About Us.
Following university, Chris started out in Local Government as a land use and transportation planner. He worked for a number of large, all-purpose local authorities developing and implementing strategies, acquiring a PhD in the politics and practice of transport planning along the way. This experience provided him with invaluable insight into the challenges of engaging communities, government and business in complex policy development.
Joining ICL/Fujitsu in the late 1980s, Chris transitioned from local authority senior management to salesman as a major account manager, focused on the application of Information Technology systems to local government. Later, he became a sales director, overseeing the introduction of CRM to the company worldwide.
Chris joined Koru in 2002 and became owner and MD two years later. The company has since worked with both public and private sector customers – choosing and implementing CRM systems, coaching sales teams and developing sales strategies, introducing lean business processes and continuous improvement in public and private sectors, and more recently, the introduction of digital tools to enable local authorities and companies to engage effectively with communities and stakeholders.
The application of technology and engagement to key policy areas has always been a consistent theme and, over the last 5 years, no more so than the climate crisis which challenges governments, businesses and communities alike. Chris believes that two things underpin what Koru do – understanding the customer and only ever doing the things that deliver real value both financial and non-financial to them and their customers and communities.
A lover of sport and former semi-pro footballer, Chris has been an ardent red for over 40 years, never walking alone and delighted that Liverpool is once again at the top of the English and European game!
The biggest challenge we face is climate change, that much is at last commonly accepted. But it’s not enough to wait for Governments to make big decisions and change the way we live. People will accept, support and implement change if they are engaged effectively and positively through their communities and working lives, and can see how much of a difference they can make. That’s our philosophy – ‘Making a Difference’!
Spending almost an entire working life on the frontline of sales and IT, his top-level management experience in ICL, Fujitsu and The Logic Group spans four decades, before he joined Koru Services in 2011.
Brian has led teams in the software and services sectors to create innovative solutions to customer and market business problems throughout Europe. His customer experience has touched on all major customer sectors in the B2B space, with significant recent experience in Financial Services, Telecommunications and Retail sectors.
A passionate advocate of customer- and market-focus, Brian has and continues to drive significant growth and success for businesses through this dedication. He injects pace into projects with his CAN DO approach
Brian has led the Climate Change and Active Travel thrusts with local authorities in the North West and Yorkshire and Humber Regions ensuring award winning nominations for Commonplace and Connecting Leeds in 2021
Brian is a lover of all competitive sports and a keen golfer. Whilst age has forced him to hang up both his soccer boots and cricket whites, he is a Tyke and Tiger through and through – supporting Hull City and Yorkshire Cricket Club from his home in God’s Own County near Beverley.
Brian has also started a major Climate Change project called the Lungs of Burstwick at his local Burstwick Country Golf course. Working with the PATT Foundation and its Green Task Force offshoot he hopes to plant over 12000 trees at the 120 acre site in early 2022
Brian’s drive , energy and enthusiasm has brought the Lungs Of Burstwick project to life. “His creative ideas are a major asset to our club.” – Alan Key , General Manager Burstwick Country Golf.
Steve has been involved in many different projects and industries, most recently leading Koru’s involvement in Commonplace a Software as a Service start up. The Koru team built a business worth £500,000 per annum having won over 30 new customers
A great believer in customer-centricity and professional selling, Steve worked on an apprenticeship trailblazer group with the Institute of Professional Sales developing two apprenticeships specifically for sales people
If you want to know who is responsible for global warming, just look in the mirror.
A seasoned campaigner in sales and marketing management with a wealth of ‘coal face’ experience of people engagement (with positions at globally recognised brands including Lenovo and Fujitsu), today Phil has earned his reputation for delivering strong results for his employers and customers alike.
You could say that Phil’s role has been diverse. He’s personally performed and managed everything from Bid-writing and presentations, to the co-creation of analytical reports for Local Authorities during the recent pandemic. He’s even advised and guided on all aspects of customer communications – for companies ranging from fledging, fast-growing start-ups to global blue-chip giants, as well as Local Authorities planning to consult with their communities.
When pondering what lies behind his contribution, Phil puts his performance down to a unique blend of best practise disciplines and processes, along with a flair for innovation and creative thinking.
Phil lays claims to be the second coming of William Turner – a true modern-day Vincent van Gogh protégé. Alas, he’s still waiting to be discovered as a Watercolour Landscape artist of significance (any day now!).
“I’ve spent long enough taking from the Planet and it’s time I made an effort to give back.”