Biographies of Successful Franchisees

To understand the type of experience and skills which may be most useful in building a successful Executives Online business, it may help to read about our most successful franchisees to date:

Derek Ward
Territory: North of England

Steve Rattray
Territory: Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands

Derek Ward became Executives Online's first UK franchisee in June 2006.

In the five years prior to starting his Executives Online business, Derek delivered through his own limited company, Ward Consultants, a number of interim and consultancy projects, including his position as Interim MD for Swift Fire & Security Group, a regional security installation and service company, and his non-executive directorship of Ellis Fairbank plc, a £9 million recruitment (executive search and selection) company which achieved a successful MBO.

From 1993 to 2001, Derek held sales roles of increasing responsibility within ADT Fire & Security, the market leading (£450 million turnover) subsidiary of the world’s largest fire and security service provider. His roles included Sales Director, Divisional Director, Corporate Sales Director and Group Sales Director. Derek’s leadership delivered 18% sales growth year on year, together with 23% profit increase via the new channel sales operational structure he devised, involving 800+ sales people and 90+ managers.

From 1987 to 1992, Derek worked in the then-emergent mobile communications sector, starting at Cartel International as Sales & Marketing Director. Cartel was acquired by Talkland in 1990, at which time Derek became Retail Director and then Sales Director of the combined company.

Derek's earlier career included a number of sales and sales management roles in business-to-business companies and the musical leisure keyboards industry.

Read Derek's testimonial on his experience as an Executives Online franchisee.

Steve Rattray operates Executives Online's first international franchise, with Australia, New Zealand and certain Pacific Islands comprising his territory.

Before acquiring the Executives Online franchise in Australia, Steve operated as a contract manager, involved in a variety of diverse industry sectors including information and sports technologies, business solution systems, e-systems marketing, corporate efficiencies, digital asset management, and virtual office solutions.

Steve's varied roles include being Interim CEO for Sport Rules Pty Limited, Interim CEO and GM of Sales, Marketing and Product Development for Super Alloy Technologies, Sales & Marketing Manager for Rumble Group Pty, Interim GM for Employment.com, and GM & Director of Sales & Marketing for Knight Ridder Financial Inc. He further completed a two-year contract as Executive Director and CEO for the "Spirit of Australia" America's Cup Challenge.

Steve has always been directly involved with the roles of sales and business development management, strategic planning, market determination and product based business development as well as determining the optimum path for client relationship management.