Advisory

Great advisors are often known for their ability to cut through the noise and get to the heart of the issue at hand. James is no exception. 

A senior trusted advisor to some of Australia’s most well respected business organisations, financial institutions, large and small corporates, James was a member of the KPMG Australia Board and his executive leadership experience reflects the respect and trust of his peers. 

A hard nosed business advisor born out of decades of restructuring experience, James has advised businesses and stakeholders across the bell curve, from those facing existential threats and market headwinds, to those with the breeze behind their back and who are looking to accelerate across the growth curve. 

A lateral thinker by nature, James’ ability to challenge the status quo, drive commercial outcomes and bring the best out of people and organisations is unique. 

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Advisory services

  • Great restructuring professionals build their reputations on the ability to take an independent view of business performance, assess strategy realistically, identify risks and opportunities, and most importantly, judge the business’ ability to deliver on its promise.  When experience and clear eyed perspective are needed, James can help.

  • Aligned to business strategy and performance, from time to time, great projects don’t deliver the promised outcome. Getting cut through on causation and remediation can be challenging as stakeholders take defensive positions. Independent commercial project assessments can provide a platform for all parties to stand back and refresh their perspectives on next steps. 

  • Restructuring professionals are natural deal makers. They see risk and opportunity with an objective lens and understand that in most transactions, certainty is your best friend. Founder led business’s facing transaction opportunities don’t always recognise that the skills required to grow a great business, are not usually the same skills required to buy or sell a business. James’ decades of transaction experience (including selling Ferrier Hodgson to KPMG) makes him a uniquely qualified independent guide to support you through your transaction experience. 

  • Litigation experience comes hand in hand with deep restructuring experience. Restructuring professionals are by nature, often defendants or plaintiffs in complex litigation. We are deeply familiar with court processes and recognise the inherent uncertainty that litigation brings, including the universe of commercial outcomes. In these situations, an experienced  and commercial independent sounding board with deep litigation experience can be invaluable.

  • With decades of leadership experience at Ferrier Hodgson and KPMG, and having observed leaders rise and fall, James brings a unique perspective on leadership behaviour, ethical decision making, communication, and stakeholder management.  Experienced leadership mentoring can be invaluable for both emerging leaders and seasoned executives seeking a sounding board on threshold business issues.

  • Advisory Boards are a valuable complement to formal Boards in today’s highly regulated governance environment.  They provide a forum for experienced leaders with diverse skills to support strategic development and execution, while offering feedback on day to day business challenges and opportunities.  James’ unique business and sector experience makes him an ideal Advisory Board member.