Jon Whiteman
- Biography
Jon is CIL’s Managing Partner and leads its Industrial Products and Services practice.
Jon provides transaction support and value creation strategy to private equity firms and corporations across the world. Jon brings a wealth of operational experience from his time in industry, having started his career with Fortune 500 company, Crown Holdings Inc. and FTSE 100 business, Diageo plc.
Jon has an MEng in Mechanical Engineering from Manchester University (UMIST).
Alex Marshall
- Biography
Alex is CIL’s Senior Partner, focusing on the firm’s approach to clients and markets. He also leads the Financial Services and Business Services practices. He has over 20 years’ experience in consulting.
Alex has advised clients in a wide range financial services industries, including lending, insurance, wealth management and payments. Within business services, Alex’s experience spans professional services, human capital, BPO, property services, logistics and document management.
Before joining CIL Alex was a consultant with specialist financial services strategy consultancy First Consulting, where he conducted strategy engagements in both the UK and Europe.
Alex has an MA in Languages from the University of Cambridge and is a keen musician.
Anthony Crutchett
- Biography
Anthony is a Partner and is a key member of CIL’s Technology practice.
He has been with the business since 2012 where he has worked across IT services (IT managed services, telecom services and DX consulting) and software.
Anthony has a particular focus on enterprise software and construction technology, the latter sub-sector including work with Causeway, Intact, IES and Eque2.
He has also been instrumental in building CIL’s internal learning and development curriculum and operations.
James de La Salle
- Biography
James leads CIL’s Built Environment practice and is responsible for CIL’s sector forecasting. He also sits on the ONS Construction Statistics Steering Group and his thoughts on the sector have been published in papers and the trade press.
James has been with the firm for nearly a decade and his specialist areas of expertise include construction and infrastructure services, building management and compliance, building products and home improvements.
James holds a degree in English Literature from Durham University.
Tabitha Elwes
- Biography
Tabitha is a Partner at CIL with deep expertise across the media sector, covering consumer and business media, advertising and marketing, media technology, and sport.
She specializes in media strategy and business development, helping organizations across the media landscape tackle strategic and financial challenges. Her work spans production, broadcasting, pay TV, digital media, shifting consumer behaviors, advertising trends, and public service broadcasting.
Tabitha holds a BA (Hons) in English from Oxford and an MBA from INSEAD. Outside of work, she is a trustee of Fine Cell Work and a patron of Ace Africa.
Tom Fletcher
- Biography
Tom is a Partner at CIL and leads its Technology practice. He has over 15 years’ experience as a management consultant.
Tom has extensive experience from working on a broad range of technology businesses. He holds a BSc in Economics and Politics from the University of Southampton.
Mark Jeynes
- Biography
Mark is a Partner at CIL and leads its Education & Training practice. He has over 20 years’ experience as a management consultant.
Mark has extensive experience advising investors and clients in the international education sector, across a wide range of segments, including nursery (pre-K), K-12, higher education, vocational and professional training. The geographic scope of this experience includes the UK, Western Europe, the US, India, GCC, Asia, Australia and Africa.
Mark has a BSc (Hons) in Banking and Finance from Loughborough University of Technology and an MBA from London Business School. He is a Director of Inspiring Futures Ltd, the owner of Bishopstrow College and Padworth College and a Non-Executive Director of ISC Research.
Patric Kirchner
- Biography
Patric is a Partner at CIL and leads the Pricing and Commercial Excellence practice.
He brings 20 years of experience across strategy, management consulting, and corporate implementation.
He has held leadership positions at Boehringer Ingelheim, Accenture, PwC, and Simon-Kucher & Partners. He combines strategic insight with hands-on execution and has delivered measurable results across a wide range of B2B and B2C sectors. His project work spans over 17 countries, giving him a global perspective on commercial strategy.
Patric holds a Diplom-Ingenieur in Business Administration (equivalent to a MSc) from the WFI – Ingolstadt School of Management. He is a native German speaker and fluent in English.
Axel Leichum
- Biography
Axel is a Partner at CIL and leads its North American operations. He has over 20 years’ experience as a management consultant. He has a focus on supporting corporates and investors with business planning, market studies, pricing strategies and commercial due diligence.
Axel received his MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management and holds a BA in Economics with departmental honors from Northwestern University.
Jim McDonnell
- Biography
Jim is a Partner at CIL and leads the firm’s DACH operations. He has over 30 years of experience as a strategy consultant and has completed engagements across multiple industries and geographies for both multinational corporates and private equity firms.
Before joining CIL, Jim spent six years in Munich leading OC&C’s DACH practice. His extensive consulting career also includes time at BCG and Kearney.
Part of CIL’s global Consumer practice, Jim has specific expertise in the international agri-food space, working across the agriculture, raw materials and ingredients, and food production value chains on strategy, transactions and sustainability.
Jim holds an MBA in Strategy and Economics from Northwestern University and a BA in Economics from the University of Notre Dame.
Liam McGuinness
- Biography
Liam is a Partner at CIL and leads its Consumer practice.
He has substantial experience in the sector, with expertise in consumer products, food and beverage, leisure businesses and travel and tourism. Recent clients include businesses in beauty products, holiday parks, toy manufacturing, hair and beauty salons, sports nutrition and fitness training.
He has a first-class degree in Business Administration from Bath University.
Rebecca Pigula
- Biography
Rebecca is a Partner at CIL. She has particular expertise in tech-enabled business services and life sciences. Rebecca most enjoys gaining insight into complex businesses and industries.
Prior to joining CIL in 2010, Rebecca worked for the European Commission. She was also a reporter for the EMAP publication, MEED Magazine, covering a range of topics including real estate, telecoms and middle eastern investment trends.
She has an MA in Modern and Medieval Languages from Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge.
Luke Rowell
- Biography
Luke is a Partner in CIL’s Media practice. He brings clear, thoughtful insight across business information, media technology, and marketing services – helping clients uncover the opportunities that fuel growth.
Since joining CIL in 2013, Luke has built deep expertise in the marketing services and technology ecosystem. He advises investors and corporates on both transactions and growth strategies, working across the media landscape to get to the answers that matter.
Beyond his client work, Luke has been instrumental in strengthening CIL’s internal sales capability.
James Silk
- Biography
James is a Partner at CIL and focuses on its Healthcare practice.
James has worked in numerous verticals within healthcare, including acute services, medical products, supplies and distribution, dental, funerals and veterinary services. He has also worked on a range of projects for the business services sector.
Prior to joining CIL in 2012, James worked for Middle Eastern investors and was a corporate finance analyst at Houlihan Lokey. James holds an MA in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge.
Paul Simpson
- Biography
Paul is Chief Financial Officer and Partner at CIL, where he leads the finance department.
His responsibilities include managing the financial function and forward planning, and he is also a member of the board of directors.
Before joining CIL, Paul was CFO at Tribal Group, an international software and services company serving the education sector.
A chartered accountant and member of the ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales), he has over 20 years of experience and holds a degree in Geography from Durham University.
Tom Stevens
- Biography
Tom is a Partner at CIL and works within its Business and Support Services practice, with a particular focus on professional services.
He has worked in M&A for over ten years, with exposure working from a commercial, financial and PE perspective.
Prior to joining CIL, Tom worked for PwC, where he focused on international M&A transactions within a range of industries. Tom also has two years of experience in industry, working as the corporate strategy & development manager at Burton’s Biscuits, backed by Teachers’ Private Capital. While at Burton’s, Tom was responsible for developing the company’s organic growth strategy and managing various M&A processes.
Tom holds a BA in History from the University of Sheffield and holds an ACA qualification.
Frédéric Thomas
- Biography
Frédéric Thomas is a Partner at CIL and leads its French operations. He has extensive experience providing strategic advisory services, transactional support, and value creation strategies to private equity firms and corporations across Europe, particularly in the Life Sciences sector.
Before joining CIL, Frédéric was an Equity Partner at Roland Berger, where he played a key role in enhancing large-cap coverage within the Life Sciences sector and developing key accounts across Europe. He also led KPMG’s Life Sciences & Health Care sector for France, driving commercial due diligence and post-deal value creation initiatives.
Earlier in his career, Frédéric was a Partner at Arthur D. Little, where he led the Life Sciences practice for France, focusing on multinational pharmaceutical groups and private equity-backed healthcare businesses. His operational experience is further grounded in his tenure at Pfizer, where he managed high-performance organisational projects and business process optimisation.
Frédéric holds a degree from HEC and is fluent in both French and English.
David Moody
- Biography
David is a Senior Advisor to CIL’s Built Environment practice.
David was a management consultant with PwC before joining Wolseley plc (now Ferguson) where he worked for 20 years’ as marketing director. He operated across HVAC and heavy side materials distribution across Europe and North America, delivering growth, both organic and acquisitive. He retains active links with distributors and manufacturers across many subsectors of residential and non-residential construction.
David has an Economics degree BA (Hons) and an MBA, and he is a regular speaker at European building materials conferences.
Giles Johnson
- Biography
Giles is a Senior Advisor to CIL’s Healthcare and Education & Training practices. He has over 25 years’ experience as a management consultant, joining CIL in 1996. He specialised in Healthcare from 2005 and led the Healthcare & Education teams for over 15 years. He was CIL’s Managing Partner from 2019 to 2022 and remains on the board as a Non-Executive Director.
He has significant experience working across a wide range of healthcare, social care and education and training markets, conducting both strategy consulting and commercial due diligence engagements.
Giles has a BA in Politics from Bristol University and sits on the fundraising board of Missing People.
Laurent Billès-Garabédian
- Biography
Laurent is a Senior Advisor at CIL, supporting the firm’s continued growth and client development in France.
Laurent brings over 20 years of consultancy experience, including 22 years as a Partner and Managing Director at BCG, where he worked across life sciences, aerospace and defence, private equity, PMI and value creation, R&D, and growth strategy. Laurent also brings valuable in-house perspective from senior corporate roles in the health and data sciences sectors, as well as in the construction industry.
Laurent works closely with CIL’s French practice to help grow the firm’s presence in the region and support clients with strategy, transactions, and performance improvement.
Matt Symonds
- Biography
Matt is the Chair of CIL, supporting the senior leadership team as the firm continues to grow and expand its international presence.
He brings a wealth of consulting experience and is focused on helping CIL build deeper expertise in areas such as value creation and pricing, while strengthening its position in key markets like the US.
Before joining CIL, Matt was a senior partner at Bain & Company, where he led the UK Financial Services practice. He is also a co-Founder and Partner at Altair, where he acts as a trusted adviser and coach to CEOs and leadership teams across private and multinational businesses.
In addition to his role at CIL, Matt sits on the boards of the global investigative firm Nardello & Co. and the UK law firm Howard Kennedy.
Sebastian Chambers
- Biography
Sebastian is a Senior Advisor and Non-Executive Director at CIL. He has over 20 years’ experience as a Partner at CIL and was the firm’s Managing Director until July 2019.
He works with a broad range of companies across the built environment sector, including products and merchants, design and technology, contractors and developers, and repair and maintenance. He also works with a wide range of private equity clients and debt providers.
Prior to joining CIL in 1999, Sebastian worked with PwC, before becoming a director at Door Panels Plc where he led a turnaround and helped grow sales in both the UK and Europe.
Sebastian is a chartered accountant and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accounts corporate finance faculty. He has a BA in Economics from Manchester University. Outside of work, Sebastian supports Firefly International.
Craig Abrahams
- Biography
Craig is a Director at CIL. He joined CIL as an Associate Director in 2022 and focuses on its Healthcare practice.
Craig was previously Commercial Director at Welbeck Health Partners, leading their marketing, proposition development, referrer engagement, payor contracting and tariff setting functions. Prior to this, he worked in a range of operational and managerial roles in Bupa’s UK Health Insurance business.
He holds an MA degree in Modern History from University of Oxford.
Emily Andrews
- Biography
Emily is a Director at CIL and part of the Consumer practice. She has extensive consulting experience across branded consumer products and retail, with particular expertise in the pet, apparel, and home and lifestyle sectors. She has led numerous strategy and value creation projects, working with both large-cap and mid-cap businesses.
Before joining CIL, Emily spent a decade with OC&C Strategy Consultants’ Consumer team, following time at Javelin Group and British Airways. She began her career at JMP Strategy.
Emily studied Classics at Pembroke College, University of Cambridge.
Richard Blackburn-Hughes
- Biography
Richard is Director at CIL in the Value Creation practice. He has extensive experience across consulting, private equity, and industry leadership roles, with particular expertise in business services, media, technology, and transport.
He began his career at CIL in 2009, before moving into industry to lead strategy at PRS for Music. In 2021, he joined Tenzing Private Equity’s Sherpa program, working with portfolio companies on value creation initiatives. During this time, he was seconded to Ticketer, a leading provider of ticketing and real-time information solutions, and subsequently joined the management team as Chief Commercial Officer.
Richard holds a degree in Geography from the University of Cambridge. Outside of work, he’s passionate about music, enjoys playing golf and cycling.
Jack Campbell
- Biography
Jack is a Director in CIL’s Chicago office and part of CIL’s global Technology practice. He has specific expertise in IT managed services (cloud, infrastructure, security, etc.), data centers (planning, construction, usage), comms infrastructure, and the value-added reseller space.
Before joining CIL, Jack’s consulting career has included time at Simon-Kucher, Altman Solon, and Accenture.
He holds an MBA and a BS in Management from Boston College’s Carroll School of Management.
Sébastien Caron
- Biography
Sébastien is a Director at CIL and part of the Healthcare & Life Sciences practice. He has two decades of professional experience, including 15 years in strategy consulting He specialises in Healthcare and Life Sciences, spanning CDMO, Biotech, Specialty Pharma and MedTech, with a particular focus on supporting Private Equity clients.
Before joining CIL, spent time at Roland Berger, KPMG and Arthur D. Little.
Sébastien studied at École Centrale Paris.
Ian Cook
- Biography
Ian is an Associate Director within CIL’s Business and Support Services practice. He has particular expertise in human capital management, legal tech & services, and corporate training.
He joined CIL in 2015 and has significant experience advising financial and strategic investors in M&A and growth strategy.
Ian holds an MEng in Electronic Engineering from Durham University, UK.
Leah Daniel
- Biography
Leah is a Director at CIL and focuses on its Consumer practice.
Leah has particular experience in consumer products and ecommerce, having recently worked with businesses in the home and garden, beauty products, personal goods and food and beverage markets. She works on the majority of our consumer engagements that have an ecommerce or digital angle.
Alongside this, she also has experience in the travel and consumer healthcare space, including cosmetic surgery clinics.
Leah holds an MA in Geography from the University of Cambridge.
Matt Evans
- Biography
Matt is an Associate Director in CIL’s Technology practice.
He has experience working with a broad range of European businesses across IT services and software, with particular expertise in IT managed services, IT consultancies and areas of enterprise software (e.g. ERP, case management).
Given his prior academic experience (Economics at Durham University), Matt also leads CIL’s Economic Insight Unit, our macroeconomic research function.
Jess Fullman
- Biography
Jess is an Associate Director at CIL. She joined in 2016 and is focused on the Education and Training sector.
Jess has worked across a range of sub-sectors including edtech, skills and apprenticeships, corporate training and school support services.
Jess holds a MA in Modern and Medieval Languages from Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge.
Mike Gorham
- Biography
Mike is a Director in CIL’s Pricing & Commercial Excellence practice. He specialises in pricing, strategic marketing, and sales effectiveness, helping businesses deliver pricing improvements that last.
Mike combines strategic insight, data analytics, and hands-on sales experience to develop pricing strategies that work in the real world. His holistic approach ensures that solutions are both effective and sustainable.
Before joining CIL, Mike was Marketing & Strategy Director at Lafarge and Business Development Director at A-Gas.
He holds a BSc from the London School of Economics and an MBA from INSEAD.
Mike Hallett
- Biography
Mike is a Director at CIL and focuses on its technology practice.
Recent engagements include both buy-side and sell-side due diligence projects for managed and cloud service providers, software vendors (HCM, ERP, CRM, security), digital transformation consultancies, retail tech providers, contact centre providers, internet service providers, security vendors and data centre operators.
Mike holds a BSc degree in Business from Bath University School of Management.
Sam Hart
- Biography
Sam is an Associate Director at CIL who works alongside James Silk in the healthcare sector. Sam has worked across many sub-sectors within the practice, including community services, social care, healthcare products and staffing.
Sam holds a BSc in Politics with Economics from the University of Bath.
James Howard
- Biography
James is an Associate Director at CIL working primarily with businesses in the Industrials sector.
He joined the CIL London office as a member of the industrial team in 2022.
Prior to this James spent 8 years working in strategy consulting working heavily with US private equity and global industrial groups.
In his consulting career James has developed extensive experience working across various industrial sectors including process equipment, data centers & critical infrastructure, rental solutions and equipment-as-a-service, water & wastewater and automation solutions.
He holds a BA degree in International History & Politics from Leeds University.
David Hunt
- Biography
David is a Director at CIL and leads the Advanced Analytics practice.
Prior to joining CIL David spent eight years at a data and analytics consultancy leading the design and delivery of analytics, data strategy and analytical reporting solutions to corporate and PE clients.
David holds an MSci in Mathematics from the University of Birmingham and an MA in Philosophy from the University of Buckingham.
George Jaye
- Biography
George is an Associate Director at CIL and focuses on its US Consumer Practice. Having joined in 2016, he has significant experience advising financial and strategic investors in M&A and growth strategy.
George has particular experience in branded consumer products, carrying out a number of recent engagements in petcare, health & beauty, outdoor recreation, toys & gifting, and food & beverage.
George holds a BSc in Business and MSc in Economics & Finance from the University of Bristol.
Charlotte Lamnea
- Biography
Charlotte joined CIL in 2017 and is an Associate Director within CIL’s Technology practice.
Prior to joining CIL, Charlotte worked at Tesco and Pragma Consulting, where she worked on a range of international strategy and M&A projects.
Charlotte’s recent engagements include circular IT, IT managed services and digital transformation consultancies, including several serving the MoD and wider public sector.
Charlotte holds an MA in Geography from the University of Cambridge and has completed all three levels of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) programme.
James Leonard
- Biography
James is a Director at CIL. He joined in 2013 and works primarily in our Financial Services practice, with particular experience across insurance, lending and wealth management. In addition, James has substantial experience in the leisure and technology sectors.
James holds an MEng in Automotive Engineering from Loughborough University.
Laurence Ludgate
- Biography
Laurence is a Director at CIL, he supports its Industrial Products and Services practice.
He has gained particular expertise in the testing, inspection and certification (TIC) sector and has led many of CIL’s recent engagements in this space. This has involved providing acquisition and growth strategy support to a diverse range of UK, European and US-based businesses and private equity clients.
Prior to joining CIL in 2012, Laurence worked at SunChemical, a global producer of inks and pigments. He holds a first class MSci in Chemistry from the University of Bristol.
Simon Mocatta
- Biography
Simon is a Director in our built environment practice. He has experience working on engagements across Europe, the USA and Australasia.
Simon has worked across the built environment supply-chain, with specialism in property management, estate management and technical building services. He has additional experience in building products, home improvements and construction and infrastructure services.
Simon holds a BA from Durham University.
Tim Perera
- Biography
Tim is a Director at CIL, where he supports its Industrial Products and Services practice.
He has particular experience across manufacturing, distribution, transport, energy, defence and government.
Prior to joining CIL in 2016, Tim worked in KPMG’s modeling practice and has spent some time in industry at Babcock International Group.
Tim holds a Meng in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cambridge.
Nahel Rachet
- Biography
Nahel is a Director at CIL and spearheads its operations across France, having established the office there in 2022. He has extensive cross-sector experience, with a focus on pan-European projects.
Prior to joining CIL in 2017, he worked at Deloitte in audit and financial advisory.
He holds a MSc in Management from UCL and a BA in Economics, Politics and International studies from Warwick University.
Rowan Salter
- Biography
Rowan is an Associate Director in our Chicago office. He works across commercial due diligence and corporate strategy engagements in multiple sectors.
Rowan has developed particular expertise and client relationships across pharma services and technology, with a focus on commercialization (including healthcare marketing).
Rowan holds an MA (Hons) in Geography and Politics from the University of Edinburgh and an MSc in Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Management from Imperial College Business School in London.
Megan Savage Shaw
- Biography
Megan is a Director at CIL and focuses on the education sector.
She has particular experience across skills and training, edtech, e-learning, assessments and back office services. Megan also has strong experience in health and social care.
Megan holds a BSc in Banking, Finance and Management from Loughborough University.
Edward Selman
- Biography
Edward is an Associate Director at CIL.
He works in the Healthcare and Life Sciences sector, with particular focus on pharma services, healthcare products and services, and animal health.
Based in the UK, Edward collaborates frequently with CIL’s US and European teams, and was seconded to the Munich office in 2024.
Edward holds a BSc (Hons) in Economics from the University of Bristol.
Jack Turner
- Biography
Jack is an Associate Director at CIL. He joined the company in 2018.
He works in CIL’s Consumer practice and has particular expertise working with multi-site leisure, hospitality, and consumer services businesses.
Jack holds a BSc (Hons) in Economics from the University of Manchester.
Josh Winduss
- Biography
Josh is an Associate Director at CIL working primarily with businesses in the Built Environment. He started life at CIL in Frome, before joining the London office.
Josh focusses on regulated industries aligned to the trends of decarbonisation and building safety in Europe. He also leads on CIL’s construction forecasting and regulatory mapping across Western Europe.
Josh holds a BSc in Management studies from the University of Southampton.
In his spare time, he enjoys a wide variety of outdoor pursuits, and still plays rugby for his local South London club.
Florian Wohlfart
- Biography
Florian is a Director at CIL and supports its DACH operations. He has experience in supporting investors and businesses with commercial due diligence, growth strategy and value creation. His focus, in recent years, has been on the built environment and industrials sector.
Prior to joining CIL, he worked for Munich Strategy and Deloitte.
Florian holds a Diploma in Biology as well as a Bachelor in Business Administration from Julius-Maximilians University in Würzburg, Germany.

