Personal Capability Overview

Ken McLelland

Current Portfolio:

  • Director – Exit Facilitation Team
  • CEO YARD Direct Ltd
  • Non-Exec Director National Merchants Building Society (NMBS).

What gets me out of bed in the morning:

I love the process of understanding a client’s business. How the business works, how it got there and where the owners want to take the business. I have a solid blend of skills and experience in the corporate world as well as in SMEs and start-ups, the last 12 years of which have been in e-commerce. Applying this to shape clients’ ambitions is something I take particular pride in and satisfaction in.

Pain points I reduce/eliminate for SMEs who want to sell or want to plan to become sale ready

I like to ‘get under the bonnet’ and see where the hidden opportunities are. Often, they are described as issues or problems. I come into a business with a fresh pair of eyes and an optimistic approach to unlock this potential. So, if it’s about developing an e-commerce platform or simply enhancing your current website and leveraging your digital presence, I know how to do this well. I am an experienced and growth-orientated business leader who will work with you proactively with your board. I have a proven ability to challenge and develop business strategies and then deliver highly profitable results.

Great outcomes I have achieved and continue to improve upon

Success in performance turnaround and motivating staff to achieve profitable growth. Effective communication and team-building skills.

  • Founded YARD Direct in June 2013 and sold the business to Websters Building Supplies in October 2019. Retained an interest to continue to lead to business through its next stage of growth
  • Founded Ken’s Yard in August 2009 as a ‘pure play’ single outlet e-commerce business supplying a wide range of branded building products to UK-based contractors. Successfully exited in 2012
  • GRAFTON GROUP – BUILDBASE: Regional Director. Full P&L responsibility for a 16 branch £48m T/o Buildbase operation in Scotland with 218 employees. Successfully managed the integration of the business into Buildbase in 3 months and successfully managed the inevitable cultural issues that followed. 
  • One of the owners of Firstbase Timber who successfully built and sold the 9-branch business to Wolseley’s Builder Center Operation

How I get involved and my style of support when working with others:

I collaborate with people on shared objectives. I check my understanding of how things work. Especially the thinking behind why things are done the way they are. I focus on building rapport and trust. Once I understand the numbers, I focus on how to improve them and view the business from a customer’s perspective. I get particular satisfaction from opening up new markets and introducing new products and adding value.

What makes me unique? My personal differentiators:

Range of Experience

Been there and still wearing it. Know what it’s like to meet payroll each month.

Entrepreneurial mindset

Like to create momentum and won’t overanalyse – easier to change direction to meet opportunities.

People

Like the saying goes, culture eats strategy for breakfast. Great team building skills and believe that people create good business not KPI’s.

Strategy & Execution

Like my colleagues I know how map out and deliver a growth plan.

Down to Earth

I’ve always found that some of the best ideas can come from those who are never asked for their input.

Fun

Work without an element of humour can make things duller than they need to be. I don’t like dull.