Geoff Runcie

Prospectus

“A highly successful and well regarded businessman and leader is now seeking a new challenge”

With a track record as a successful business director and with wide ranging practical hands-on experience Geoff started at the bottom as a management trainee and created a diverse yet strongly progressive career to group managing director and chief executive level.

Early core skills were in the area of high value industrial product sales and marketing, in both domestic and international markets, but latterly specialising in business and general management, all in the private sector.

With a history including 20 years spent in the construction equipment industry working with both distributors and major manufacturers Geoff then moved into the water industry for 4 years , again with a major manufacturer, then into the business support arena as chief executive of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.

Returned to industry as group M.D. of a diverse manufacturer and distributor in the building products sector responsible for consolidation of group operating companies into a single unit, latterly repositioning the company for sale by the owners.

Then moved out of the construction industry and completed an angel investment, buying into and working in a technology company operating in the international machine vision sector. Exited following the successful sale of the company to a competitor. Attracted to another of Scotland’s big three Chambers of Commerce as chief executive after a short period in business consultancy.

Often described as a business leader, a reputation he has secured through his strong affinity with real value adding businesses and his ability to understand their issues, he articulates their collective views, concerns and aspirations.  With a powerful media presence he has been the key spokesman on a range of regional, national and internatioanl business issues.

He underpins his reputation with his own successful track record in effective business growth management operating at M.D. and chief executive level for the last 12 years.

Operational background

• Affinity with engineering, manufacturing and technology companies in the role of both sales and marketing director and managing director
• Career background in both sales and marketing across a number of industrial sectors in the UK and overseas
• Demonstrable track record of business growth through innovation, commercial focus and efficiency
• Wide business and brand development experience in both engineering and business representative sectors
• Worked my way up from the bottom accumulating a broad range of practical skills latterly combined with extensive strategic management responsibility

Personal attributes

• Charismatic leader with strong personal credibility, interpersonal and presentation skills
• Professional, culturally aware and widely travelled
• Strong international perspective and awareness
• Entrepreneurial yet able to understand the business support sector sensitivities
• Politically aware with over 9 years experience heading up major business organisations
• Strong interest in promoting the business agenda to Government and a special interest and involvement in transport strategy development and lobbying
• Wide experience as key business community spokesperson in both printed and broadcast media
• Strong networker with an extensive contacts base across Scotland
• Confident, articulate, hard working and trustworthy team builder and leader
• Achievement and results orientated and an excellent communicator

Industry and Business

• Managed larger (~£16m t/o), multi site manufacturing operations where business processes, planning and marketing strategy were vital to business success
• Inside knowledge of global manufacturing and engineering companies and the complexities of making and selling products worldwide
• Strong market appreciation and customer skills yet able to build Teams within the business to respond to problems and challenges
• In depth knowledge of the day to day issues and pressures facing every business yet able to see and plan the way forward
• Comprehending business growth and shareholder return issues including growth, mergers and acquisitions, disposals, closures
• Able to comprehend market, operational and technical issues quickly and develop strategies to address and overcome problems
• Hands on experience of running a small but growing technology business and dealing with issues such as cash management, resources planning and priorities, the Bank, raising funds and assessing possible acquisitions, securing suppliers and market access planning and sales delivery

Business support

• Unrivalled knowledge of the private sector business support sector
• Unique private sector business support knowledge born from running two large and challenging Chambers of Commerce
• Outstanding knowledge of the public sector, enterprise network and Government economic development mechanism
• Hard won experience of using the media as a platform for lobbying and representational activity for the business agenda and commentary on key business issues

Summary

Strong business management, leadership, interpersonal, social and media skills. Able to understand the wider economic and international development agenda and get tough messages through to the public sector and Government. Track record as Business champion based on combining an affinity for business with a passion for progress.

Curriculum Vitae