Burgess COMMENTARY

Peter Burgess

Neil Skehel 1st Neil Skehel CEO at Awards International LLC (UAE) Croydon, Cambridgeshire, United KingdomManagement Consulting Current Awards International LLC (UAE), Customer Experience Magazine, Awards International Previous Castrol BP, McDonald's Corporation Education Cranfield University - Cranfield School of Management 500+ connectionsSend a messageEndorseMore options Relationship Contact Info Connected 2 minutes ago Background Summary I am a business leader and innovator having achieved significant results in both multi-nationals and small businesses. A 25 year career at McDonald's saw me progress from hourly paid crew member to Director of National Operations before moving on to run my own business awards company (Awards International), the online Customer Experience Magazine and my own management consultancy. My companies own - the UK Customer Experience Awards - the UK Digital Experience Awards - the UK Employee Experience Awards - the International Business Excellence Awards in addition to supporting in the delivery of the CIM's Marketing Excellence Awards and the Patient Experience Network's National Awards. Receiving Awards for my achievements and business contributions and over the years seeing the positive impact the same thing has had on others and their businesses, has resulted in me being a great Awards enthusiast. I received national recognition via the British Computer Society (BCS) Innovation Award in 2005 and the Global McDonald’s Way Team Award in 2006 for my contribution to the McDonald’s Global Plan 2 Win (via the Global Restaurant Operations Improvement Process). Experience CEO and Founding Partner Awards International LLC (UAE) March 2014 – Present (2 months)Meydan Executive Offices, Dubai Setting up the International Business Excellence Awards 2015. The first event is in March 2015 in a well known trade venue in Dubai. The IBXA is the international accolade for leaders and their organisations. Shining a light on the UAE as a hub for business and best practice, the Awards will be a 2 day festival of business, with finalists, sponsors and partners such as international business schools. Our web site will go live at the end of April 2014, in the mean time please feel free to contact me via LinkedIn with your interest. Customer Experience MagazineChairman Customer Experience Magazine January 2010 – Present (4 years 4 months)Chemlsford, Essex I started Customer Experience Magazine because I believe that a new way of thinking about the customer is needed. My extensive experience in measuring business performance including use of different insight techniques such as mystery shopping, NPS, multi-media, “quant and qual” techniques has led me to conclude that the only way to really differentiate business is to consider the total impact on the customer. With that I mind I founded a magazine to promote dialogue and discussion in this area – for Customer Experience professionals. Customer Experience Magazine i continues to carve out a niche as a place for customer experience professionals to share best practice and insight. Awards InternationalFounding Partner and Managing Director Awards International November 2008 – Present (5 years 6 months)Stevenage, United Kingdom Awards International runs business awards programmes and provides marketing services, event management and administration software specifically for the business awards sector. Major programmes include - the UK Customer Experience Awards - the UK Digital Experience Awards - the UK Employee Experience Awards - the Patient Experience Network National Awards - the CIM Marketing Excellence Awards. Over the last 6 years we have developed considerable depth in experience of how to execute and support business awards. (Open)2 recommendations Kriss Cocomazzi Kriss Cocomazzi Head of Field Sales - TRACKER UK LTD Neil is a man with a vision, always knows what he wants and how to get it. He is a well rounded and seasoned Director having...View Chris Robinson Chris Robinson Managing Director, Boost Marketing Ltd (award entry consultants) When it comes to organising awards, Neil is the man. In particular what he and his team have done for the CIM Marketing...View Managing Director Cornelius Ltd September 2005 – Present (8 years 8 months)Cambridge, United Kingdom Through Cornelius Ltd, I provide a project management service which reflects my significant experience in operations management and development roles at McDonald’s and now elsewhere. I leverage operational and commercial knowledge to improve business operations in conjunction with head office functions working across the value chain. I have implemented many, many different types of projects across different areas of business with considerable success: Expertise includes: • Multi-site operations management, sales, staff and P&L leadership • Product development • Business simplification • Cost reduction • KPI development • Business transformation including people, process and systems Clients have included BP Lubricants (Castrol), Maritz Research Ltd, Shell, Nationwide Building Society, First Assist Occupational Health and CACHE. More recently I've also been involved in Quetzel Ltd, a management consultancy where we help business leaders deliver improved business success through improving direction-setting, strategic decision making and organisational alignment. We’re particularly focused on small to medium sized companies and leaders who know they need to start leading their people differently. (Open)1 recommendation Simon Barwell Simon Barwell Interim Programme Director – Platform Programme at St. James’s Place Wealth Management (until mid 2014) Neil and I worked for the same client for a significant part of 2007. Neils role was to project manage a significant process reenginerring and IT implementation across multi sites. Neil was given a near impossible challange which he grasped and...View Programme Manager (Consultancy Contract via Cornelius) Castrol BP May 2011 – September 2012 (1 year 5 months)Swindon, United Kingdom Castrol has 70,000 suppliers across 48 countries. They identified an opportunity to improve their supplier Ts&Cs to reduce business risk and potentially increase profitability. I led a team, including a feasibility by Accenture and 5 external consultants to develop and commence action to remediate their position. We were able to transition the programme into BAU ahead of schedule. I had the privilege of meeting and working with a great bunch of people who I look forward to working with again in the future. (Open)1 recommendation Philip Walker Philip Walker Senior Contract Analyst at High Point Rendel Neil is an energetic, highly organised, politically aware programme manager with a strong customer and stakeholder engagement focus who delivers on his promises. He is an accomplished manager commanding respect and simultaneously enabling...View McDonald's CorporationDirector of National Operations McDonald's Corporation November 1985 – August 2005 (19 years 10 months)London, United Kingdom In my last year at McDonald’s I worked with the VP worldwide Restaurant Measurement to Implement the Global Operations Improvement Process, a project which I contributed to throughout its development including the development of the original business case. Prior to this, as Director of National Operations, reporting to the COO and subsequently the CEO, I played a considerable part in developing and implementing the McDonald’s “Plan to Win” as a member of the European Operations Board supporting the Relationship Partner for Northern Europe and the President of McDonald’s Europe. Between 1998 and 2003 I held various roles as a department manager during which time I founded McDonald’s UK New Product Development department, introducing an extensive range of new promotional products and themes in 1998/9 and subsequently Bacon Roll, McFlurry, Veg Deluxe and Chicken Premier to name but a few. I also sponsored McDonald’s IS mobile workforce project involving providing support for multi-site management with an integrated secure mobile offering. Prior to 1998 I worked my way up from crew member to Operations Manager in charge of up to 50 restaurants working in the South East, East Anglia and London. (Open)7 recommendations, including: Mark Jessop Mark Jessop Product Lifecycle Management Team Lead at McDonald's Europe Ltd. I have fond memories of my time working with Neil. I worked with Neil on various Restaurant Operations projects for...View Steve Limbirons Steve Limbirons Business Intelligence Program Manager McDonalds Europe I had the pleasure to work for Neil for just over 2 years whilst deploying the global ROIP system in the UK. Neil is one of...View 5 more recommendations Skills & Endorsements Top Skills 50Change Management 49Management 41Business Strategy 31Leadership 26Operations Management 17Customer Experience 16Strategic Planning 11P&L Management 11Product Development 8New Business Development Neil also knows about... 7Innovation Management 6Start-ups 6Training 5Franchising 4Integrated Marketing 3Project Management 2Web Development 2Continuous Improvement 2Executive Management 2Marketing 2Marketing Strategy 2Outsourcing 2Retail 2Business Planning 2Business Transformation See 18+ Education Cranfield University - Cranfield School of Management Cranfield University - Cranfield School of Management MBA, Business Administration 1999 – 2000 Brigthon University BA Hons, Arts 1983 – 1986 University College for the Creative Arts at Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham, Maidstone and Rochester University College for the Creative Arts at Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham, Maidstone and Rochester Foundation Diploma, Art and Design, Pass 1982 – 1983 Additional Info Interests Business and Business Colleagues Personal Details Birthday November 27, 1963 Marital Status Married Advice for Contacting Neil Contact me via neil@quetzel.co.uk or neil@cornelius.ltd.uk Honors & Awards Additional Honors & Awards British Computer Society Medal for Innovation 2005 The McDonald's Way, International Team Award 2006 (for Restaurant Operations Improvement Process) Recommendations Received (11)Given (19) Peter, would you like to recommend Neil? Recommend Neil Founding Partner and Managing Director Awards International Kriss Cocomazzi Kriss Cocomazzi Head of Field Sales - TRACKER UK LTD Neil is a man with a vision, always knows what he wants and how to get it. He is a well rounded and seasoned Director having experience and appreciation within marketing, sales and operations. Not afraid to take risk and excellent at managing change for improvements and growth. An expert in his industry and a role model for all whom work with him. November 12, 2012, Kriss was a consultant or contractor to Neil at Awards International Chris Robinson Chris Robinson Managing Director, Boost Marketing Ltd (award entry consultants) When it comes to organising awards, Neil is the man. In particular what he and his team have done for the CIM Marketing Excellence Awards is extraordinary. The CIM had a history of failed awards schemes, but not theirs is the marketing awards scheme we get more enquiries about than any other. He has also led the development of an awards management tool that I am very...more October 30, 2012, Chris was with another company when working with Neil at Awards International Managing Director Cornelius Ltd Simon Barwell Simon Barwell Interim Programme Director – Platform Programme at St. James’s Place Wealth Management (until mid 2014) Neil and I worked for the same client for a significant part of 2007. Neils role was to project manage a significant process reenginerring and IT implementation across multi sites. Neil was given a near impossible challange which he grasped and succeeded December 12, 2007, Simon worked directly with Neil at Cornelius Ltd Programme Manager (Consultancy Contract via Cornelius) Castrol BP Philip Walker Philip Walker Senior Contract Analyst at High Point Rendel Neil is an energetic, highly organised, politically aware programme manager with a strong customer and stakeholder engagement focus who delivers on his promises. He is an accomplished manager commanding respect and simultaneously enabling high-quality team performance. It was a pleasure and an education working with him. October 30, 2012, Philip reported to Neil at Castrol BP Director of National Operations McDonald's Corporation Mark Jessop Mark Jessop Product Lifecycle Management Team Lead at McDonald's Europe Ltd. I have fond memories of my time working with Neil. I worked with Neil on various Restaurant Operations projects for McDonald's UK. Neil has great intelligence, is a quick clear thinker, has exemplary vision and leadership qualities and in my view inspires people around hime to excel in their jobs - including me. Neil was supportive and there for his team as and when needed...more June 24, 2008, Mark worked indirectly for Neil at McDonald's Corporation See More ConnectionsShared (1) Haitham Al MousaHaitham Al Mousa1st Managing Director, Engineering & Construction PreviousNext Groups BNI (Business Network International) USA BNI (Business Network International) USA Join BT Retail Week Technology Awards BT Retail Week Technology Awards Join Cranfield School of Management Official Alumni Network Cranfield School of Management Official Alumni Network Join Customer Experience Magazine Customer Experience Magazine Join Customer Experience Network Customer Experience Network Join Customer Experience Professionals Customer Experience Professionals Join Customer Experience World Customer Experience World Join Customer Intelligence and Insight Customer Intelligence and Insight Join Customer Management Exchange Customer Management Exchange Join Digital Marketing: Social Media, Search, Mobile & more Digital Marketing: Social Media, Search, Mobile & more Join Engage Customer Engage Customer Join Harvard Business Review Harvard Business Review Join IMI Awards IMI Awards Join India Leadership Network India Leadership Network Join Innovation Awards Financial Services Innovation Awards Financial Services Join Innovative Marketing, PR, Sales & Social Media Innovators Innovation Network by Gerald Haman Innovative Marketing, PR, Sales & Social Media Innovators Innovation Network by Gerald Haman Join Marketing & Communication Network Marketing & Communication Network Join Mobile Excellence Awards Mobile Excellence Awards Join National Training Awards National Training Awards Join Nursing Times Awards Nursing Times Awards Join Oracle Retail Week Awards Oracle Retail Week Awards Join PRWeek Awards PRWeek Awards Join Patient Experience Network National Awards 2013 Patient Experience Network National Awards 2013 Join Queen's Awards for Enterprise Queen's Awards for Enterprise Join Retail Management Executive Group Retail Management Executive Group Join SOUTH KOREA - Import, Export, Trading SOUTH KOREA - Import, Export, Trading Join Scenario Planning & Future Strategy Group Scenario Planning & Future Strategy Group Join Social Media Leadership Awards | Knowledge@Wharton & Social Strategy1 Social Media Leadership Awards | Knowledge@Wharton & Social Strategy1 Join South Africa Business Communities South Africa Business Communities Join Sponsorship Insights, Partnership Marketing and Branded Entertainment News delivered by DAN BEEMAN Sponsorship Insights, Partnership Marketing and Branded Entertainment News delivered by DAN BEEMAN Join Sub-editors and production journalists Sub-editors and production journalists Join The Hertfordshire Business Awards 2014 The Hertfordshire Business Awards 2014 Join UK Customer Experience Awards UK Customer Experience Awards Join UK Digital Experience Awards UK Digital Experience Awards Join See less Following Influencers Hiroshi Mikitani CEO, Rakuten Inc. 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