Your critical friends
Do you have what it takes to help small businesses grow?
Our Management Team
In 2017 we made a decision to build a support network for growing businesses. With our expansive network of experienced industry professionals we created Venturezen as a means to connect business owners with stakeholders to create flourishing enterprises.
Gary Sims
Founder AND CEO
Gary is a non-executive director to a portfolio of companies and charitable trusts. He is a qualified accountant and has 10 years experience operating at board level in both executive and non-executive roles within the private, public and third sectors. A seasoned professional, he has a proven track record in leading major transformational change and in developing enterprise wide risk and control frameworks.
James Lindley
Founder AND DIRECTOR
James is the trusted advisor to a number of international sports stars, charitable trusts and entrepreneurs throughout London and the UK. He is also a partner at the largest advisory firm within St James’s Place and spends much of his time providing ongoing holistic planning to individuals and companies. Throughout his city career, he has built a formidable network of industry professionals who are now part of the Venturezen network.
Gary Brown
CFO AND PRIVACY LEAD
Gary is both a qualified chartered accountant and privacy professional. An accomplished senior executive with over 20 years experience operating at board level in a variety of roles covering Finance, Leisure and Retail. He is also a non-executive director with positions in the health, education and charitable sectors. His motivational leadership style helps him to inspire his teams to deliver results, whilst maintaining an environment based on honesty and trust.
Jon Stewart
HR ADVISOR
Jon is an experienced HR and employment law professional who has consulted for a wide range of growing and established businesses across the UK and Europe. He has gained a reputation for developing practical HR approaches that enable businesses to focus on their core business activities, knowing that they have solid HR and people practices in place that are aligned to their business plans. Jon holds an MBA from Cranfield School of Management and is a Fellow of the CIPD and Chartered Management Institute.
Glenn Hayward
STRATEGIC ADVISOR
Glenn is an experienced board-level director with a highly successful executive career spanning 30 years. He is a former Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. He has produced and delivered growth strategies in private and public companies, with a sound appreciation of impactful value creation aligned with good corporate governance. Career achievements include significant capital investment projects, company acquisitions, raising equity and debt finance, delivering restructuring projects and leading successful business exits. He holds distinctions in Company Direction from the UK Institute of Directors and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Our team of associates are a unique network of professionals who enjoy helping businesses prosper.
They have a wealth of knowledge gained from many years of FTSE executive and board level experience in the banking, insurance, retail, fashion, food, beverages and technology sectors to name but a few.
A connected network of skills – your critical friends