Contact Details:

Russam GMS, 48 High Street North, Dunstable, Beds. LU6 1LA. Telephone: 0845 658 1717 • Fax: 01582 471757 • E-mail: hq@russam-gms.co.uk Get map and directions here All details of our other offices can be found here.

Our Staff

Click on the team member below to expand biographies and reveal contact details.

Jason Atkinson has 16 years of international sales and marketing experience across both the financial services and fashion retailing sectors. Prior to joining the Russam GMS team in 2005 he spent eight years working for various life, pensions and banking institutions including Pearl Assurance and AMP. He has expertise in leveraging all aspects of the marketing mix and also a strong background in project & programme management, risk & compliance, governance and sales management. He is the Deputy Chairman of the Interim Management Association (IMA); a founding member of the Financial Promotions Action Group; and is involved in a number of other industry bodies and associations.

His previous roles include:

• Director of Marketing, Interactive Investor (www.iii.co.uk)
• Head of Corporate Brand & Communications, AMP UK Financial Services
• Project Director, AMP UK Financial Services
• Head of Marketing Services, Pearl Assurance
• Management consultant, AT Kearney & Partners
• Buyer and group marketing head, Neiman Marcus

Jason has an MBA degree from the University of Oxford, and a BA (Hons) in Marketing from The University of Texas. He is British but has lived and worked in both the US and Kenya. He enjoys teaching his two little boys how to hit a cricket ball and aspire to be the next Freddie Flintoff.

You can E-mail Jason Atkinson at jason.Atkinson@russam-gms.co.uk

Stephen Brooker has been working in the charity and not for profit sector since 1990 when he was recruited to the British Red Cross Society as Director of Finance. Having previously been a partner in Ernst & Young, leading a unit in the management consultancy division, he was ideally placed to help the Red Cross to put commercial systems and disciplines in place as they embarked on a major programme of strategic change under a new top management team. Stephen trained as a Chartered Accountant in the London office of Arthur Young after reading Economics at Cambridge.

From Red Cross, Stephen went to Emmanuel College, Cambridge as Bursar and Fellow where he was responsible for unifying all the non-academic administration and implementing full budgeting and management accounting systems. He also had responsibility for the overseeing the management of substantial endowment funds – comprising both a securities portfolio and a commercial property portfolio, oversaw a major building programme and helped establish an effective alumni liaison office using methods that have become a reference model for other colleges. Some £10m was fundraised over a 5 year period.

He was active at this time on the executive committee of the Charity Finance Directors’ Group and also on the Cambridge Bursars’ Committee; on both bodies he was responsible for major new initiatives, notably in the areas of competitive tendering and joint purchasing agreements.

Stephen then embarked on a portfolio career which has seen him involved in many charities at home and abroad as an adviser, executive and trustee while he has also been an active business angel in the Cambridge high-tech scene, complementing his work in the charity sector with commercial experience.

For many years Stephen ran finance surgeries for ACEVO; a resource for chief executives covering finance, fundraising and longer-term strategic issues.

Stephen retained his links with the University of Cambridge by serving on their Audit Committee for several terms. He has been a non-executive director of East & North Herts NHS Trust for over 7 years, chairing their Audit Committee throughout that time.

Since 2004 Stephen has served as Chair of The Audit Committee of the Law Society. He is also a Trustee of Remap (a national charity providing technical equipment for disabled people), of the British Council for Prevention of Blindness and a founding Trustee of the Charity Treasurers' Forum as well as being active as a Past Master on the Court of his City Livery Company (the Glovers) and in his local church as a Lay Minister.

You can E-mail Stephen Brooker at stephen.brooker@russam-gms.co.uk

Peter Dunkerley is now one of Russam GMS's most experienced and successful Managing Consultants having placed hundreds of interim managers across a diverse range of clients in both the private and public sectors. This experience gained since joining Russam GMS early in 2001, together with his strong commercial background, means that he has become a real expert in understanding and matching the skills of interim managers with the fullest understanding of the needs of his clients. An economics graduate from Keele and the LSE, his early career began with Cadbury Schweppes, where from Foods Division Marketing Manager he became Managing Director of Aerosols International. He then became Group Managing Director of Thomas Jourdan plc and later Chairman of Brays UK plc before becoming an Interim Manager himself. He was between assignments when he joined the Russam team and has been placing executives ever since. Peter lives in North East Hampshire, near Fleet.

Footnote: Peter has been nominated by the Recruitment Employment Confederation as Interim Recruiter of the year 2009.

You can E-mail Peter Dunkerley at peter.dunkerley@russam-gms.co.uk

Ben joined Russam GMS as a Principal in May 2008.

After graduating from Newcastle University with a Law degree, Ben decided to change direction and began a career in recruitment. He joined Elan Public Services, the dedicated public sector division of Elan Computing – itself the dedicated IT division of Manpower, as a Resource Executive in 2007 and quickly began to supply both IT and Project / Programme Managers to both Central and Local government authorities. He was promoted to Consultant within a year.

Since joining Russam GMS he has supplied senior level interims to a broad spectrum of clients including the Government Olympic Executive, the newly formed Cheshire East Council, Department for Children, Schools and Families and Her Majesty’s Prison Service.

You can E-mail Ben Foster at ben.foster@russam-gms.co.uk

Prior to joining Russam GMS Ltd, Ian Joseph was a senior consultant for one of the UK’s leading executive search firms where he worked on high profile executive and non executive roles in the not for profit and public sector. Prior to this, Ian spent over six years as Chief Executive of a medium-sized charity called HOPE worldwide which specialised in working in the fields of homelessness, addiction, mentoring and international development.

During this time he also managed the creation and development of subsidiary organisations in Afghanistan and Pakistan both pre and post September 11th. In four years, Ian doubled the size of the charity and established it as an accredited provider holding Supporting People contracts, Approved Provider Status with the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation and gaining Investor in People status. Also, during this time the charity became the first non-governmental organisation in the world to win a management consultancy role with the Asian Development Bank.

Ian’s policy experience includes contributing to the Conservative Party’s Social Justice Policy Group and to consultations on ending homelessness, led by the umbrella body Homeless Link. As a successful fundraiser, Ian has been responsible for raising circa £¾ million a year and personally raising funds from organisations such as the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Coutts Charitable Trust and The Rayne Foundation.

Ian’s earlier corporate sector experience was as a recruitment specialist in the City of London, sourcing financial experts and at British Gas PLC as a systems analyst.

Ian holds a masters degree in Voluntary Sector Management from Cass Business School.  He is a founding board member of Trustees Unlimited and is a member of the Institute of Fundraising. He sits on the advisory board of Future Foundations, a youth development organisation and is a Governor of a school in Gravesend, Kent. 

You can E-mail Ian Joseph at ian.joseph@russam-gms.co.uk

Emma joined Russam GMS in 2008 as Head of the company’s Resource Management Team, having previously worked as a Vetting Manager and Resourcer within the utilities recruitment sector. Her role is to continuously review and improve all available sources and methods of attracting the highest calibre candidates to ensure a swift and bespoke service to all our clients and similarly provide interims with up-to-date details of the best opportunities in their sector.

You can E-mail Emma Kynoch at emma.kynoch@russam-gms.co.uk

Gary Lawton joins the Russam GMS executive team to direct and drive forward the company’s Public Sector Practice – now Catalist accredited by the OGC-BS - Office of Government Commerce - Buying Solutions.

Gary has an enviable track record of success with over ten years experience of supplying senior executives into the public sector. His expertise covers both Central and Civil Government and Local Government including Criminal Justice, Education, Health, Defence, Local Authorities, NHS Trusts, Universities and Police Constabularies. Gary’s unrivalled reputation within the public sector has been developed through his detailed understanding of the government’s agenda and its challenges and requirements.

Gary joined Russam GMS in early 2007 having initially worked for Parity's Government Division in the late nineties. He was headhunted by Elan to develop their Public Sector offering and from a standing start developed Elan Public Services to become an industry leader. He is now focused on assisting public sector organisations identify their executive and senior management requirements and in particular where they can utilise interim resource on an independent basis as opposed to consultancy and its associated overheads. Gary can provide the necessary independent expertise in key areas such as Procurement, Programme and Project Management, Change Management, Communications, Finance, HR and Board Level Appointments to name a few. Gary is committed to ensure Russam maintain and develop long term relationships and play their part in assisting their clients create a culture of excellence and achieve Gus’s vision, “a civil service that exudes pride, pace, passion and professionalism”.

You can E-mail Gary Lawton at gary.lawton@russam-gms.co.uk

Glyn Lloyd began his business career in the Plastics industry as a Commercial Trainee working for Guinness. Later, after brief spells with BTR and Schlegel of America, he joined Legrand Electric the UK subsidiary of Legrand sa of France, the world’s largest producer of Electrical Fittings. Initially as Distribution Manager, later as Operations Manager and finally as Logistics Director, his responsibilities included Customer Service, Warehousing, Procurement, Quality, Site Services, Transport and Distribution. In 1997 he undertook a couple of interim assignments, both in the field of Logistics, before joining the team at Russam GMS as Business Manager. He is responsible for the day to day running of the company with specific responsibility for Finance, Admin, IT and Web Development. He is a member of the Institute of Logistics and Transport. His eldest son is a Presenter with BBC Radio and his youngest is a Teacher. His wife, Susan, is a Secondary School Librarian. He lives on the Beds/Bucks border. His interests include Politics, IT, Sport, Reading and Music.

You can E-mail Glyn Lloyd at glyn.lloyd@russam-gms.co.uk

In the ten years before establishing Russam GMS in 1982, Charles Russam, FCA, gained senior management experience with The Burton Group – now Arcadia – and Whitbread in financial, business development and general management areas and was Business Development Director of Beefeater Steakhouses in their exciting and formative early years. Setting up his own management consultancy in the early 1980’s, he quickly noticed that there was virtually no mechanism for the provision of short term management support at senior levels - which is what Charles did - and whence we derive our claim to be "the longest established mainstream Interim Management Provider in the UK". Charles founded the IMA, the Industry Professional Association in 1987 which has now developed into a strong driving force behind the growth of this important sector. He was its Deputy Chairman for eight years and headed up its Marketing Committee. Charles has written and had published over the years well over 50 articles and innumerable quotes about flexible employment at senior levels and the changing ways in which businesses can be managed more effectively through people. He has given evidence to the House of Commons Select Committee on Employment, has spoken at national and international conferences, has been on radio and has appeared on television on two occasions. Charles lives in North Buckinghamshire and enjoys golf and collecting old watches.

You can E-mail Charles Russam at charles.russam@russam-gms.co.uk

Damian was recruited by Russam GMS as a Principal in August 2008.

Following graduating at Sheffield University in BA Hons English Literature in 2004, Damian joined Elan Computing – the dedicated IT arm of Manpower, as an Account Manager. In quickly placing senior IT project and programme interims into blue-chip financial services, pharmaceutical and energy clients, Damian built the foundations of his pro-active consultative skill-set in advising market-leading clients and candidates alike.

Today, Damian is a key player in the Russam GMS Public Sector practice. Specialising in key areas such as Procurement, Programme and Project Management, Change Management, Marketing and Communications, Finance, HR and Board Level Appointments, he currently supplies senior interims into HM Central Government, The Scottish Government and Collaborative Partners and Manchester City Council.

You can E-mail Damian Shaw at Damian.Shaw@russam-gms.co.uk

Chester Sullivan-Manders joined Russam GMS as a Senior Principal in April 2009 to focus on providing senior level interim managers within Local Government, Social Housing, Education and the NHS.

Chester’s history of success in recruitment began in Central London in the early nineties. Supplying IT specialists into the City’s most prominent banks and finance institutions, Chester became one of the most industrious top billing consultants. After reaching the peaks of the IT industry, Chester transferred his skills into Finance and Accounting six years ago with resounding success. He is now one of the most creative and focused recruiters within this market and has an enviable track record of supply with a wide range of clients including Stoke City Council, Trafford NHS Healthcare, Salford College, Six Town Housing, Cheshire Peaks and Plains, Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council, University of Manchester, Aston Leigh and Wigan Primary Care Trust, Manchester City Council, St Helens and Knowsley Primary Care Trust and Central Manchester and Manchester Children’s Hospital.

If you require Finance and Accounting resource at any time please contact:
Chester direct at chester.sullivan-manders@russam-gms.co.uk

Russam GMS are pleased to announce the appointment of the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) former Head of Procurement, Bill Tipping, as a Specialist Adviser to its growing Public Sector Business Division.

With an implicit knowledge of procurement and commercial issues, Bill will be instrumental in helping Russam GMS meet the increased demand of Interim Managers across all government departments and his wealth of experience and knowledge of the sector will be invaluable in helping Russam GMS grow and develop its business.

According to a report from OGC.buying Solutions, the public sector market for Interim Managers was estimated at £180 million in 2005/6. Bill will work closely with Gary Lawton, Director – Public Sector and his team at Russam GMS to source talented Interim Managers to meet this growing demand.

Having spent four years as Head of Procurement at the DTI, now BERR, and a total of eight years working in the Public Sector, Bill has an in-depth knowledge of the workings and requirements of public sector resourcing. He is an associate lecturer of the National School of Government, Sunningdale in Public Sector issues. Bill is also a ‘thought leader’ in the procurement arena and Chief Examiner at the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS).

Bill stated, “Having worked closely with a number of Interim providers in my former role, Russam GMS is the only commercial company with whom I am willing to work. I was incredibly impressed by its vision for the future of public sector resourcing, its keen understanding of the challenges involved and, its commitment to finding top talent to take on key roles within the Public Sector is second to none. I am looking forward to re engaging with former colleagues and using my knowledge and experience to help Russam GMS develop its Interim offering.”

You can E-mail Bill Tipping at bill.tipping@russam-gms.co.uk

Mike Whitlam CBE, MPhil., CCMgtI, has worked at a senior management level, in the Voluntary sector for over 30 years, having been trained and worked as a Prison Governor beforehand. His original management training was gained from Manchester Business School and his M.Phil. was gained at Cranfield, on the subject of Voluntary Sector management.

He has worked as a CEO at local, National and International level, the largest being the British Red Cross with staff of 3000 paid people, 90,000 volunteers and a budget of £110,000,000. He was the founder of ACEVO, because he believes that CEOs in the sector need support and personal development.

One of the largest change management programmes in the sector with the restructuring of the British Red Cross, was led by Mike. It involved the dissolving of 100 registered charities into one. He has also had to manage two International ‘start-up’ NGOs, as their first CEO. This has also entailed working with UNDCP and WHO.

As a consultant Mike also runs personal development and support programmes for CEOs, which give practical and theoretical coaching. His theoretical and practical knowledge, gained at a senior level over a period when the Third Sector has been going through a period of professionalisation, is a good mix for such programmes.

In his role as consultant and volunteer Mike has worked with many organisations, assisting them with a range of challenges, not least the need to raise large sums of money.

Mike currently is a NED of a PCT within the NHS, working particularly on Public patient Engagement as well as trying to ensure that the Third Sector is used more to deliver services under contract for the NHS. He also Chairs the Ofcom Advisory Committee for Older and Disabled People.

You can E-mail Mike Whitlam at mike.whitlam@russam-gms.co.uk

John Wilson is our most experienced Principal with over 10 years at Russam GMS. He acts as our Director - Operations and heads up three of our Specialist Sector practices – Defence & Aerospace, Local Government and Manufacturing & Supply Chain. John brings 25 years of senior level PLC experience to the business. As a former Regional Director of divisions of TI Group and of Coats Viyella, he has extensive domestic and international experience. A graduate of the University of St Andrews and fluent in Spanish, his career developed through line management to board level positions encompassing operational, financial, commercial and strategic responsibilities. John lives in Cheshire.

You can E-mail John Wilson at john.wilson@russam-gms.co.uk