MARAKON - Key Persons
Alex has over 10 years of experience in strategic resource management working with senior executives across the UK, Europe and North America.
The main sectors Alex focuses on are consumer packaged goods and financial services. He has worked with clients on a broad range of topics including defining their enterprise strategy, portfolio management and reshaping, consumer-centric organic growth strategies, large scale M&A and transaction support.
Job Titles:
- Senior Advisor / New York
- Senior Advisor Role
Brian Burwell has recently transitioned to a senior advisor role at Marakon. In concert with this change in role, I, along with the global partner team, want to take this opportunity to recognize and celebrate Brian's truly exceptional and impactful career at Marakon.
There are few people who devote 37 years of their career to one company. Brian joined Marakon as a Stanford MBA in August 1979, just one year after the firm was founded. Over the course of his career, he served as both CEO and COO of the firm, and has worked out of offices in San Francisco, London, New York, and Melbourne.
Brian's work has spanned sectors including healthcare, consumer products, retail, hospitality, entertainment, and education. He has been critical to the success of many of Marakon's biggest and most important flagship clients over three decades including: Diageo, Roche, Cadburys, Boots, IHG, Heineken and Prudential. Brian can truly say he spent his career advising the CEOs of some of the world's most admired companies.
On the firm front, Brian has always been passionate about our people and people development. 10 years ago, Brian set an ambition to have a partner team with more gender diversity, and set the groundwork for a talent model that would support that ambition. Perhaps one of his greatest legacies is the partner team he is leaving behind; one that is comprised of 35% women.
As he embarks on his next chapter, Brian is continuing to pursue his passion for philanthropic consulting as a partner at Bridgespan, and as a member of the Dean's Advisory Council at UC Davis. He will remain a senior advisor to Marakon, supporting us where his experience, expertise and relationships can be helpful.
Brian is also very much looking forward to spending more time with his grandchildren, traveling with his wife Bieke, and drinking more Brunello (which as he describes, can be paired with anything or can stand on its own).
Please join me in giving our deepest appreciation and thanks to Brian for all he has done for Marakon over the past 37 years.
Job Titles:
- Advisor / London
- Chairman of Sarasin & Partners' Climate Active Advisory Panel
- Director to
Heidi Hellmann is a Director to Marakon based in the London office.
She specializes in corporate and business unit strategy, sustainability matters, and business development with a particular focus on creating value through the transition to net zero.
She has more than 30 years of energy sector experience working with companies ranging from large scale, global utilities and oil & gas companies through to early stage cleantech start-ups. Most recently she was Group Head of Strategy & Environment at Centrica plc, prior to which she held a variety of senior strategy and commercial roles. Heidi's past experience includes strategy development and implementation; strategic planning and portfolio management; climate scenario analysis and climate transition planning; as well as business development and early opportunity identification. She has experience leading projects in the UK, continental Europe, and Asia.
In addition to her client work, Heidi is also the Chair of Sarasin & Partners' Climate Active Advisory Panel and previously she was on the Board of Centrica Innovations and a Director of SNRG, a PropTech start-up.
Areas of Expertise
Energy Market Analysis & Modeling
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director / London
- Director in Marakon 's London
Johann is a Director in Marakon's London office. For over 15 years, Johann has advised senior executives on corporate and business unit strategy, organisation design, and the governance models that enable successful strategy execution and sustainable value creation.
His primary focus is on supporting clients in the insurance and energy sectors, but he has also served clients in the industrials and petrochemicals sectors. In addition to working with clients in Europe, he has engagement experience in Africa, Asia, and North America.
Johann's recent engagement experience includes: (1) supporting an integrated downstream and petrochemicals business in South Asia in setting its long term strategic direction and investment programme, (2) designing a growth orientated operating model for a mid-sized E&P company in Europe, and (3) determining the future participation model for a global health insurance and healthcare company headquartered in Europe.
Areas of Expertise
Corporate strategy
Job Titles:
- Director
- Leader
- Managing Director
- Partner
- Director / New York
- Managing Director / New York
Mason Kissell is a Managing Director and leader of Marakon globally.
In his 30 years of experience, Mason has worked with leadership teams to transform company performance through changes to portfolio and business strategies and organisational design - talent, management process, structure, and goals / measures / rewards.
Mason's work has focused on B2B2C companies with extensive experience in OTC Medicines, Health & Wellness, Infant Nutrition, Personal & Small business P&C insurance, Wealth Management and Retail Banking.
Areas of Expertise
Portfolio strategy
Job Titles:
- Director
- Managing Director
- Director / London
- Managing Director / London
Neal is a Managing Director at Marakon and leads the firm's operations in the UK and Europe.
For over 20 years, Neal has been advising chief executives and board-level management in developed and emerging markets on strategic, operating and organizational changes needed to deliver superior shareholder returns. He has a particular interest in portfolio shaping and design through organic and inorganic means.
Neal is a recognized authority on improving corporate performance both in the customer and capital markets and has extensive experience in financial services, energy, and health care. His recent work has focused on developing and implementing new growth platforms in the accumulation rollover and de-commutation phases of the retirement markets.
In addition to his client work, Neal has been a guest lecturer at LBS, authored many articles and contributed to the FT and Sunday times on topics of management.
Prior to joining Marakon, Neal worked as an attorney and spent several years as a professional free-style skier in Aspen Co.
Areas of Expertise
CEO advisory
Job Titles:
- Vice President, CRA Investigations Practice
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director / London
Ofir Eyal is a Director at Marakon, based in London.
Prior to joining CRA, Ofir Eyal was Independent Advisor to the Board of Wrisk. His responsibilities included supporting the setup of an effective all-encompassing strategy for the business, exploring US market entry strategies as well as M&A opportunities, and refining operational aspects of the company's automotive strategy.
Areas of Expertise
Industries
Education
SEP, London Business School
Rod leads Marakon's integrated hydrogen offering to support clients navigate and realize the opportunities in clean hydrogen.
He has more than 30 years of broad energy sector experience from a career at BP that included senior leadership roles in hydrogen, gas/LNG, renewables and energy systems, including the transition to net-zero. Most recently, he led the firm's hydrogen strategy and implementation plan, including financial frame, organization design, technology strategy and partnership model.
Rod's experience includes strategy development, commercial leadership, business development and programme delivery. He is proficient at interacting with executive leadership and developing relationships with stakeholders. Rod represented BP at the global Hydrogen Council, Hydrogen Europe and UK Hydrogen Taskforce, and was a member of the Energy Advisory Board at the University of Nottingham.
Areas of Expertise
Corporate strategy
Job Titles:
- Principal / London
- Principal in Marakon 's London
Roland Foxcroft is a Principal in Marakon's London office with over a decade of experience in strategy advisory across Europe, North America and Asia.
Roland has supported senior executives at group, business unit and functional leadership levels as they define and shape their corporate portfolios; launch new businesses and accelerate the organic growth of existing ones; design and execute transactions; and enhance their operational performance. He has worked with clients across the consumer goods, healthcare and financial services sectors for both listed and privately owned clients.
Roland has previously published articles on adjusting business models to changes in industry structure; building new data-driven commercial models; and developing digital alliances. He has designed and led programmes that have won the MCA Strategy Project of the Year award and have been shortlisted for the prestigious Prix Galien UK prize.
Prior to joining Marakon, Roland worked at Barclays Wealth and at Monitor Group. He is a graduate of Churchill College, Cambridge.
Areas of Expertise
Portfolio Strategy
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director / New York
- Senior Contractor / New York
Ron has advised senior executives on issues ranging from corporate and business unit growth strategies to organization design and leadership. His expertise spans an array of industries, including financial services, energy, chemicals, consumer products, telecommunications and technology.
Ron joined Marakon in 1980 and later relocated to the East Coast to help establish the firm's presence in the region. In 2000, he joined the London office, where he oversaw global practice development and partner management. He has authored a number of articles on senior management issues, including how to fuel profitable growth through improved customer insight and investment, how to make M&A more consistently profitable and how to better link pay with performance.
Prior to joining Marakon, Ron worked for Security Pacific National Bank (now Bank of America) in marketing and for Applied Decision Analysis as a consultant.
Areas of Expertise
Portfolio strategy
Job Titles:
- Partner at Heidrick & Struggles
Following the financial crisis, there is a wave of new startups that are trying to redefine or refresh traditional models of wealth management. Their services are priced to sell, and traditional firms have not been able to deliver the quality of customer experience of these startups. While some startups have been able to grow to a modest level relatively quickly, the question is whether they will be able to sustain this rapid pace of growth, and what more can traditional players do. Randy DeGeer Email LinkedIn About Areas of Expertise Industries Education Articles Smart Growth: What B2B Can Learn From Consumer Companies Consumer companies ‘know' their customers - who they are, what they buy, when and why they switch brands, what motivates them, and how much they are worth - in an increasingly granular way. Many B2C firms are driving towards ‘segments of one' in how they target and engage customers to win business. By contrast, B2B companies tend to view the world through a product and end market lens, with actionable customer insight on where and how to grow profitably often underdeveloped. This creates a big untapped opportunity to reignite growth in what are often slow growth markets. Are Acquisition Multiples Too High? Companies should not think about acquisitions in terms of pre-deal multiples, but through analysis of fundamentals. This in turn will create better post-deal strategies. Jim McMahon Vice President Email LinkedIn About Areas of Expertise Industries Education Articles Utilities Are Not Immune This Time In this white paper, Marakon and CRA colleagues Quan Li, Neal Kissel, and Jim McMahon analyze the intense pressure on affordability, uncertainty in utility rate base growth, the heightened scrutiny on investments, and pressure on regulated ROEs in the current environment. Most of these issues were at play to some degree before the current economic downturn. The COVID-19 crisis has brought them to the fore at an accelerated pace. Consequently, there are deep strategic implications that all utility CEOs need to consider to better weather the storm in the current crisis, be better prepared for the next crisis, and increase the odds of creating long-term business resilience. Katarina Bureau Email LinkedIn About Areas of Expertise Industries Education Articles People, Planet, Profit Here are our top five ideas for helping CEOs drive more joined up thinking between people, planet and profits to positively impact more of all three, more of the time. Daniel Dias Founder at Route2 Email LinkedIn About Areas of Expertise Industries Education Articles A total capital approach for developing a sustainability agenda The gap between what markets value and what society values is closing. Financial markets and investors are increasingly focused on the fact that risks and opportunities linked to sustainability are tangible and can have a significant impact on business performance. By better understanding the relationship between stakeholder and shareholder value in the context of what a company does, leaders can shape more robust sustainability agendas. Once these agendas are progressed via an appropriate approach for institutional change, the company is then well on the path of simultaneous growth of both shareholder and stakeholder value. Nicholas Panes Vice President, CRA Investigations Practice Email LinkedIn About Areas of Expertise Industries Education Articles Beyond ESG: Building more confidence and assurance in corporate sustainability practices Sustainability and ESG are the buzzwords of the day, and indeed much progress has been made to bring transparency and focus onto these issues in the business world. As capability and sophistication in this space evolve, many companies and investors are understanding the need to move beyond using relatively simple, sometimes self-reported ESG scores to build more confidence and assurance in corporate sustainability strategies and policies. Charles River Associates, via Marakon and its Investigations practice provides an effective supporting capability that enables corporates and investors to do just that.
Job Titles:
- Partner at Heidrick & Struggles
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Principal / London
Yassir is an experienced advisor to senior executives on designing strategy and establishing organisational capability to help companies adapt to, and be successful in, a low-carbon future.
Yassir has helped clients navigate trends in, and linkages between, technology, economics, policy, and society, and what they the mean for the sustainability and value creation of business models. In relation to this he has also advised clients on corporate transformations, portfolio strategy, M&A & JVs, and technology / innovation strategy.
Based in London, he has worked with clients across the world in developed and emerging markets. His experience spans the energy, chemicals, mining, consumer goods, and defence sectors.
Areas of Expertise
Portfolio strategy