Stewart Cursley of NXD Services on using a JV as a route to strategic growth

1. Stewart Cursley
Non-Executive Director
No.1 Provider of Non-Execs to UK SMEs
Joint Venture:
A Route To Strategic Growth

2. Stewart Cursley:
I joined the business as CEO to explore future growth
opportunities. Following a review of the strategic options
available a decision was taken to find a similar sized partner
located overseas, with whom we could form a mutually
beneficial alliance.
Client:
“Stewart used his experience and vision to align the company
on a growth strategy that would be driven by forming a
strategic alliance with a business based in Brazil.”
Joint Venture: A Route To Strategic Growth

3. Main challenges:
The need to ensure that all staff were fully committed to the JV
was one of the biggest hurdles to overcome. Without this the JV
would have ultimately failed and the strategic logic for the
alliance would not, and could not, have been met.
Overcoming the challenges:
It was extremely important that the senior staff of both
businesses were totally united in the JV both before and after the
alliance started. Any disagreements needed to be resolved
immediately to ensure that both partners remained equally
committed to the venture and as a consequence resulted in a
Win/Win situation.
What value was your role to them?:
By gaining the trust of senior staff on both sides, I motivated the
Management of the UK based partner into delivering their
commitments to their side of the JV, ensuring early successes in
the JV were achieved and publicised internally showing solid
evidence that the benefits were being realised.
Joint Venture: A Route to Strategic Growth

4. Profile: Stewart Cursley
An experienced, Managing Director with over 30 years demonstrable experience
working in complex global as well as SME manufacturing environments.
Proven ability to challenge and improve existing processes and business systems
showing a creative flair that enables innovative solutions to be found. A well-rounded
professional motivated by delivering results, with a ‘can do ‘attitude who to date has
always delivered beyond expectation and makes things happen. Excellent
communication skills with a sense of humour and the ability to communicate
professionally with clients and colleagues on detailed issues.
Stewart’s background is in Finance where he has many years of practical senior level
experience. He has been on the boards of large businesses as well as small and
family owned concerns.
Stewart has the experience of being a non-executive director of joint ventures based
in emerging economies.
Specialities
 Strategic development & alignment
 Business turnaround, leadership and board skills
 Joint ventures both domestic and international
 Managing external relationships
 Developing finance teams
 Corporate governance.

5. NXD is the No.1 Provider of Non-Execs to UK SMEs
 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
NXD is a network that provides non-executive services to SMEs.
Challenges that the NXD non-executives work with business owners to address
include: