founder of Vertical Future, Jamie Burrows, has recently become a pioneer for a change in the way we, as a population, approach farming entirely. “ “
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 4 2023 11 future of farming. And with such a diverse team complied of engineers, plant scientists, operators and software engineers, you can guarantee you’ll be in the hands of true experts, each as aligned with Vertical Future’s views for our progression as Jamie is. Jamie’s aspirations towards the future of farming are second to none. He’s been able to utilise a fantastic and inspiring method of farming, one that’s able to directly compete with the traditional farming methods that’ve been established for centuries. Astonishingly, he managed to accomplish such a feat in only seven years, with Vertical Future’s inception taking place during 2016. Over those seven years, Jamie has revolutionised farming within the UK, and is still tirelessly guiding our agriculture towards a new age today. With connections within the USA, Europe, Singapore and Southeast Asia, Jamie has become a global spokesman for what vertical farming can do for our planet, as well as us as a species. As a holder of the UK’s ‘Future50’ title, as well as the winner of the PETA Faming Awards 2023, alongside many more, Jamie has established Vertical Future as an impressive alternative to traditional farming. Through utilising our boundless technological advancements, he’s created something truly special in Vertical Future. It acts as a promise to the world that farming can become wholly natural again, and that we should combine our strengths in technology to help this happen. As a result, not only will our crops and produce be able to return to their former glory, but our planet may stand a chance at recovering from the damage that global crop production has caused. Our progression starts with vertical farming, and Vertical Future will be at the forefront of change for the foreseeable future. Contact: Jamie Burrows Company: Vertical Future Web Address: https://verticalfuture.com/
Proactively Addressing Employee Mental Wellbeing to Drive High Performance and Happiness
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 4 2023 13 - Not long ago, mental health was a fringe consideration for business leaders, but recently it has become clear that a happy, cognitively healthy workforce is increasingly important to productivity. For companies to succeed, they must take responsibility for employee mental health in the workplace and ensure they are contributing all they can towards their wellbeing. Inputting the right processes and people to identify poor mental health in the workforce is, therefore, a business imperative for the leadership of today. While there is not yet a firm handbook for how to do this, removing barriers for accessibility to mental health support and leaning on performance data to understand employee productivity patterns are great first steps that CEOs can take to improve employee wellness. Hiring a Chief Wellness Officer Hiring a Chief Wellness Officer (CWO) is one way in which employers can be reassured that employees are looked after. A CWO’s primary role is to support staff and help them maximize their professional performance and development, whilst forming a culture of wellness within the workplace. A good CWO is a trusted point of contact for every employee within the organization, but they should also work closely with human resources to develop a tailored approach to people management and career development. Satisfied, motivated, and purposeful employees tend to have better mental health. Removing any barriers of accessibility to mental health support is the greatest first step any business can make in improving employee wellness. Whilst a relatively new position, CWOs have already proven themselves to be an important and necessary addition to any organization. Taulia has certainly seen and felt the benefits throughout the organization since bringing our Chief Wellbeing Officer, Todd Musselman, on board. Open feedback culture is critical to improving mental wellbeing While productivity and purpose are not the only elements of good mental health, they can be great motivators in a workplace. In order to ensure that productivity and purpose are on track - both organizationally and individually - it is critical to foster a constructive feedback culture. At Taulia, we have found that it is critical to provide many channels of authentic feedback to give each employee, with their own unique personality and style, an avenue to express themselves. This includes initiatives such as a regular cadence of departmental and regional fireside conversations; anonymous feedback surveys, and departure surveys. Delving into some details, employee engagement surveys have helped provide us with an honest - and anonymous - insight into how employees feel about their work, the company culture more broadly. This helps to make sure we are reacting to their feedback by moving in the right direction and making the necessary changes, as well as continuously tracking employee satisfaction and wellbeing. The second is a more personal approach - actively asking colleagues if they would welcome our feedback has created a culture in which feedback is considered, not kneejerk and thoughtless, while recipients are far more receptive to getting feedback. I make a point of leading by example here: if a colleague gives a presentation and I want to provide a perspective, I will ask them if they are happy to receive feedback before giving it. It is a subtle change, but the difference felt by individuals can be enormous. Use performance metrics to identify poor mental health For all the efforts leaders can go to to create the right culture, having the processes in place to identify poor mental health is perhaps the most important thing you can do to safeguard employee wellbeing. Where motivation and purpose are great ways to keep mental wellbeing strong, it is usually true that a lack of motivation and purpose can either be a cause or symptom of poor mental health. The question is, how do we identify changes in motivation and purpose? This is a hard question to answer exactly, but there is usually a tangible result on employee outputs that are either empirical, observed by colleagues, or acknowledged by the sufferer when asked. Where Taulia has its employee survey, we also make sure that regular face-to-face check-ins with line managers are diarised and attended. These are opportunities to discuss wellbeing and workload, and on their own they can be enough to improve employee mood and stimulate better results. For those who might not wish to talk openly, it is an opportunity for managers to recognize the cues of body language. Employees are the most important asset to any business. Engaging your workforce, providing them with purpose, and giving them the tools to provide feedback and excel are critical to their wellbeing, and the success of the business. Good mental health does not come about by chance; it is the product of well-thought-out processes and thoughtful, highly skilled individuals whose responsibility it is to ensure employee wellbeing. Actively caring for your workforce by putting the right systems and people in place is one of the most valuable things you can do.
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 4 2023 14 Feb23230 Selling online can seem daunting to begin with. However, The Appeal Guru aids sellers with navigating e-commerce rules, regulations, and misconceptions – so that everyone can experience smooth selling and effortless account management. The Appeal Guru understands that selling online can be confusing and even frustrating if we’re faced with suspension. However, it provides appeal services that can almost instantaneously reactivate and reinstate If your online experience of selling goods isn’t going well, there’s someone with all the knowledge required to turn a bad situation into big opportunities. This is where The Appeal Guru comes in. As a consultancy firm, The Appeal Guru transforms difficulties into openings. We learn more about the firm as its CEO, Chirag Amin, catches our eye. our seller status. We can resume selling in next to no time, and we can do so with reassurance and ease, not only boosting our income, but boosting our business growth. Covering Amazon FBA partnerships, PPC, Etsy, and Walmart, The Appeal Guru’s extensive knowledge takes it to great places – all around the world. It isn’t limited to one location, and it certainly isn’t limited to one system. It utilises its experience of e-commerce, promises innovative services, and delivers on time, every time. The Appeal Guru can help with seller bottlenecks – that ultimately develop organically when broadening our range of products – and e-commerce start-ups. The possibilities are endless with this consultancy firm, and we are pleased to present its agile operation. Winning Best Seller Account & eCommerce Consultants, in SME’s Southern Enterprise Awards 2022, awarded by SME News, The Appeal Guru has gained some welldeserved recognition for its hard work in the realm of e-commerce consultancy. Managing business is no small feat, but The Appeal Guru’s CEO, Chirag Amin, is a veteran. He is an incredibly experienced online seller that has not only learned the tricks of the trade to develop his own business, but he has adapted to deliver valuable information and services to a huge variety of people in need of online assistance. Chirag has a dependable history of helping others via website, Amazon, eBay, Cdiscounts, and Walmart selling. This has influenced his decisions to create his own business, and, with a successful history, he has managed and grown his own business in order to help others expand theirs. Also an expert in FBA marketing, social media, and fulfilment services, Chirag is making waves in thew industry. The reviews that Chirag has gained truly speak for themselves. One of many happy clients said, “I am particularly impressed by Chirag’s knowledge and ability to help suspended Amazon sellers to get back their account in just 24 hours. He has proved this by helping few of my Amazon customers. Also, very skilled in preventing suspensions and taking care of seller’s Account Health. I highly recommend his services and professional advice.” As our one-stop-shop for solutions, The Appeal Guru has become the best reviewed suspension appeal service providers in around the globe. Already managing accounts amounting to over $200 million in revenue, with over 20000 appeals and suspensions prevented, The Appeal Guru has big plans in the pipeline – and we’re sure to see Chirag flying even higher in years to come. Contact: Brian Fang Company: The Appeal Guru Web: https://theappealguru.com The CEO Behind Smooth Selling
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 4 2023 15 It’s a Numbers Game! Sifflet is a cloud-native solution designed to help businesses create value from their data. As a relatively young company, the firm has enjoyed rapid growth over the last two years and we find out more from Salma Bakouk as she is named in the Most Influential CEO Award 2023. Based in Paris, France, Sifflet is a data observability solution on a mission to accelerate the world’s adoption of data driven decision making by reducing data entropy. “The numbers looks off, are you sure you used the right data? The dashboard is breaking again, can you take a look? This is not the expected output; can you check the data used to train this ML model? “Sound familiar? We’ve been there, and we created Sifflet, so you won’t have to!” states Salma Bakouk, the firm’s CoFounder and Chief Executive Officer. “Data Entropy, a term coined by Sifflet itself, refers to the general chaos that occurs when dealing with high volumes of data in today’s demanding business environment.” Data being missing, stale, inaccurate, anomalous ingestion patterns or brittle data pipelines means that data practitioners find themselves dealing with a plethora of issues on a continuous basis while trying to meet the expectations of business stakeholders and drive the company’s data initiatives. In an environment where data entropy is high, trust in the data and the data team gets eroded and the investments that went into building the data platform get brought into question. Salma, a self-confessed “mathematician by design, data nerd, recovered investment banker, and forever a dog lover” created Sifflet in 2021 with the aim of transforming the data and infrastructure space by creating the world’s first full data stack observability platform to enable companies to trust their data at scale, and excel at data driven decision-making. “We are a mission driven and ambitious group of individuals,” she enthuses. “We were Data Leaders and Practitioners at some of the world’s most data mature organisations, such as Uber, Amazon, Goldman Sachs etc, and we understand the pain of dealing with poor quality data.” Working with a variety of global enterprises to help them achieve more trust in their data and become data driven, one of Sifflet’s core values is what Salma calls “customer obsession.” “By being close to our customers and listening to their pain, we are able to help them not only solve today’s problem but be in a position where we drive innovation to solve tomorrow’s problems,” she enthuses. This strategy has stood the firm in good stead and allowed it to become a leader in data observability and to be trusted by numerous global organisations all over the world such us Carrefour, BPCE, Shopback, and Nextbite. Having experienced rapid growth over the two years since its initial inception, Sifflet is now on track for further expansion and world recognition, starting with Salma herself being recognised in the Most Influential CEO Awards 2023 and crowned with the prestigious accolade of Most Influential Data Infrastructure CEO 2023 – Paris. Now, as she looks to the future, she is determined to continue on her mission to stamp out data entropy once and for all! “We have walked a few miles in your shoes,” she exclaims. “And we created Sifflet so you can run faster!” Contact: Salma Bakouk Company: Sifflet Web Address: www.siffletdata.com Jan23713
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 4 2023 16 Leading Law Firm CEO of the Year Aiming to serve as a high-quality, creative, and result-oriented legal team for individuals and businesses, Northcroft is an international law firm specialising in corporate and construction law. From dispute resolution to financial advice, Northcroft is equipped to handle a wide range of legal issues. Here, we speak to Peter J. Locks, Chief Executive Officer of Northcroft, about his methods of leadership and how he believes they benefit the company. ith heritage that can be traced back to the 1840s, Northcoft was originally established to provide specialist construction consultancy services. From this, the company expanded to have its own legal division, enhancing its already diverse range of services. Now, Northcroft is a one stop shop for its existing clientele to address any contractual, legal matters associated with their area of work. Utilising professional experience combined with expert subject knowledge of international and local engineering and construction, Northcroft assists clients in mitigating and avoiding potential disputes before they arise through effective risk management strategies. Thanks to its reliable team of in-house legal experts, the company is also able to provide a robust legal team to pursue and maximise clients’ entitlements. With lawyers located throughout Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific, Northcroft supports a number of disputes internationally, including in locations such as Canada, Brazil, Tanzania, Mozambique, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The firm aims to provide key local knowledge to clients across all these locations, which is why the diverse expertise of its team is paramount to its success. Having originated in the construction and engineering industry, Northcroft primarily works with clients within this area, including individuals, developers, subcontractors, contractors, architects, as well as government and non-government entities. No matter the client, Northcroft’s support services are consistent in quality, always aiming to effectively identify and manage individual risks related to their business activities, formulating strategies to help them optimise their returns. Clients can rely on Northcroft to support them at any hour of the day and night, facilitating communication and trust. Delivering reliable and consistent services, Northcroft has established a core client base since its foundation, many of whom it has supported in their business endeavours for over 20 years. The longevity of these relationships is dependent on the company’s dedication to its core values, which are integrity, transparency and accountability. Since its foundation, Northcroft has stayed true to these values and believes they are fundamental to its drive and success. The firm is dedicated to quality and customer satisfaction, always aiming to listen to their requirements and exceed their expectations. As a result of its strong relationships with those it serves, the company typically gains new business through recommendation from existing clients. Such a successful and international company must be led by an extraordinary individual. Peter J. Locks, Northcroft’s Chief Executive Officer, has an impressive resume with over 20 years of solid experience in quantity surveying, cost management, contract management, and dispute resolution. He is a dual qualified Master of Science in Contract Law and Dispute Resolution, as well as a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Quantity Surveying. Having worked both in the UK and the Middle East, he has gained extensive experience working on a variety of complex projects and has amassed a detailed Jan23757 W understanding of a number of sectors. As an experienced management professional, Peter is well-equipped to lead the team at Northcroft. Given his past experience, he has been able to effectively develop his leadership style to become the leader he is today. He comments, “I have been fortunate enough to have been exposed to a variety of leadership styles having served in the military for a long period of time, including active service in a number of countries. While I am familiar with the traits of authoritarian leadership, I believe it only has its role in a limited set of circumstances.” Instead, Peter takes a top-down approach to leadership, leading by example and encouraging his colleagues to do the same. “It would be appropriate to suggest that the leadership mode that we actively pursue and encourage is based upon a democratic leadership style,” he continues. “This is one of the most effective methods of leadership because it encourages every member of our team to participate within all processes, share their opinions, and they know
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 4 2023 17 that in return that they will be heard.” Peter believes that this style of leadership benefits the business in many ways, particularly in terms of how it affects its internal culture. “This engagement, at all levels, is paramount to our success and the success of our clients.” he says. “Every team member feels like they have the space to participate, and this serves to increase employee empowerment, motivation, and participation.” Through this, Peter creates a company culture where all employees feel empowered and accountable for their own actions. Staff are trusted to deliver the expected results, so they are encouraged to manage their own time and assignments. “We have an internal culture of promoting an active work-life balance, which facilitates a healthy and positive mindset that is not purely work orientated.” Another key aspect of the company’s culture is the establishment of positive relationships between members of staff. This contributes towards the attitudes of employees towards the workplace and ultimately affects the success of the business. “Our culture is based upon transparency and openness - every individual has their own personal matters to deal with on a daily basis.” Peter explains. “For the majority of staff, they spend more time, percentage wise, with their colleagues and in the work environment than they do with their own families. This needs to be recognised and taken into consideration when engaging with others throughout the course of their daily activities.” In addition to this, it is important for Peter himself to establish a supportive relationship with his employees. “An open-door policy works tremendously well. Staff members are encouraged to share any personal issues they have - I believe that a problem shared is a problem halved.” he adds. “Any support we can offer individually or as a company can only be beneficial for all parties.” As a result of Peter’s outstanding leadership skills, Northcroft maintains its position as a leading law firm internationally, expanding across the world to provide its services to a wider range of people. He is a passionate leader and continues to dedicate himself to the firm and its loyal clients, which is why he has won Leading Law Firm CEO of the Year 2022, British West Indies. Moving forwards, Northcroft continues to revise its business strategies and build upon its experiences as it expands into new countries. The firm has recently incorporated in Lebanon and is working to cater to the unique set of challenges within the Lebanese market. Its vision is to establish a strong presence across the Middle East and Africa and is creating new business plans to pursue this interest. Contact: Peter J. Locks Company: Northcroft Law Middle East Web: https://northcroftlaw.com/
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