Murray has a strong business acumen having gained extensive knowledge and experience in the following areas over the last twenty-seven + years in business, both in the UK and internationally.
Strategy Development & Execution
Developed the organic and/or acquisition growth strategies for Liberty Occupational Health, The RGIT Montrose Group, The Petrofac Training Group, Strachan & Partners and Albyn Ventures.
Worked directly on the development and implementation of strategy with the Executive Boards of numerous corporate companies, investee companies, charity organisations, industry associations and consultancy clients, including Salamis, The Enterprise North East Trust, CLAN, CrossArt, Empire HR, Energy Assessors Organisation, Home Performance Reports, Landscape Planning Group, Pet Products, Pipeline Cleaning Solutions, Precise Payroll, Si Reports, Golf Range Products, Activpayroll, Original FM and The SuperTie Company
Also undertaken other consultancy projects working with a number of start up and mature businesses as senior strategy advisor, such as DisrupTek and the Hutcheon Services Group
Business Start Up
Established own quality management consultancy in 1992 and own strategic business consultancy company, Strachan & Partners and investment group, Albyn Ventures in Q2 2007.
Assisted with and / or advised on the establishment of numerous new start businesses including, Home Performance Reports, Pet Products, Pipeline Cleaning Solutions, Precise Payroll, Golf Range Products and The SuperTie Company
Regular speaker at schools, Universities, Government Development Agencies, Industry Associations, and the like on various business or entrepreneurial topics including business start-up.
Acquisition, Divestment, Joint Venture Strategy Development & Implementation
Sold own quality management consultancy company in 1994.
Involved in the creation of several joint venture companies including APG/Salamis JV Ltd., Salamis/SGB Ltd., Crosbie Salamis JV and the numerous RGIT Montrose JV companies.
Led the Management Buy-Out of the RGIT Montrose Group of Companies in April 2003 and the subsequent sale to Petrofac in February 2004.
Led the successful acquisition and integration of Maritime Rescue International, Rubicon Response, PCI & PKT & Maxi Media into the RGIT Montrose/Petrofac Training Group. Also attempted and/or assisted with numerous others, both within RGIT Montrose/Petrofac Training and earlier in career.
Led the disposal of Liberty Occupational Health, Montrose Park Hotels, Montrose Vital Safety, RGIT Ethos and RGIT Montrose Australia.
Member of the Petrofac Group Initial Public Offering (IPO) Support Team.
Have also undertaken a number of consultancy projects for clients; to establish international joint venture businesses; scope and screen acquisition targets; and manage the process to sell the business or subsidiary.
Investment Fundraising & Business Refinancing
Led the sourcing of £11 Million funding for the RGIT Montrose MBO, eventually securing funds with 3i and The Bank of Scotland.
Established business investment group, Albyn Ventures and led fundraising for target investments and subsequent follow on / top up investments, totalling in excess of £8 Million to date.
Assisted with the sourcing of £2.4 Million funds for the MBO/MBI of Empire HR Limited.
Led the sourcing and execution of four rounds of investment funding for Golf Range Products Ltd and seed rounds for associated companies, Pet Products and Pipeline Cleaning Solutions.
Supported several other investee companies in the sourcing of additional investment funds.
Led the re banking and refinancing of the Empire HR Group.
Assisted with the restructuring and refinancing of the Landscape Planning Group and associated companies.
Assisted or advised a number of consultancy clients in seeking and securing investment funding.
Provision of Financial, Commercial, Operational & Management Diligence
Led JV partner diligence efforts in UK, Norway & India when with Alpha Group.
Was part of Salamis / Maersk team that conducted JV partner & acquisition target diligence.
Responsible for conducting pre sale diligence and preparing data rooms for the sale of Liberty Occupational Health & RGIT Ethos Limited.
Led the diligence process and efforts relative to the acquisition of RGIT Montrose Group by the MBO Team.
Led the diligence process and efforts relative to the acquisition of Maritime Rescue, Rubicon Response and PKT/PPS on behalf of RGIT Montrose and then Petrofac Training.
Led the diligence process and efforts relative to the investment of AVL members in 11 companies plus many others that were dropped pre completion.
Led the diligence process and efforts relative to non AVL investments in companies including Golf Range Products, Empire HR and others.
Have also undertaken initial diligence on various acquisition or investment targets on behalf of a number of venture capital investment groups or other business angel groups
Exit Strategy Planning & Execution
Sold own consultancy business in 1994 to partners.
Assisted the chairman of Liberty Risk Services with planning and then subsequent sale of Liberty Occupational Health and other Group companies.
Developed the exit strategy and implemented the sale of RGIT Ethos to Aon.
Worked with an Exit Consultant relative to Exit planning and then the subsequent sale of RGIT Montrose to Petrofac PLC.
Assisted or advised a number of consultancy clients in the preparation and execution of their Exit strategies and plans.
Business Transformation Programme design and implementation
Experienced in designing and implementing holistic business re-engineering, focused on achieving fundamental and radical improvement in business performance - motivating individuals, mobilising teams, implementing change, promoting ideas and addressing contemporary issues
Senior Manager responsible for project managing the Salamis Group Business Improvement Programme (BIP).
Assisted the CEO of Maersk Contractors with the integration of the various Maersk divisions in the UK to create the new entity of Maersk Contractors.
Responsible for developing and implementing a plan to restructure Liberty Occupational Health's UK and overseas operations and returning the company to profitability in 2000.
Responsible for restructuring and re-engineering the RGIT Montrose Group, organisation (including culture) and financial performance. Increased t/o from $15 M to $85 M and profit sevenfold in 5 years
In role of Chief of Staff, helped design and then led multi discipline and divisional teams in a major change programme focused on major process, system and cultural change including outsourcing and relocating back office services as well as leading the establishment of the Petrofac University.
Assisted with the restructuring and refinancing of the Landscape Planning Group and associated companies in 2007 & 2008.
Led the design and implementation of a wholesale restructuring and refinancing of a international outsourced service provider.
Internationalisation
Responsible for establishing and undertaking business in:
North America (Canada and USA)
Trinidad
South America (Brazil & Venezuela)
Europe (Norway, Denmark, Holland, France & Spain)
FSU (Russia, Sakhalin, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Georgia)
Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Iran)
India, Africa (Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Nigeria, Sudan and Yemen)
Far East (Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, China, Japan)
Australia.
Also led the establishment of new business operations and entities in Algeria, Australia, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Japan, Newfoundland, UAE, Trinidad and USA.
Management Support & Interim Management
Experienced in managing diverse and complex business operations and functions, having held a variety of positions:
Executive and Non Executive Chairman
Non Executive Director
Chief Executive
Managing Director
General Management
Operations Management
Organisational Development
Business Re-engineering and Major Change Management
Commercial Management
Procurement and Supply
HR Management
HSEQ Management
Interim Managing Director for RGIT Ethos for 9 months, led the turnaround and subsequent sale of the business and subsidiaries.
Interim Group General Manager for RGIT Montrose for 6 months following the merger of RGIT and MFETC. Was subsequently appointed to permanent position as Group Managing Director.
Six month assignment as interim chairman of international outsourced service provider. Led an extensive and rapid turnaround, including the complete restructuring of the Board and Organisation.
Non Executive Support
Experienced in the provision of non executive director support or services, having held a variety of positions:
Offshore Contractors Association
North East Enterprise Trust
Cancer Link Aberdeen & North (CLAN) – Chairman
Petrofac Training Holdings
Landscape Planning Group
Si Reports
Energy Assessors Organisation
Home Property Reports
The Entrepreneurial Exchange
Golf Range Products Limited - Chairman
Pet Products Limited - Chairman
Pipeline Cleaning Solutions Limited - Chairman
Empire HR Group - Chairman
Original FM Aberdeen Limited - Chairman
The SuperTie Company Limited - Chairman
Coaching, Mentoring & Resourcing of Executive Teams
Have undertaken a number of coaching, mentoring and resourcing roles over my career both whilst in corporate life and since.
Recent assignments include:
coaching of CEO new to the role in the wider responsibilities, accountability, and new ways of working with colleagues, the board and shareholders.
coaching of MD of charity in behaviours & interventions.
mentoring and then coaching young entrepreneur in the development of a business idea and subsequent business start up.
coaching a founding director through the transition from MD to CTO.
mentoring two company MD’s through the last two turbulent years in business, whilst they turn their businesses around.
Have undertaken several resourcing projects over the last few years including the sourcing and appointment of:
recruitment of new financial director, commercial manager and lawyer for a major international outsourced service provider.
recruitment of training consultant, training centre manager and key training instructors for new production, operations & maintenance training facility in the Middle East.
recruitment of UK MD for the new established European training division for a major oil and service company.
Training & Development
Has extensive training and development experience including:
jointly designed and delivered cultural and change management training for the Salamis BIP
jointly designed and delivered executive leadership training programmes
developed and led several emergency response and crisis management training events
developed and led the competence assessment process for Salamis to demonstrate the competence of the a workforce in excess of 1000 employees
led the establishment of a number of training centres, throughout the world, including the UK, USA, Trinidad, Azerbaijan, Sakhalin
developed graduate training programmes for Salamis and Petrofac
led the development of the Petrofac University
Event Facilitation, Chairing, Lecturing & Speaking Engagements
Over my career both whilst in corporate life and since, I have:
facilitated numerous strategy and change management away days.
chaired many industry events, workshops, conferences and dinners, including overseas.
delivered lectures in various business or entrepreneurial subjects at a number of Scottish universities, including the Robert Gordon University, where I am am honorary professor.
undertaken many speaking engagements at various corporate events, conferences and dinners to both business and charity attendees, both in the Uk and overseas.