CASE STUDIES - SMFs

A highly qualified chemical engineer, Chris Martin’s MBA demystified the workings of corporate finance and enabled him to pursue his ambitions for commercialising technology. He is now Chief Executive of Sciona, a company at the cutting edge of business innovation and the revolution in genetics.

Michael Astell is a Chartered Professional Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. His impressive business achievements and MBA have led him to become one of 220 SMFs (of the total 275) who provide support to boards of UK and international businesses.

Andrew Phillips is a young entrepreneur whose professional engineering background and MBA has helped him to make his mark on a multitude of ambitious and innovative business ventures.

Richard describes himself as being the beneficiary of a "top-class engineering education", first at Nottingham University, then during an eight-year spell with ICI Acrylics. Richard studied for an MBA in general management and venture finance in HEC, Paris where he won an exchange programme place at the Stern School of Business, New York. Today, Richard is Managing Director of Heathrow Express – a business unit of BAA Heathrow.

Graeme is an entrepreneur specialising in chemistry-based companies. Before taking his MBA at INSEAD in France in 2000, most of Graeme’s career was been spent at Shell International. Graeme joined an advanced cleantech materials discovery company, Ilika, in 2004 as CEO. Ilika has recently been floated on AIM, the London Stock Exchange’s international market for smaller growing companies.