Ian is a proven Entrepreneur with three start ups behind him plus a wide range of consultancy, corporate finance and mentoring experience over a 20 year period since first stepping out of a corporate role.
Ian has worked and lived in mainland Europe as well as launching business operations into Australia and the USA with skills in managing, advising, developing, funding, acquiring, growing and selling businesses. He has proven experience in creating significant shareholder value within marketing, software, data, digital and knowledge based service organisations in Europe, USA, Asia and Australia.
Ian has direct hands on experience encompasses start up financing, growth management, private equity, public listing,, taking private and executing real business transformation in highly competitive environments. This is combined with a strong strategic ability, commercial acumen, excellent negotiating skills and a strong network.
Ian has specific experience within Charity, Retail, Travel & Leisure, Automotive, Property, Software, Digital, Internet, Technology and Financial Services sectors.
Ian started his entrepreneurial journey with a start up in the data and customer intelligence sector growing this business to £21m of revenues and an EBIT of £4m achieving an exit valuation of £25m exit after 10 years.
Ian then developed a new internet business format, approached and then formed a joint venture with the Virgin Group which achieved revenues of £90m within two years Ian stayed with this business for four years before leavingafter a trade sale to start another venture within the marketing services space. This business is now profitable and growing fast with a management team in place to run on a day to day basis.
Ian has mentored two management teams since 2005 resulting in a successful trade sale for one telecoms technology business realising over £6m for the owners and growing revenues by 100% and EBIT tenfold for the second business which is currently considering a range of exit options. Ian combines a hand on approach with strategic insight and a wide personal network which he is keen to utilise to help new and existing business owners grow, develop and realise value in their business ventures.
Ian’s interests away from the business world are mainly sport based enjoying, Tennis, Skiing, Scuba Diving and Cycling whilst managing two teenage daughters, the latter being as challenging and rewarding as growing a successful business.
A recent Mentee Testimonial fro Ian:“Ian joined our Board in a non-executive function in 2012 to help us manage a significant growth phase for our business. With his support the businesshas more than doubled its profitability and greatly improved many of its efficiencies and processes. He has also established and influenced some significant strategic partnerships and client relationships on our behalf.
Strategically Ian has a great deal of experience and knowledge that has proved invaluable in our boardroom. He fosters a direct and effective approach to core business challenges and he is also a very entrepreneurial character with plenty of ideas to spark discussion. He has a natural aptitude for new business and networking, and he is very strong on marketplace context and the relative opportunities and challenges faced by organizations. Ian would be a great asset in a mentoring capacity for any business and I would recommend him without hesitation.”
John Eserin. MD, Pure Fundraising.Enquire about Ian Lancaster
