Andrew Baird Profile

A proven Chairman and CEO with considerable experience gained in both start-up and international businesses. Chartered Accountant, finance raiser, business plan creator and qualifier, problem solver and driven hands-on business builder. Sector and regional focus: Telecommunication services, software, and general business within UK, Europe and the USA.

Key Skills:

  • Raising of Finance

  • Preparation for sale/float

  • Strategy Definition/Execution

  • Strong systems background

  • Financial strategy and operation

  • Commercial management

  • Leadership

  • Internal & External relationships

Career Summary

Chairman, Investor, Finance Director, Consultant

Established own finance consultancy to provide management consultancy services and started various businesses. Principal work includes:

Investor and Chairman

Phocis Limited - Digital Rights Management

  • Assisted founders with business plan and strategy.

  • Raised £3m in Venture Capital funding from MTI.

  • Operated as Chairman, recruiting suitable Non Executive Directors and managing the Board and long term strategy and planning.

Founder and CEO - Keystone Management Ltd - Serviced Offices Company

  • Located suitable building, negotiated leases, and fitted out to make 30 offices.

  • Organised staff and technical services, networks, telecoms, fire and security services.

  • Filled offices with suitable customers on profitable leases.

  • Sold business as going concern to a multi site operator.

Early Stage Investor , Finance Director 4-Sight PLC - Software Company

  • Part of 3 man team that took 4-Sight to $25M in 8 years.

  • Built a complex legal and financial structure to cope with UK and overseas subsidiaries and distributors.

  • Negotiated and managed initial USA distribution.

  • Moved short term to USA – and set up a US subsidiary. Organised the infrastructure offices personnel etc from scratch in Boston.

  • Recruited 3i and Geocapital (USA VC) as additional investors.

  • Negotiated managed and completed sale to WAMNET a USA competitor for approximately $40M.

  • Retained by Wamnet for 2 years as a consultant for their European operations.

Founder, CEO - Highfield Ltd - Telecommunications Company

  • Founded a UK company to act as Sprint Inc ( large USA Telecomms Company) distributor in the UK, selling Telecomms services to UK Corporates.

  • Restructured the business to include other Telecommunication companies’ products and services when Sprint moved out of the market.

  • Negotiated, managed and completed the sale of the business to TMG Telecoms PLC.

Finance Director, Redrock plc - Software Company

  • Took Redrock through to an Ofex float.

  • Assisted in the negotiations and sale of Redrock plc to Netstore plc (main market).

  • Worked as a consultant and CFO mentor for Netstore plc.

  • Assisted in re purchase of Redrock by its founders.

Investor and Consultant Celaton Ltd - Software and Services Company

  • Worked with Founders and Directors on strategy and execution.

  • Organised working capital finance.

Consultant, AlwaysON Group Ltd - IP VPN Services Company

  • Worked with Founder to reach sales and customer levels where external funding was a realistic goal.

  • Negotiated and raised £1.5M from a Venture Capital Trust.

    • PERMANENT CAREER

    CFO Metron Semiconductors Europa BV

    Joined Metron as Finance Director – the third employee. I established offices and operations across most of Europe and Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea. We took the business from $0M to $50M as the major semiconductor equipment distributor in the world.

    • Devised the commercial strategy of the European business to achieve growth.

    • Led legal and commercial and financial operations.

    • Managed external and third party relationships including Banks, Auditors, and Governments.

    The Hague Office of Josolyne Layton Bennett ( now part of Ernst & Young)

    • Worked on a variety of assignments for clients seeking to establish operations in Europe or expand their reach.

    Graduate Trainee – Qualified ACA Josolyne Layton Bennett ( now part of Ernst & Young)

    • Worked on a variety of UK Corporates both large and small whilst qualifying as a Chartered Accountant.

    Frozen Foods

    • After leaving University I founded a frozen food business. I sold it to become a Chartered Accountant.
      •  

    Professional Qualification: Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (first time passes)

    Higher Education: University of Liverpool

    BEng (Hons) Electronic Engineering (Class 2:1)

    MBA

    Other Skills:                            Experience of Microsoft packages. Extensive experience of business modelling, including expert knowledge of Microsoft Excel. Experience in installing and commissioning accounting systems.

    Interests: Rugby, Squash, Travel