Working with blue-chip organisationsResults-driven strategic advice for large businesses ...

The individual expertise and track record to provide insightful and valuable advice

TCii’s consultants are all highly experienced, senior business people. Their expertise is broad and each has built up an impressive track record that provides the credibility to reinforce the advice being given. With TCii, you won’t find any fresh-faced MBAs trying out their new-found skills on your organisation.

We appreciate that our advice is only as good and as credible as the person offering it. All our consultants have worked in senior positions within large organisations. We understand the challenges you face – we’ve faced similar ones. We understand the politics and how things work in large organisations. We know how important it is for us to fit into your culture, yet at the same time question the status quo and challenge when we need to. In the right way.

TCii adopts a highly practical and hands-on approach that is focused on solving the challenges faced by larger organisations. Not simply providing advice. Seeing the project through to its natural conclusion.

Business and Strategic PlanningDevelop a clearer strategy and sense of direction to deliver sustainable, profitable growth

Business Turnaround, Outsourcing, Cost ReductionRapidly turn around a failing business and refocus on profitable growth

Organisational Development and Employee RetentionStrengthen and develop your team to increase productivity and performance

Acquisitions, Mergers, Post-Acquisition IntegrationIdentify and negotiate with acquisition targets, carry out due diligence work and manage the integration process

International Trade and DistributionBuild an effective international trade and distribution business without wasting time and effort

Succession PlanningIdentify and prepare a capable successor, and protect and transfer your net worth

Supply Chain ManagementStand out from the crowd through superior customer service and delivery performance

Investment AnalysisEnsure that your investments in new products, markets or acquisitions will bring you the return you seek, before committing your resources

Sourcing Key PeopleSource the right executive and non-executive candidates for your organisational needs

Non-executive DirectorsFind seasoned former CEOs and MDs to help your board to formulate and execute growth and exit strategies

Board-level Mentoring and CoachingGain processes and techniques that help senior executives to enhance their professional and personal performance

“A very results-focused and pragmatic approach … clear structure and logic to problem solving,

and they are able to combine this with … considerable experience to develop clear

recommendations. I am very happy to recommend TCii.”

Patrick New – Head of Credit Card Operations, RBS

Experienced senior business people who deliver creative yet practical solutions to the challenges faced by large organisations

Case Study – Controlling stock, increasing satisfaction and profits

An inability to effectively manage stock was causing our client, an international FMCG company operating in the Russian Federation, to lose sales and become less profitable. Stock levels were too high, partly because customs clearance was taking too long.

The existing purchasing department clearly needed to change. We recommended that the business recruit a professional supply chain manager for the first time. A supply chain department was created, combining purchasing, customer service, logistics and stock keeping. New software tools were introduced to manage the information flow and resolve the lack of robust systems that existed previously. Weekly meetings were set up to co-ordinate all sales forecasts, purchasing, stock and production plans, while a system for monitoring forecast accuracy was also put in place. Finally, a professional customs clearance expert was appointed.

During the first six months inventory levels were reduced by over €1m and customs clearance was reduced from fourteen days to just two.

Lead consultant – Dr Alexey Larionov

Alexey is head of TCii’s Russian office. Previously he held senior management positions in several blue-chip organisations – both international and Russian. He is a leading expert in logistics and supply chain, with direct experience of all aspects of this important area.

Valuable and committed members of your team

Ultimately, overcoming the challenges you face depends on the skill and commitment of the advisors you employ. Not the firm, but the individuals who will be working alongside you and who will become part of your team.

Detailed on these pages are brief profiles of some of our consultants, showing their track record, their areas of expertise and the types of organisation they have helped over the years.

International understanding, local insight

TCii’s network of offices is truly international, covering Europe, Russia, India, the Far East and Australia. Our consultants have direct and extensive experience of working within these varied marketplaces. We offer valuable insights for businesses looking to establish relationships, as well as working with those who have existing operations.

“Provides a good balance between support and guidance while always ensuring that one is well prepared, organised and positive … advice is always based on first-hand experience and knowledge of the commercial world.”

Tim Cotton – Supply Chain Director, Scholl Footwear, at SSL International plc

Objective experts with a practical and hands-on approach, focused on results and delivering competitive advantage

Case Study – Breaking the rules to help a global bank to achieve compliance

Restructuring and budgetary challenges within a global bank had resulted in its European Division experiencing delays on a number of changes that had fixed deadlines imposed by the local banking regulators. One of these changes involved the inter-bank payment system in Belgium, which required an upgraded IT system and a revised authority process. Lack of compliance could see fines imposed.

To deliver within the stipulated three-month period we had to break the rules! The bank’s internal procedures, built around providing secure systems, did not facilitate changes within tight deadlines. Not least of the problems were budget approval taking up to two months, and a rigid test requirement that could not be shoehorned into the three-month schedule.

We challenged the financial controllers and secured an unconventional ‘provisional’ budget clearance. We then created a plan that focused only on testing the critical elements. Finally, we identified the senior managers who would need to approve this exceptional procedure, working with them to eliminate their fears and secure their approval.

The change was successfully delivered within the imposed deadline. What’s more, it made the bank rethink its approach and, based on our work, they have now introduced a more flexible procedure that is being used throughout the entire organisation.

Lead consultant – Steve Grace

Steve is an experienced change consultant with an outstanding track record of delivering successful transformation. He spent 17 years at NatWest and helped its cash management team integrate into RBS. He also spent five years at Deutsche Post World Net, transitioning IT services to lower cost based operations within its DHL express and logistics business.

What sets us apart is our ability to integrate ourselves seamlessly into our clients’ day-to-day activities and become highly effective members of the team. We bring challenge to our clients while seeking to understand their unique obstacles to change. We customise our approach to our clients’ needs and provide unbiased advice with world-class execution, leading to measurable results.

TCii combines, in one team, the ability to work both with the board to develop the strategy and with the line management to deliver it. This enables us to reconcile strategic objectives with real-world constraints to produce implementation plans that are both commercially astute and achievable. Our aim is to deliver not just recommendations but bottom-line results.

“Successfully implemented a post-crisis recovery strategy and plan during a period of tremendous change, resulting in net sales increasing by over 85% and EBIT by 133%.”

Peter Ruiner – Vice President, Adhesives Division and CEE, Henkel KGaA A tailored approach to a unique challenge

Case Study – Treading a new path into Europe, avoiding the pitfalls

Our client, a specialist manufacturer and distributor for the major appliance industry, had plans to expand into Central Eastern Europe. They were aware that EU countries would offer lower costs and attractive grants and subsidies. However, they needed a clearer idea of the alternatives and consequent advantages.

The first task was to work with the client on the selection criteria for the potential location of the new manufacturing facility, covering such diverse factors as foreign direct investment criteria and local wage rates and inflation.

We then visited each country with the MD, reviewing all the criteria identified and meeting similar companies. We made our final recommendation on country (Poland), before reviewing potential locations and meeting local government agencies to understand local issues and grants. Again, an exhaustive list of criteria was drawn up for evaluation.

Next we concentrated on the legal, financial and operational aspects, before moving on to the actual construction of the factory and, finally, staffing.

Within 18 months of briefing our client was established and operational in Poland, with a lower cost base and customers who saw this move as a demonstration of the company’s commitment to the business relationship.

Lead consultant – Dr Andrew Blatiak

Andrew is head of TCii’s Polish office. He has been consulting on Central and Eastern Europe issues since 1989, working with, among others, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank, as well as advising both the Czech and Romanian governments on foreign investment. Andrew was involved in the mass privatisation programme in Poland.

Case Study – From crisis to recovery in 12 months

When the value of the Russian rouble plummeted as a result of the economic crisis, our St Petersburg client suffered a business crisis. Sales came to a virtual halt and many customers went bankrupt.

Our task was to minimise losses and then create a stable platform for sustainable, profitable growth.

First, we checked the financial stability and debt situation of our client’s top five customers, who accounted for around 70% of the business. To demonstrate our client’s commitment to them and their value to our client, three-year partnership contracts were offered, making the creation and implementation of debt repayment plans possible.

Next, a major cost cutting drive was put in place, identifying the major cost drivers in the business and dealing with them systematically. Imported goods were replaced with local, lower cost alternatives where available, also saving on import duty and reducing transportation costs. Finally, a team of marketing, key account and business development professionals was hired to help drive forward a business development programme.

By the end of the first year, the business had fully recovered. Sales had increased to 140% of pre-crisis levels and profits had risen by 160%.

Lead consultant – Terry Irwin

Terry is CEO and head of TCii’s UK office, having previously spent over 20 years in the corporate world with GSK and Henkel, managing consumer goods and services businesses in Europe, Asia and the Russian Federation. Terry now works closely with a broad range of organisations, drawing on his extensive experience and providing a personal and hands-on service.

Valuable resources on many aspects of business

Our website contains a wide range of best practice white papers and snapshots on many aspects of business. It also features some in-depth case studies and is updated regularly with other interesting management insights.

www.tcii.co.uk

Strategic and Management Consultants

4th Floor, 33 Cavendish Square London W1G 0PW t: 020 7099 2621 f: 020 7099 2623 info@tcii.co.uk www.tcii.co.uk

TCii combines, in one team, the ability to work both with the board to develop the strategy and with the line management to deliver it.

www.tcii.co.uk

Our locations

At TCii, we work seamlessly together as one firm to serve our clients wherever they need us. We have offices in 13 countries, across 3 continents around the world. We make our collective knowledge, experience and global network available to our clients.

“Responsible for converting our European businesses from a series of autonomous companies into a truly pan-European group and team.”

Denis Wilby – Director, Brent International

© TCii 2009