“Spring and its People – Dedicated to effective execution – not just ideas”
Spring Partnerships was founded in 2003 to apply exceptionally experienced specialists in the sales, marketing, communications, brand, leadership development and employee engagement to organisations seeking change to higher performance.
Spring was created with the vision of working at the highest levels within a select number of major international brands. In recent times the team has expanded to bring in some of the best global expertise available in commercial turnaround and brand development. Our experience is wide as can be seen from our client list. We have particular experience in life sciences, healthcare and food.
”Spring has greater maturity and experience than any other business that I have come across. Their creative solutions and partnership with us to see the work to profitable fruition is unique.”
Vice President HR, Europe – Leading Consumer Product & Retail Group
Then • Graduate in Business with specialisation in marketing. Founder and Managing Director of Archer Young Marketing (AYM) for 11 years. Senior Partner of Archer Solutions, consulting in the areas of channel marketing, research, organisational, alignment, CRM and strategic communications.
Accreditations / Affiliations • Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing / Member of the Institute of Directors
Future • To continually help businesses achieve their true potential.ations / Affiliations • Chartered Director, Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Member of the Institute of Directors
Character • Maverick, direct, intuitive, creative, commercial, does not accept second best
Favourite Saying • Start with the end
Gareth Chick – Associate Partner
Then • Qualified as an accountant rising to Financial Director before moving into Commercial Management.
CEO establishing the UK’s first truly independent motor finance brokerage.
Group Managing Director, pioneering leading edge changes in car retailing and transforming the business culture and results. Chairman of Plc.
Accreditations / Affiliations •
Dale Carnegie trained / Academy for Chief Executives / Royal Society of Arts Fellow
Future • To continually research diverse businesses, cultures and new models of leadership
Strengths • Direct, honest, open, positive, challenging, pragmatic, great coach and strategic thinker.
Weaknesses • No patience for incompetents, sometimes over provocative.
Favourite Saying • Be yourself.
Karen Shepherd – Associate Partner
Karen Shepherd has a strong background in FMCG sales, marketing and commercial business management both in Europe and North America. Following her degree in Microbiology Karen joined Unilever where for 7 years she worked across HR, Sales, National Accounts, Product & Brand Management.
She moved to Bausch & Lomb to work within their Ray-Ban sunglass division. Whilst at Ray-Ban she had roles as European Account Director, UK Commercial Director, European Marketing Director and finally Vice President for Northern Europe with responsibility for $350m turnover. Karen was eventually involved in the sale of the sunglass division to an Italian company. She has consulted since then for Pepsi, GlaxoSmithKline, and the UK Government.
During this time, one of her clients (a Venture Capital Company) asked her to run their European Marketing Operation for the Remington Electrical products division with the brief of turning the business around for re-sale. The sale was achieved, Karen remained with the business and was asked to grow the Global Hair care division which she achieved in 3 years taking it from a failing $32m global turnover relatively unknown brand to the No.1 electrical hair care brand in Europe and a global turnover of $130m.
Her skills include the ability to quickly identify the root cause of why a brand or business isn’t successful and to come up with creative solutions to get them back into growth fast. She also has a talent for selling the solution to the key implementers and inspiring them to deliver the goal against all odds. She is highly energetic and has a truly pioneering approach within the corporate arena.
Floyd Woodrow DCM MBE LL.B – Associate
Floyd was one of the UK’s youngest soldiers to be selected for the elite Special Air Service at the age of 22. He has served in many different operational areas globally, and was awarded the UK’s second highest gallantry award for bravery in Iraq and an MBE for his services whilst in Afghanistan.
Towards the later part of his career he completed a law degree and has developed a unique insight into areas of psychology whilst engaged in elite training methodology and leadership in Crisis.
He has coached many blue chip companies, Sports teams; Olympic and world champion sports men and women in developing their ability to operate under intense pressure. He is an international coach and brings a unique insight into understanding Leadership under pressure concentrating on the human element.