Black Leaf Consulting News Q1 2011

Demetris Zenetos:Head of The Programme Office for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011 Local Organising Committee (Qatar Football Association)

“Black Leaf Consulting have been engaged with the Qatar Football Association since 2009 in a joint consultancy capacity to provide important Strategic Direction to the Asian Cup QLOC and the World Cup 2022 Bid Committee, while at the same time being engaged in Strategic Management Services for the Qatar Football Association itself. Through our interaction with Black Leaf’s Executive Management and Consultants here in Doha, I can attest to the fact they have earned an enviable reputation for their solid engagement approach and their exceptional delivery expertise. We look forward to many future years of Black Leaf’s Consultancy services in Qatar”.

Black Leaf Consulting are an agile and intelligent niche Consultancy whose focus and attention is on delivering Business and IT Change.

We offer strict, targeted services to clients who are undertaking complex Programmes and Projects which we believe is a refreshing alternative to conventional ‘Big 4’ consultancies and ‘benign’ contract agencies. Our Consultancy business focuses on delivering 5 core services to multi-sector clients across Financial Services, Telco, Sport and Leisure, Retail and others: Programme Delivery, Programme Management Office (PMO), Project Assurance, Project & Programme Mobilisation and Recovery.

Complementing our primary business practice, Black Leaf are currently embarking on the addition of two service elements during 2011. Our “Estates” and “Advisory” arms will be developed with the same agile and intelligent approach that has brought success to the Consulting element and offer our client base a greater level of service and synergistic opportunities.

Black Leaf’s people are a collection of unique individuals who have formed an impressive and forceful group. Its founding Directors and their respective teams bring with them a wealth of learnings from across Industry, Management, Government and other Consultancies. We have purposely chosen to take the best and worst elements from these collective experiences and tailored a focused suite of offerings designed to meet the needs of our client’s business landscape. Black Leaf have a multi-national, multi-cultural and multi-sector history of delivery. Our teams have worked on and delivered benefits to some of the most complex post-acquisition Separations and Integrations in corporate history. We have built a team whose experience has earned us the right to deliver extensive Change / Strategy engagements within Financial Service and Sports Management, complimented by a myriad of experts specialising in Assurance and Recovery Management.

Whilst we work with several Blue Chip clients, Black Leaf also supports SME clients whom will often still face unique Global challenges. To address this diversity we’ve built a team of dynamic, creative, passionate and committed people who are each guided by common sense and pragmatism as opposed to wavering traditions, opaque allegiances or artificial internal sales targets. Everyone at Black Leaf have a vested interest in the business. Consequently, our clients can expect an un-paralleled level of service and commitment to whatever the challenge.

Please visit our Black Leaf Website to find out more.

Black Leaf Consulting

The Black Leaf Newsletter

Q1 2011Black LeafConsulting

February 2011 saw the official re-launch of the 3rd generation Black Leaf Consulting Website.

Now with a refreshed look and feel, the site demonstrates what it is we do and what we offer our client base, telling visitors more about us as a company including our vision, service offerings, news and career opportunities in a much more concise and visually appealing manner.

Please feel free to take a thorough look around and browse at your leisure. For any further information please email us at [email protected].

Alternatively, if you’re a high calibre individual and would be interested in working with Black Leaf, one of London’s fastest growing Consultancy businesses, please forward your details via the Careers Page.

Black Leaf website officially re-launched

Andrew Harding: Co-Founder and Owner of Europe’s Largest Golf Travel Business www.yourgolftravel.com

“YourGolfTravel.com has recently engaged the services of Black Leaf Consulting to advise on our international growth strategy and longer term delivery objectives. Black Leaf’s approach is extremely collaborative and their entrepreneurial style and creativity is a major asset. As we aim to continue our growth objectives of reaching £100m per annum in revenue, we look forward to working with Black Leaf Consulting on this journey”.

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‘Looking for an alternative challenge? We’d like to hear from you.

If you are a high calibre, polished Senior Consultant looking for a ‘creative alternative challenge’, we’d

like to hear from you. Black Leaf is currently looking for exceptional Project / Programme and PMO

Management resources across many sectors. Project opportunities in the UK, North America and the Middle East. Please submit CV’s via the Careers Page and

we will be in touch to discuss your suitability.

2010 was a landmark year for Black Leaf Consulting. A number of successful Global engagements allowed us to double sales on 2009 and saw our client base grow with further expansion into the Middle East and EU regions.

One particular highlight to note was the success of Qatar’s bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Black Leaf’s involvement in this journey began at the onset when engaged to assist the Qatar Football Association (QFA) and 2022 Bid Team specifically to design the Strategic Plan. The News Archive (Issue 5) details further our involvement in this truly ground breaking Programme. Black Leaf continues to be fully engaged with the QFA and have recently completed a strategic re-assessment of the organisation as they look forward to significant changes to this 51 year old institution.

The Financial Services sector proved to be the major source of growth for Black Leaf in 2010. High profile programmes / projects in Bank Integration, pre and post M&A activities, Insurance, and Retail Banking were vital for the Consulting arm. The team’s expert delivery, coupled with solid relationship building is expected to further enhance our growth into 2011 and beyond.

Black Leaf reflect on 2010Keith McMahon: Head of Organisational Effectiveness at the Commercial Bank of Qatar.

“Black Leaf partner Dr Sean Cashin led a highly effective and valuable Programme for the Commercial Bank which commenced in 2008. Black Leaf delivered an operating framework within the Bank’s 3 year strategic growth plan, thereby consolidating multiple operational risk and IT projects. We look forward to continued engagement with Black Leaf through 2011”.

2011 presents an exciting time for Black Leaf Group. Our key objective is to ensure our existing portfolio of clients continue to receive exceptional service on current and future engagements.

We will be focusing on launching the Estates and Advisory arms of the business during 2011; more will be said on these service offerings in due course but suffice to say these expanded ventures will be highly synergistic to the established Consulting arm of the business.

Secondary to this will be an even greater focus on expanding our presence in the Middle East to support the unprecedented regional growth and large scale programmes being planned across Infrastructure, Financial Service and Sports Management sectors.

In line with our commitment to our portfolio of clients within the region, Black Leaf are pleased to formally announce that they have commenced proceedings to open a regional office in Doha, Qatar. The plan will see Partner and Consultant level resources based in-country on a permanent basis alongside our Qatari Partners to provide Programme, Project and PMO services directly to local clients.

The Qatar office expansion follows on from the opening in January of this year of a second UK office. Our new premises in Esher, Surrey will complement our London head office which remains at New Bond Street.

A Focus on 2011 for Black Leaf

Tom Reynolds: CEO Carbon Financial Consultantswww.carbonfc.com

“Having engaged Black Leaf Consulting in 2010, they continue to be extremely valuable Joint Venture partners for Carbon FC. Our Commercial desk specialise in Major Financial transactions, including Private Equity Fund access, Mezzanine Fund usage, and major Debt Funding. Black Leaf have joined our network in a JV capacity partnership to provide access and advisory services through its EU and Middle East based entities. The resources at Black Leaf deliver advice in an extremely collaborative way and we look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with them in the future”.

Warren Kwei:Mr Kwei is a highly accomplished Management Advisor / Visionary Executive, with high integrity and a 17 year track record of delivering success on a Global Footing. Prior to and including his role at Black Leaf, Mr Kwei has developed a distinguished career guiding innovation and industry leading transformation programmes. An Integration and Separation programme expert, Warren has a verifiable record of delivering increased revenue, market share and competitive advantage through product and project delivery. Having consulted on some of the largest transactions in corporate history, notably the ABN AMRO take over, the Lloyds / HBOS Integration, the Pearl / Royal London Divestment Programme as well as delivering major Retail, Supply Chain and CRM change, Mr Kwei is well positioned to deliver change benefits required by organisations and shareholders. Mr Kwei has also led engagements for various Financial and Leisure clients in the Middle East and thus building strong local relationships to complement those he holds across Europe.

Dr. Sean Cashin: Dr Cashin is of Canadian origin and completed his education by gaining a PHD at Cambridge University in England. Dr Cashin began his commercial career consulting on large scale Programmes within the Environmental Risk, Oil and Gas and Renewable Energy sectors. A specialist in these arenas Sean then ventured into the Financial Service sector and subsequently focussed on delivering major Financial Service change Programmes including the ABN AMRO and Lloyds - HBOS Integrations. As a Director of Black Leaf, he has lead the delivery of major Financial Service and Sports Operation / Strategy Programmes for local Clients in the State of Qatar, thereby enhancing his cultural engagement experience within the Middle East. His technical understanding combined with solid commercial and leadership abilities makes him a valuable asset to our Clients and their stakeholders.

Stuart Herron: Head of Corporate Transformation at the Phoenix Group (Formally The Pearl Group)

“Black Leaf Consulting Director Mr Warren Kwei was brought in specifically to recover a major £1.5B Divestment Programme for the Group. Warren brought a wealth of Financial Service experience to the Programme and quickly established a robust plan of action that the Board fully supported. This plan firmly put the Programme back on track, thus saving extensive cost in this £1.5B Programme’. With exceptional commercial acumen, Warren and Black Leaf are a pleasure to work with”.

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An introduction to 2 of Black Leaf’s founding Directors