John
is a contract executive manager with experience as a president, as senior corporate
staff, and as an entrepreneur. John and the national team of Principals in The
Osborne Group help clients bridge gaps in their organization by becoming
hands-on members of their management team. John works with his clients on business
planning, facilitation, implementation, and mentoring, with a special focus on
the importance of change management and organizational development. John
has managed start-ups, acquisitions, and mergers, and has worked with companies
in transition. He has worked in a wide range of industries in both the private
and public sectors. John graduated in Electrical Engineering from the University
of Toronto and began his career as a sales engineer in a communications business,
and then selling electronic components. John recognized that he needed to learn
more about business, so he returned to part-time studies towards an MBA at York
University, and joined an electrical manufacturer as Regional Sales Manager, progressed
to Marketing Manager and then, shortly after graduating with an MBA, to President.
John joined a Toronto conglomerate in a Corporate
Development role where he had the opportunity to work with a consultant who was
one of the leaders in developing a disciplined approach to creating and modeling
strategic plans. As a result, John developed his passion for strategic planning.
John was promoted to President of the electrical manufacturing Division, and grew
the business through new product development, international expansion, and mergers
and acquisitions. John became an entrepreneur initially by acquiring a distribution
business selling equipment into a retail environment and then joined The Osborne
Group during its formative years, participated in the growth of the business,
became a shareholder and is currently Vice President and a Director of The Osborne
Group Toronto Inc. Over the last 10 years, typical
examples of contract or interim assignments included; working with the President
of an early stage, rapid growth, high-tech business in Intelligent Transportation
Systems to develop and implement a strategic plan to gain access to the US market,
working with the General Manager of a business unit within Corrections Ontario
to develop, and gain acceptance for, their first strategic business plan, working
as Acting President, managed the start-up of a wireless technology business in
the entertainment industry, and managing a project team to work with the Board
to undertake a situation assessment of a manufacturer, to work with the President
and his management team to create their first Strategic Plan for approval by the
Board, and then to provide interim management support through the initial implementation
of the Plan. John is active on a number of Boards
including; Director, Swiss Herbal Remedies Ltd., Director, Bayview Golf and Country
Club, (past member of the Finance Committee), Chairman, Advisory Board, Filamat
Composites and Chair of a volunteer Board in the Rotman MBA final year business
simulation challenge. John was an active member
of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and is still active in WPO. |
