As an Interim management practitioner of 20 years standing at CEO level, Tony specialises in taking often complex organisations through transformational change: from turnaround to re-structuring, profitable growth and sale where appropriate (also taken a complex group into ‘soft landing’ administration). He applies his very broad experience of manufacturing and related service and logistics industries to deliver measurable high value added in each assignment; on an international and national basis.
Certified Innovation Manager with several years of Interim management career, working with SMEs making their operations more efficient and streamlined; creating a path to ensure growth and development, despite the complexity of the situations. “My purpose is to assist companies in shaping their future: a better future with stronger drive and broader (strategic) foresight”. Strong believer in cultural & work sectors contamination; besides having extensive international experience and always been in love with the manufacturing world, enjoys industrial archaeology while exploring old sites, trying to bring more perspective from the past.
Kevin is a qualified accountant of over 35 years, successfully completing 50 interim assignments in 28 years and a Member of IIM for 10 years. Mostly he helps businesses through turnarounds, guides management teams through M&A (sometimes they go together) and enables lenders to support the business. He has also helped in 2 cases of fraud, 3 of false accounting, the fallout from 2 crimes and a competition enquiry.
Tony has a strong background in operations, transformation, and program management, helping businesses optimize performance, leverage technology, and scale effectively. His experience spans financial services, corporate environments, and key functional roles across business operations, finance, HR, contact centres, technology, and audit. He has led large-scale transformation and service improvement programs, consolidating services, embedding efficiencies, mitigating risk, and enhancing business capabilities. His expertise lies in bridging strategy and execution—ensuring businesses not only plan for change but implement it successfully in a way that delivers sustained results. He has worked across Europe, Asia, and India and am currently based in North West England.
Gary is an experienced product and marketing leader with a focus on digital growth, go-to-market execution, and transformation. He has held senior roles at Bottomline Technologies, Auto Trader UK, and The Number UK Ltd., and now advises small-cap businesses on scalable strategies that connect product, marketing, and revenue operations. With a strong track record in interim and consulting roles, Gary helps businesses align cross-functional teams, drive customer engagement, and deliver sustainable growth. He also brings governance and board-level experience, having served as a school governor for over a decade. A Bristol Bears supporter and regular platelet and plasma donor, Gary is based in South West England.
Charles has over 20 years experience as an interim, having completed 19 assignments for 14 clients, specialising in the Supply Chain Management space, most recently in Planning Transformation, both organisational and system. With over 25 years working with Asian sources and partners, Charles has also worked on assignments based in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Hanoi as well as throughout UK and Europe, across multiple industries. Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills are complemented by clear and logical thinking, a meticulous eye for detail and extensive MRP/ERP systems experience.
Diane is an HR professional with over 20 years experience helping
businesses shape the way they attract, hire and onboard their workforce.
Her experience focuses on designing and implementing scalable and
enduring recruitment solutions that drive organisational growth for
large and small organisations, predominantly in the private sector.
When not working, Diane is a passionate gardener and a keen but average golfer.
The Board of the Institute of Interim Management, as prescribed in the Memorandum and Articles of Association, may confer a special membership accolade to those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in support of the Institute and the wider Interim Management profession.
That accolade is the special membership category of ‘Companion of the Institute of Interim Management‘ – CIIM.
To date just 11 individuals have been conferred this position and we introduce them here:
Nigel Corby CIIM; Bill Penney CIIM and Torrie Smith CIIM (deceased) were all prominent members of the Interim Service Provider community and part of the Interim Management Association – a sub-group of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC). Nigel founded Global Executives Ltd. (1997), Bill founded Ashton Penney Partnership (1994) and Torrie Smith who founded Scott Torrance as his last endeavour in 2004. These three people were instrumental in encouraging the development of an institute designed to support and develop the Interim management profession in the UK. They were involved from the initial idea through to the establishment of the organisation, providing encouragement and guidance during the very early period of the life of the IIM.
The remaining Companions have all held office within the IIM, but special mention should be given to Tom Brass CIIM (deceased) who was involved in the formation of the Institute in 2001 and is the only person to have held all three offices: Company Secretary, Treasurer and Chair. He served on the board from inception to his death in March 2022.
Early institute Chairs, John Wood CIIM and Paul Vousden CIIM, have also been acknowledged with this award as the IIM moved from concept, gained traction and moved on from being a section of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) at the point when this much larger organisation changed its articles and focus. This transition for the IIM meant that it became fully independent very early in its existence.
Taravat Taher-Zadeh CIIM is recognised for her contribution to establishing the expansion of the IIM, both regionally and internationally. She focussed the board on building a strategy beyond early day survival, established a growing market awareness and was tireless in her promotion of all things ‘Interim’.
Ad van de Rest CIIM held the position of Chair twice in his time with the board – once jointly and once individually. He is credited with the introduction of the IIM managed LinkedIn group, now called ‘The Voice of Interim Management’ which is approaching a 20,000 membership, expanding our on-line presence and developing the IIM’s Annual Market Survey. This has become the definitive view of the UK Interim market’s performance with thousands of responses each year.
David Pugh CIIM held two offices – Treasurer and Company Secretary concurrently – for several years, taking us through some difficult periods and ensuring that we stayed on the straight and narrow from a governance perspective.
Tony Evans CIIM has been Chair previously and joint Chair (with Tom Brass CIIM) more recently. Tony is the current Chair and is the only person so far to have held this office three times. He has been a director of the IIM since the first election. Throughout his tenure, he has led lobbying activity, making the case for regulation to be fair and not inflict ‘collateral damage’ from areas related but not directly connected to the purpose of the legislation.
The latest to be conferred with Companionship is Mike Thompson CIIM. He has been a Director twice and also held the post of Treasurer twice, most recently taking on the post in difficult circumstances after the sad passing of Tom Brass in March 2022, until stepping down from the Board and moving to work overseas at the end of September 2024.
The Institute of Interim Management (IIM) is the UK’s only professional body for independent Interim professionals. All our members operate in business on their own account as Interim Managers and Executives working at board or near-board level. The Institute is run by a Board and Executive Committees of seasoned Interim Managers and is committed to supporting and promoting professional Interim Managers working in the UK and internationally.
© Institute of Interim Management 2025 - Institute of Interim Management, registered in England & Wales, No 04589083
