Meet our executive coaches
Our team comprises of exceptional coaches. Here are brief profiles of some of our team:
Elke Anderson
Director of Executive Coaching
Elke founded Blue Sky Performance Improvement in 1997 having had a successful career as a management consultant working specifically in the areas of transformational change and business performance improvement.
She believes that without strong, highly effective leadership, sustainable business improvement is virtually impossible. This in turn led her to executive coaching; one of the most expedient, effective means of improving leadership performance both on an individual and a team basis.
Elke’s experience includes:
- Coaching an executive into a new role to include developing skills to manage change at a senior level, communicate and build trust in the new group which had previously worked as separate entrepreneurial businesses.
- Coaching the European Vice President of a global software business. Focused on managing upwards within a management matrix, leading with authenticity and dealing with conflicting pressures.
- Team coaching with a group of MD’s, supporting live issues, building each individuals awareness of their impact, making informed choices and supporting them in making the change.
Simon Bennett
Executive Coach
Simon has 20 years experience as a partner in a global management consulting firm and is a qualified therapist. He believes clients have the inner resources to achieve their personal and leadership potential.
Since 2002 he has worked with leading companies in the retail, pharmaceutical, financial services, industrial and consumer goods sectors, as well as not-for-profit organisations.
Simon’s experience includes:
- Supporting the transition to Chief Executive where the client saw a particular challenge in managing relationships with former peers and growing beyond his narrow experience base.
- Helping a Senior Partner prepare for and manage his exit from a global professional services firm.
- Working with the Chief Executive of an internationally renowned specialist hospital to define, justify and mobilise for business transformation in an organisation not used to change.
Kayte Brook-Simpson
Executive Coach
Kayte has experience in organisations such as G.E, Experian, Sage and Credit Suisse, facilitating and developing senior executives across a broad range of industry sectors ever since.
She has a strong belief that excellence comes from knowing, believing and trusting yourself. She sees that we have untapped wisdom, potential and strength of character. This has helped her drive unimaginable results within organisations.
Kayte’s experience includes:
- Working with the senior team at a FTSE 100 company. Kayte’s coaching ensured individuals understood the importance of change. This created a determination and internal coalition which led to increases in promotions, productivity and satisfaction.
- Coaching a senior team to develop individuals to create impact, legacy and followership through choice. The results were phenomenal with revenue increasing by 92% within 18 months and the highest level of employee engagement ever seen.
Marion Howard
Executive Coach
Marion has 15 years experience developing board members to reach their full potential at all times, directly impacting the profit of their organisations.
She believes anything is possible when there is motivation. She sees the importance of focusing on existing strengths that already deliver as well as removing blockers to success.
Marion’s experience includes:
- Coaching leaders through a major acquisition, enabling them to ‘manage the emotion of change’ whilst developing a strong directorship focused on results and growth. Business targets and employee satisfaction rose to an all time high.
- Working with a trading board to develop their people strategy. With 1:1 coaching, she ensured the language and approach was consistent which drove the effectiveness of the strategy. The team performed at a significantly high level and were shortlisted for a ‘best place to work’ award.
Simon Laurie
Executive Coach
Simon has 20 years experience within FTSE 100 companies within the UK and Europe. He has a strong commercial background and a belief in the importance of clarity in improving performance.
He provides challenge and space for people to create clarity of purpose around their goals, outcomes and personal impact, allowing them to develop the means to achieve them.
Simon’s experience includes:
- Working with a senior VP of a global pharmaceutical company to raise his personal profile and impact. The client moved from a transactional ‘doer’ to recognised strategic thought leader. Coaching resulted in desired promotion.
- Developing a newly appointed Director in an international private bank, to transition into a potential CEO successor. Coaching ensured the client had clarity of role and expectations as well as building key stakeholder relationships.
Sheena Reid
Executive Coach
Sheena has 10 years experience supporting executive individuals and teams in global organisations, to transform the way they operate and lead.
Sheena voices what she sees. She understands what makes a business tick creates high value insights which lead to practical change and accelerated business performance.
Sheena’s experience includes:
- Coaching the executive team of a global FTSE 100 company across 6 countries resulted in a high number of international job moves taking place as well as the highest increase in promotions globally.
- Successfully worked with a senior individual to transition into an executive role. The focus here was that their style needed to adapt for the transition to be successful. One year on, the individual has built a significant reputation and is receiving high accolades.
Alex Villar-Hauser
Executive Coach
Alex has a successful track record in working with leaders to improve the quality of conversations leaders have, creating a lasting impact on business performance. He works with clients on ‘live’ business issues, enabling them to rethink, refocus and improve their communication to ultimately drive engagement and change.
Alex has worked across a broad range of sectors and countries, with individuals and teams.
Alex’s experience includes:
- Coaching the country head of a global travel company. This resulted in the region accounting for 90% of profits which became a blue print for the entire business.
- Working with a COO and team through a merger of two major global telecommunications companies. He engaged the leadership team on delivering against operational and business targets, overcoming the organisational culture discord.