Lyndon Stickley
Executive Mentor, Non-Exec Director, Investor.
Current: CEO, iplicit
Summary
During the past 30 years, I have invested in and helped build 7 successful organisations; six of which have been acquired. Personally leading the contractual negotiations and deal conclusion for three of them, the largest sale was over £100M. Business focus ranged from software, subsea services, renewable energy and digital technology to building a substantial cemetery business in London.
I am sector agnostic and looking at relatively small companies (sub 50 staff) with a proven model and a level of traction within the market.
My success in creating value has been through the development of clearly defined organisational goals and the formation of highly motivated and trained teams to deliver to them. My particular speciality relates to sales and marketing.
I have noted that most ambitious small/medium businesses have the following issues:
Lack of clarity of direction, often manifested through incoherent product and sales strategy
Insufficient sales volumes
Inadequate levels of talent to take the company to the next level.
Update - May 2022 - having taken a full-time, leading role within one of my investments, I will no longer have capacity for any additional advisory positions for the foreseeable future.
The Early Years
Graduated with a Business Degree in 1991. Recruited to be the sole telesales person within a 5-man software company, 4-Sight Ltd. Throughout the 90’s I evangelised the potential of digital workflow within the printing and publishing industry. I grew the business from sub £300K to £12M revenue (£2M bottom line), with 120 staff serving 50,000+ customers in 33 countries by 1998. My success secured me a Board position and significant shareholding in the subsequent group. I became President of the company and was based in the U.S for the final three years, before negotiating and concluding a $40M bid from an American competitor.
EXPERIENCE
Chief Executive Officer
iplicit Ltd
July 2016 – present
Managing Director
Stratagem Management Services Ltd
February 2000 – 2023
Non Exec Director
Concept Software Ltd
August 2018 – 2022
Strategic Advisor
Interactive Schools Ltd
March 2019 – 2022
Strategic Advisor
Rich Interactive Ltd
July 2015 – 2020
Investor/Project Director
Kemnal Park Ltd
2010 – 2016
Investor/Sales and Marketing Director (2 years),
Managing Director (4 years) and Non-Exec (5 years)
M-Corporation Ltd
2000 – 2011
Investor/Marketing Consultant
Hallin Marine
2002 – 2009
Investor/Sales and Marketing Director
Solar Technologies Ltd
2003 – 2008
Investor/Sales and Marketing Director
Portland Print Management Systems Ltd
2000 – 2004
President
4-Sight LLC
1995 – 1998
Sales & Marketing Director
4-Sight PLC
1992 – 1995