Key Personnel

Russell Crisp, as well as being Chief Executive of Crisp, is one of Crisp’s Senior Consultants.  

Russell started his career working for his father’s firm, eventually taking it over. In 1988, Russell sold the family business and created Crisp Associates, a marketing and business development consultancy practice.

Through Russell’s ability to motivate and inspire those around him he has built up the original Practice to its current size and diversity. The company now advises on all aspects of Business and Organisational Development, E-Commerce, has a Training Division and continues to advise on Marketing issues all through its subsidiary businesses.

During the last 5 years he has worked extensively in the UK, Europe and the United States helping businesses re-engineer in line with the e-commerce revolution.

Russell has over 15 years management consultancy experience and acts as a non executive Director of several client Boards.

However, Russell continues to work as a Lead Marketing Consultant as well as holding several Non-Executive Directorships within certain client companies.

Today, the consultancy which Russell started is recognised as being one of the key Strategic Marketing & E-Business Development Consultancy practices in the South West, now employing over 40 Consultants and Trainers.

Russell is an Accredited Consultant with South West Business Link and a member of the Institute of Directors.

John has over 30 years experience in both marketing and communications gained in the Public, Commercial, Educational and Consultancy sectors and has worked with Crisp-UK since its foundation.

Over recent years, he has successfully combined roles as a Marketing/Communications Consultant, Researcher, Writer, Corporate Trainer and Higher Education Lecturer.

Working with Crisp as a Senior Consultant, John has successfully worked on a wide range of strategic development and applied marketing projects for a great variety of businesses and organisations, with particular specialisms in Leisure/tourism,Heritage, Professional Services, Education, ‘Not for Profit’ and Construction.

As a contributing trainer/writer with Crisp Professional Development, John has also undertaken regular Corporate Training work, developing, writing and delivering courses and workshops in Marketing, Communications and Design for: Reed Training, Business Links and Wessex Chambers of Commerce.

His writing activities include PR, creative copy writing, and video scripting, together with research and editing for informative & factual works.

More recently, John has worked extensively developing Research programmes in the Accountancy/Tax Publishing field and as a Marketing & Communication Specialist within the Social Housing sector.

Trained initially as a Lawyer then Consultant and Project Leader P.E. Inbucon with various assignments; Glass, Chemicals, Manufacturing and Distribution. From 1973 was a partner with leading Commercial Solicitors in Scotland.

Specialising since 1980 in developing Franchising Licensing Concepts in Fast-Foods, Restaurants, Signs and Printing, Retail, Interior Decorating, Mobile Services, etc.

Michael has been involved with client companies from USA, France, Spain and from large to SME’s in the UK. Michael has lectured and written extensively on the subject in specialist franchise magazines, guides and text books and various commercial journals.

Founder of Solicitors Financial Services - the Solicitors Financial Co-operative.

With Crisp Group, Michael has developed marketing strategies and implemented plans for professional practices, such as Solictiors, Consulting Engineers, Insurance Brokers as well as developing franchise concepts such as Riverford Organics, Oggy Oggy Pasty Co., etc.

1999 - 2001 had a lengthy secondment to establish a leading directional drilling business to remediate contaminated land.

Mike is also a Public Relations Specialist and works closely with some of our clients in this area.

Janis has over twenty years experience in marketing, market research, business development and sales management with the ability to work strategically or on a ‘hands on’ basis. Her career has spanned manufacturing, distribution and service environments and she has broad experience and understanding of business practice in small through to large concerns.

Janis is a creative thinker and systematic worker with a determined, tenacious but flexible approach. She is keen to build and maintain effective business relationships and enjoys the challenges of providing practical and affordable marketing solutions to suit individual requirements. As a Chartered Marketer and full member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Janis undertakes continued professional development.

Joan has been working with the Crisp Group for over 15 years, working predominantly as the Project Liaison Co-ordinator for the Business Solutions Team.

Due to the business developments within the Group Joan is now the Client Services Manager supporting the various Crisp Teams and liaising with our clients.

Joan is very much the public face of Crisp and often the first point of contact for any enquiries.

Helen joined the Crisp Group in 2005. Her role is to oversee the development and management of the company’s open and in-house business skills and personal advancement programmes, executive coaching and the ILM programme. She is also a very active contributor to CPD’s Business Management training programme.

Helen has over 25 years of experience in consulting and training programme design, development and implementation. She has a host of relevant and successful management and leadership experience gained through both the ownership and management of businesses in the USA and the UK.

Her very active career has included the management of an international franchise operation and a partnership in a Florida based management and consulting agency which specialised in mounting tailored management and business skills seminars for major US corporate organisations, health providers, educational establishments, charities and commercial enterprises of all sizes.

Bill’s particular focus is developing in-house training. With over 25 years experience in the business world, Bill’s experience has ranged from Radio Journalism, PR account management,taking over and successfully running the family business to working in the West Country as a General Manager and Company Ambassador for a multi-national. The later role led Bill into training and to a long association with influential bodies such as Business Link, Exter Chamber of Commerce and the Education Business Partnership.

As well as working on identifying and developing client’s training needs, Bill is an active trainer specialising in Sales and the ILM programme.

Sarah has senior management experience ranging over 30 years, very much an entrepreneur, she set up her first successful business aged 24 and most recently she was the MD of a successful international interior design company with franchises throughout the UK and Ireland.

Drawing on a host of experience in marketing, sales, training, merchandising and most significantly business & team performance management, Sarah has a particular interest in the development of CPD’s Executive Coaching services, which she sees as a key tool in helping individuals to grow, develop personal strategies and capitalise on their key strengths and capabilities.

Alex has over 10 years experience in web site development and ecommerce. His close involvement with up to 200 Internet projects allows him to offer invaluable advice and guidance for both new and next generation soluti

Alex has a breadth of specialist knowledge of many of the more complex and confusing areas of web development, such as search engine promotion and web site hosting. This expertise, together with his proven project management and client liaison skills allows him to effectively deliver client project on time, within budget and definitely without confusion.

Unlike many web developers, John’s commercial sense and strong communication skills have enabled clients to achieve far more with their web site than is usually possible. The attention to detail applied to every aspect of system architecture, database design and coding ensures maximum speed and compatibility with the minimum of errors.

John’s responsibilities include the structure and functionality behind every web site or ecommerce solution and he will often be involved with larger projects to offer technical consultancy and practical advice. John is an Adobe Certified Expert in Advanced ColdFusion and manages the Adobe ColdFusion User Group for Devon in his spare time.

Andy has a well deserved reputation for producing stunning visual designs for web sites both large and small. His ability to blend the client’s design brief with his own experience and knowledge has proved to be very popular, bringing even the most challenging ideas to fruition within budget

Andy is fluent in all the major technologies including Flex, Flash and CSS with special emphasis being placed on accessibly design and other important standards.

Having qualified with a BSc (Hons) in Information Technology at Manchester Metropolitan University, Donna spent some time working in the leisure industry before deciding to put all that specialist education to good use.

Donna brings with her a self-taught knowledge of web development coupled with an interest in making the most of the Web’s potential for promotion and business development.

An interested expert in all things digital, Donna’s role is crucial in allowing our clients to get the most out of their web site.

Gary Coleman has over 25 years industry experience working for many major clients in advertising, design and marketing communications companies. He has a wealth of design experience being one of the first creatives to introduce the use of Apple Macintosh computers when many agencies were hesitant.

This, coupled with his experience of more traditional design methods has resulted in a dynamic combination of forward thinking, proactive and experienced design solutions.

Gary knows exactly where to look for inspiration. It starts with you. We like to talk to our clients, observe, listen and hear exactly what they and their audience need. Only then, can we start the creative process. We know how to make your plans a reality. Together we can create..."Inspired by life" - Gary Coleman

After several years in the Army Bob retrained as an audio-visual designer since when he has combined the management skills of one with the design awareness of the other. The bulk of his work has been in the management of design and designers.

Wide experience with corporate communications, product and interior design projects has given him a broad knowledge of design-based business problems and their solutions.

Working as a design project manager on large corporate projects in London and as a self-employed graphic designer in Devon, his clients have ranged from PLCs to sole traders, across a wide spectrum of industry sectors.

As the Design Adviser for Business Link in Devon and Cornwall for 10 years, Bob used this wide experience in helping both manufacturing and service companies to grow through the use of good design.

At various times he has written design standards manuals and student handbooks for an FE college, edited B2B magazines and newsletters and lectured on business studies and graphic design at colleges in Devon and Cornwall.

Bob has recently joined the Crisp team to assist with large corporate projects involving the use of design and designers.

David Robshaw, Lead Consultant. Since qualifying as a Chartered Accountant and attaining a post-graduate degree in Management Science at the University of Warwick Business School, David Robshaw held senior finance and business development positions with UDT Industries and Anglo American Industrial Corporation, prior to taking a senior consultancy position with Ernst and Young. Following which he successfully developed a major consultancy practice for Gimlet, part of the Solomon Hare organisation in Bristol, specialising in providing strategic and business development support.

David works with a group of specialised associates to provide strategic marketing and business development, financial management, management information systems, corporate finance, funding and exit strategy services. Non executive and part time director services provided in conjunction with funder and shareholder requirements. Participation in equity and success related fees can be arranged, where appropriate, providing a very results orientated approach.

He is a SME based adviser specialised in working with growth companies, lending and venture capital institutions’ sponsored corporate turnaround, government sponsoredconsultancy schemes, non executive and part time finance directorships.

Mike Watts joined the team in a new role of Group Accountant in 2002 overseeing all financial aspects of the Crisp Group.

Mike is CIMA qualified with a total of eleven years accountancy and management experience in both the private and public sectors.

He has acquired a broad skill set, including the ability to produce accurate forecasts, reporting and control.