Profile of The Chief Executives' Office

After two years discreet research, CEO was formed in 1996, by John Webster, a former building society CEO who saw the need for a specialised body to help senior directors enter the highly competitive and complex marketplace where MBI/Os and NXDs are found.

The MBI/O market was growing rapidly but with no structured process to help identify serious MBI aspirants from the thousands of 'time wasting hopefuls' who were clogging the market. Meanwhile, serious Chairmen and CEO candidates found it frustrating to try to break through the corporate finance and venture capital jargon, tendered by young, vibrant but commercially inexperienced accountants and bankers. A breath of jargon free fresh air was needed! And so CEO was formed, to provide face to face briefings and introductions for carefully selected CHIEF EXECUTIVES TALKING TO CHIEF EXECUTIVES! More than 1000 senior directors have been through the CEO process.

Seminars to widen the network of candidates, were commenced in 1995 under the chairmanship of Sir Kit McMahon, former Deputy Governor of the Bank of England. Sir Kit, and Sir Leonard Peach, UK Commissioner for Public Appointments, have been actively involved in the growth and evolution of the Seminars from one day events to 3 day Seminars and Workshops that have gained market leading status - and sponsorship by most leading corporate financiers and venture capital houses.