Alan Dean

Alan has 8 years experience as a mentor to business leaders and delights in the difference it makes. He is keen on developing the coaching skills of his clients and getting the best out of their teams. His wealth of business experience at a senior level includes 14 years with merchant bankers NM Rothschild. As the main board director for the North of England, he built the corporate finance activities of the bank in that region and became a leading figure in the Manchester Business community. Subsequently, Alan was Chief Executive of listed direct mail order company N Brown Group, overseeing growth with market capitalisation increasing from £18m to £ 250 million in just over 2 years. He joined North West Water shortly after privatisation as group business development director. In his 5 years there, he was responsible for acquisitions, which added approximately £200 million to sales and £20 million to operating profits. Alan had responsibility for bidding for and funding international projects for water and wastewater facilities and was involved in regulatory strategy. He then followed his passion for classical music by taking on the role of chief executive of the Halle Orchestra, where he oversaw the move into a new concert hall. Not only was he responsible for the day to day running of the orchestra, comprising 95 musicians and 25 staff, but also for negotiations with funders, sponsors, local authorities and the Arts Council. Alan has held a number of non-executive appointments and two chairmanships. He is a past University treasurer and is the treasurer of the Manchester Grammar School. Since 2000, he has been a mentor to over 20 managing directors, many of whom belong to the Academy for Chief Executives, and meet monthly under Alan’s chairmanship. He is the Northern Regional Director of the Academy. He has a keen interest in education, theatre, classical music and Opera.