Experts with a proven track record of exceptional results
A B2B advisory firm specialising in go-to-market
We empower ambitious clients to uncover, seize, and accelerate profitable, sustainable revenue growth. With years of experience, we have consistently delivered unparalleled results for our clients. As a team of highly skilled and knowledgeable experts, we boast a proven track record in assisting businesses to achieve their goals and thrive in today's competitive market.
We are pragmatic technology industry growth practitioners and business leaders. We help clients define and drive change to pivot onto the things that drive the most value, in the shortest amount of time.
We help our clients accelerate growth through driving high impact sales performance, while compressing time to value.
Dynamic Personalities, Agile Thinkers
Steve short
Managing Director & Founding Partner
Steve Short, Managing Director & Founding Partner of Merlin5, is a distinguished leader with a dynamic career. Prior to Merlin5, he served as an advisor to private equity. Steve has also held executive director, GM and VP positions specialising in Commercial and Go to Market for multinationals such as HP, CGI, DXC and Atos. Steve also extensive experience in the financial services sector.
Debbie Robinson
Co-founding Partner
Debbie Robinson, boasts a stellar career record. She previously served as CEO & Founder of Mojo-Partners, where she spearheaded innovation and growth. Additionally, her impactful roles as Director, Industry Market Development and Alliance Partners at T-Systems and Global Strategic Initiatives at Motorola underline her profound influence in technology.
Steve Cullen
Co-founding Partner
Steve Cullen, Co-founding Partner of Merlin5, is a seasoned professional with a remarkable career journey. Prior to his role at Merlin5, he served as an Assoc Partner at Deloitte Digital. He led Vodafone’s GTM and Digital Sales business globally. Prior to Vodafone he led Nokia, services sales for EMEA. And their global consulting business.
Martin Hess
Chairman
Martin Hess is a distinguished professional with a rich career history. Having held executive leadership positions in IBM, he also led HPE’s sales organisation for 6 years. Following this, Martin then led HPE’s Enterprise Services business, a $4bn operation, for over 5 years. More recently, Martin was CEO and Chairman of Telefonica Tech UKI, which he had grown over 10-fold in 7 years, through organic and acquisitive growth. Martin is actively involved advising scale up businesses, both private and PE backed, to grow and achieve their full potential.
Mark Ingleby
Senior Partner & Strategic Bids Practice Lead
Mark Ingleby, an accomplished leader, has held pivotal roles in the technology sector. As the Chief Commercial Officer at Cognizant, SVP Global Head Of Sales at Atos, and Business Development Director at Vertex Data Science, he has demonstrated strategic prowess and leadership. Mark’s extensive experience contributes significantly to his success in the corporate world.
Peter Allen
Executive Partner North America
Peter, is a leader in the art and science of go-to-market disciplines. Peter coalesces the perspectives of buyers formed through a tenure in management consulting with direct accountability for growth gained through leading high-performing sales and marketing teams. He is equally adept at guiding and mentoring functional leaders, as he is in Board-level strategic reviews. Peter has served as CEO and Board Chairman for publicly-listed and private companies and is certified by UCLA’s Board Director program
Katy Bassett
Business Strategy & Revenue Operations Practice Lead
Katy Bassett is a turnaround expert across the business lifecycle, with particular focus on strategy, revenue operations, and onerous positions. Prior to Merlin5, she spent over a decade transforming growth engines in a range of different organisations. In most recent experience, as a UK & Europe Board Member at Serco, she transformed global growth and latterly ran a frontline delivery function during the pandemic.
kevin vaughan-smith
Consulting Partner
Kevin Vaughan-Smith, held the position of Managing Director at FranklinCovey Europe for 7 years. His roles as Account Group Director at Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Associate Partner at EY highlighted his strategic acumen and leadership skills. Kevin’s track record of success demonstrates his ability to drive excellence in various professional domains, making him a valuable asset to any organization.
Elliot Howard
CRO Practice Lead
Elliot Howard is a seasoned strategist in revenue growth. With a background spanning senior sales roles at Fujitsu Global, HP, Sopra Banking Software, and Fiserv, Elliot excels in revenue operations and client management. He has a proven track record of driving global revenue growth and expanding market presence. In his role at Merlin5, Elliot continues to lead revenue initiatives and strategic success
Frances Gilmour
Partner and Practice Lead: Strategic Client Insights
Frances Gilmour, Partner and Practice Lead: Strategic Client Insights at Merlin5, designed and led the CX programme at EY, personally interviewing senior execs of the firms’ clients and delivering insights to enable growth. Prior to EY, Frances led a Global banking account for HP, and has a combination of BD and Customer Service Management roles that have shaped her values. She brings a challenger approach to assignments that are recognised as critical to the value delivered to her clients.
Steve Smart
Practice Lead: Strategic Deals Training
Steve Smart, renowned for his expertise in sales and business growth, notably spearheaded enterprise development as Head of Enterprise Sales at MCI, significantly boosting revenue. At Easynet, his innovative strategies as Head of Sales marked a period of exceptional market growth. As Principal at One Red Apple, he was instrumental in expanding the company’s market presence, solidifying his reputation as a transformative industry leader.
Lamar Dallas
Head of Digital Office
Lamar Dallas, a forward-thinking digital enthusiast in market research and digital innovation, has significantly impacted the tech and M&A sectors in the UK. As Head of Research at PCB Partners, he revolutionised market strategies and consumer insights. By founding and leading DigiGide, his innovative approach helped small businesses make better decisions.
Joe Carney
Practice Lead Revenue Operations
Joe Carney, a strategic leader in sales operations, has significantly impacted the software and customer experience industries. As Director of Global Sales Operations at Snow Software, he spearheaded transformative sales strategies, driving international growth. At Rant & Rave, his tenure as Head of Sales Operations was pivotal in refining sales processes and enhancing customer engagement, establishing him as a key figure in business success and market evolution.
Emma White
Head of Design
Emma White, a creative force in graphic design, has notably influenced the visual communication field. As a Graphic Designer at EY, she introduced innovative design concepts, elevating brand messaging and corporate presentations. Her skills were further honed as a Graphics Presentation Operator at Astonics Presentations Graphics, where her artistic vision and technical expertise played a crucial role in delivering high-impact visual solutions.
Jodi Auston-Cooper
Program Director
Jodi Auston-Cooper, an accomplished executive leader in IT & IT Services transition and transformation, has profoundly influenced the IT services sector. As a Transition & Transformation Exec at CSC, she led pivotal initiatives, driving significant organizational change for CSC Clients. Her skills in managing complex deliveries and leadership at both strategic and team levels led to her role as European Cloud Migration Lead for CSC, where she was instrumental in shaping cloud migration strategies across Europe
Charlie Robinson
Product Development manager
Charlie Robinson, a dynamic leader in product development and operations, has greatly influenced the technology and real estate sectors. As Director of Product Development at Bottomline Technologies, he excelled in driving innovation and market expansion. His impactful roles as Regional Director at JLL and COO at On Air Dining highlighted his operational expertise. As Head of Technical Operations at Edmond de Rothschild, he was pivotal in technological strategy and advancement.
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