About us

John Blakey

It has been my life’s work to research and practice how trust and challenge contribute to building high performance teams and organisational cultures. As an entrepreneur, corporate leader, CEO executive coach and thought leader, I have worked at the highest levels in both business and sport to support and challenge brave leaders who are pioneering to create purpose-led organisations where success is measured by results, relationships and reputation.

My role in the Foundation is to inspire and motivate senior leaders through delivering thought-provoking, pragmatic keynote sessions based on the best-selling books ‘Challenging Coaching’ and ‘The Trusted Executive’, as well as working 1-2-1 with CEOs as an executive coach to help them build the habits of trust and challenge in their day-to-day leadership roles.

Mac Farquhar

Throughout my business career as a manager and a coach, I have long been curious about why leadership has not improved as a result of all the investment that has gone into its development. Sadly, in some quarters, it appears to have gone backwards, not forwards.

Thankfully, the answer to this paradox is emerging from the research conducted by John Blakey and others into the power of trust and its effect on engagement and performance. In particular, the difference that benevolence makes when shown by leaders of ability and integrity in creating a culture of trust.

As a co-Director of the Trusted Executive Foundation, it is a rewarding experience for me to have the opportunity to co-create with our clients and our team, a new standard for leadership defined by trustworthiness. One that is supported by a strong sense of purpose that extends beyond profit to develop long-term, sustainable, and successful businesses, that care about humanity and the world we live in.

Peter Busby

I have devoted my career to leading high trust, high-performance teams and organisations. Initially, I trained as a Chartered Accountant at Coopers and Lybrand before joining Andersen Consulting as a management consultant.

In 1997, I formed the management consultancy, Xayce, which grew rapidly and was sold to Morse plc in 2007. In 2012, I founded a further management consultancy, Grayce, and led its growth for 9 years before selling the company to a private equity buyer in 2019.

Before joining The Trusted Executive Foundation as a Non-Executive Director, I was a member of The Trusted Executive Fellowship board and I am a firm believer in the power of coaching and the Nine Habits of trust to help leaders achieve sustainable success both professionally and personally.

Sharon Curry

The ‘Three Pillars’ of integrity, ability and benevolence drive my personal best with trust and respect at my core. 35 years of national and international experience provide a deep understanding of people and the behaviours and strategies required for successful business outcomes.

Executive Coach, Innovation Expert and former Naval Officer, I coach and facilitate leadership thinking in leading military, educational and commercial organisations globally including the NHS Leadership Academy, Royal Navy, SAID Business School (UAE), Pfizer and Toyota.

I enable my clients to influence success for themselves, their teams and organisations, bringing about change for the benefit of all. Together, through trustworthiness, clarity, and a proactive approach we promote and sustain the ‘triple bottom line’ of results, reputation and relationships.

Jane Blakey

I am a CIMA Chartered Accountant and provide financial support to the Trusted Executive Foundation team. Previously, I ran my own Kumon education franchise to help young people develop their maths and English skills. Earlier in my career, I was a management accountant at British Gas and have fulfilled various voluntary roles, including acting as an auditor for Oxfam shops.

I pride myself on providing a timely and efficient service to our clients and the other team members. This care and attention to detail reinforce our reputation as a trustworthy business that is ‘walking the talk’ of the Nine Habits of Trust.

Steve McCann

Individual and team development is my passion. Based upon a deep belief that we all have the potential to achieve the results we want, establish the relationships we value and create the purpose we need. This is embodied by the three pillars and nine habits of trustworthy leadership.

Developing high-performing, high-trust teams that deliver significant return to investors, strong foundations for future growth and work that people love, is what gets me out of bed in the morning.

My positive, energetic and challenging approach is underpinned by over 30 years of senior executive experience across a variety of roles and functions in military, sporting, public, private, listed and private-equity businesses, most recently as COO of a PE backed automotive distributor, leading a major transformation programme.

Charu Patel

I have 2 decades of experience in the hotel and hospitality sector, working for household names such as Thistle, Corus, Grange Hotels and Global Hospitality Services. In this time, I have combined my commercial acumen with a customer-centric focus and building long-term, high-trust relationships with public and private sector clients. I have a particular passion for nurturing relationships that can add value to the overall fabric of one’s life and is driven by TRUST.

Following the rewarding experience of undertaking voluntary roles during the Covid pandemic, I have chosen to support purpose-led organisations like The Trusted Executive Foundation where all profits are donated to the wellbeing of the youth of tomorrow and FLAIR, a racial equity technology company that is focussed on fostering anti-racist cultures. In the team, I pride myself on thinking outside the box and creating an open and inclusive dialogue with all.

Russell Atkinson

I am currently an NED and Chair of the advisory board at the Trusted Executive Foundation.

I was formerly Chief Executive of NAHL Group plc, which I joined in 2012, and had a pivotal role in implementing its strategy following major regulatory change in the consumer legal services market. I also led its successful flotation onto AIM in 2014 on behalf of its former private equity owners.

Prior to joining NAHL, I held senior executive roles at international firms including Lebara Mobile, Blackhawk Network (a division of Safeway Inc) and was Director of E-Payments at Travelex.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree from Leicester Polytechnic, a diploma in marketing from The Chartered Institute of Marketing and am a Fellow of the Institute of Directors.