Graham King of NXD Services building the case for change in a small well established financial services company

1. No.1 Provider of Non-Execs to UK SMEs
Building the case for change in a small
well established financial services
company
Graham King
Business Change and Improvement Expert
Case Study

2. Building the case for effective change
Graham King:
I was called in to review and assess the quality of the strategic
plan and the strategic planning process. And also to review and
assess the existing portfolio of programme and projects and
provide insight in to the relevance and likelihood of successfully
delivering goals and objectives
Client:
I was becoming increasingly frustrated by the lack of positive
progress on a well publicised corporate change agenda.
Graham’s independent input was able to uncover the real
causes behind the barriers and as a result we managed to
determine a strategic way forward which was clearly articulated
and approved by all stakeholders including the Board

3. Building the case for effective change
Main challenges:
There was a general complacency across the organisation at all levels. Little
sense of a strong need for change – comfort with the status quo. The
Performance data and reporting was not informing decision making – too
much reliance on anecdotal evidence where strong individual opinions
dominated and influenced analysis. Market conditions camouflaged results
and supported lack of action
Overcoming the challenges:
Interviewed key stakeholders at all levels, uncovered and shared real
evidence that revealed root causes. Built a strong case for change and used
it to re-engage with key stakeholders. Built the change programme and
business case and identify the key resources required to deliver it and the
key dependencies
What value was your role to them:
Factual and objective evidence on performance without history or baggage
New and persuasive evidence collected through an open and fully
transparent and engaging process
Process encouraged challenge at all stages – each challenge systematically
and objectively resolved
For the first time a case for change and a strategic way forward was clearly
articulated and approved by all stakeholders including the Board

4. Profile: Graham King
My main focus with regards to SME’s:
 SME’s that are seeking to understand and then deploy the key levers for
the next stage of their development and success
 I can provide objective and experienced counsel, insight and support for
owners, CEO’s, Boards who are so close to and engrained in the day to
day challenges that they would appreciate help to elevate their thinking
to see the bigger picture
 Provide acquired knowledge and experience that an SME may not yet
have acquired or yet have recognised would be useful
 Act as a sounding board and personal developer – in the form of a
mentor or coach – to key executive[s] who have identified issues that
need to be resolved but where real cause has still to be uncovered
 Provide an additional and experienced source of leadership input on a
growing number and increasingly complex range of business challenges
 SME’s provide non-executives with an opportunity to continue to sharpen
their knowledge and experience and add increasing value in a
significantly important and growing sector of business

5. NXD is the No.1 Provider of Non-Execs to UK SMEs
NXD is a network that provides non-executive services to SMEs.
Challenges that the NXD non-executives work with business owners to address
include:
 Wanting to grow their business to the
next level
 Concerned that their business is
getting too big to manage
 Frustrated with persistent and
damaging issues
 Facing new types of challenges in the
future
 Preparing their business for succession
or sale
 Needing a high quality, independent
sounding board
NXD non-executives have substantial
commercial experience that enables them
to act as a seasoned sounding board. They
also have the commercial acumen to help
you improve your financial performance.
Non-exec services include:
 Vision, strategy, planning
 Fund raising
 Succession planning, acquisition & exit
 Geographical and product expansion.
 Leadership coaching
NXD non-executives operate across the
full range of industry sectors including:
Automotive
Business Services
Charities & Not For Profit
Energy & Chemicals
Financial Services
Government/Public Sector
Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals
Industrial Manufacturing
ICT/Technology
Leisure & Tourism
Media/Advertising/PR
Property & Construction
Retail & Consumer Goods
Transport and Logistics
Utilities