About us

The Trusted Executive (logo)

Our purpose

Our goal is to create a new standard of leadership defined by trustworthiness that is embraced by every type of executive, which will make a meaningful and credible impact at board level within companies across all sectors. Through a unique combination of commercial acumen and coaching expertise, our team strives to help executives drive change that is both sustainable and measurable.

Why we’re different

There are many organisations around that offer leadership development and coaching. So you’re probably wondering what makes us stand out from the crowd.

It’s actually pretty simple: many organisations have a great model for leadership development, but don’t know how to implement it. Others don’t have a model, so simply use other people’s established frameworks.

That’s why the Trusted Executive is different. We have our own highly proven model, and we know how to implement it effectively.

Nine Habits of Trust

Our Nine Habits of Trust methodology is more than just theory: it’s academically researched and verified to help business leaders build better trust in how they operate. Combined with our unique combination of board-level expertise, commercial acumen and extensive experience, we can successfully put this model into practice and make it fit into the real-world reality of your business.

Request a call back today to find out how the Journey of Trust
can benefit you and your business.

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    Our Partners

    AoEC logo
    Aston Business School logo
    Illustra logo
    Kexxel logo
    Vistage logo
    IoD logo

    Our Founder

    As an entrepreneur, corporate leader, CEO executive coach and thought leader, John Blakey has made it his life’s work to understand why businesses struggle with trust in leadership and the potential impacts of this on the overall health and success of an organisation.

    John developed the academically researched and verified ‘Nine Habits of Trust’ methodology – now regarded as a reliable and consistent measuring tool to identify the leader behaviours most likely to inspire trust.

    Our Team

    Click on the photos below to find out more about the skills and experience of our team:

    Dr John Blakey

    Mac Farquhar

    Peter Busby

    Peter Busby

    Sharon Curry

    Jane Blakey

    Jane Blakey

    Steve McCann

    Julie Jamieson

    Julie Jamieson

    Russell Atkinson

    Russell Atkinson

    Glen Daley

    Glen Daley

    Grant Bowman

    Grant Bowman

    Mark Freeland

    Mark Freeland

    Vicki Codd

    Vicki Codd




    Top

    John BlakeyJohn 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

    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 BusbyPeter 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 CurrySharon 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 BlakeyJane 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 McCannSteve 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.

    Julie JamiesonCharu Patel

    With a 25 year career in the staffing industry running national and international teams, I have always needed to rely on trust as the largest factor in the success of any remote operation, ever more so between my clients and my teams.

    Working as Trusted Executive Fellowship Boards Recruitment Executive is an opportunity for me to work with respected industry leaders who value this crucial quality of trust in their leadership and remain committed to keeping that alive.

    Russell AtkinsonRussell 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.

    Glen DaleyGlen Daley

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    Grant BowmanGrant Bowman

    I have a passion in both business and life for constant progress and development and applying this mantra to all people to reach their true potential.

    As a seasoned visionary entrepreneur, leader and strategist, with extensive experience in business turnaround, strategy development, sales and marketing, culture change, developing people and operational improvement, it is critical that as leaders we need to create a culture of trust and growth mindset.

    In my role as part of The Trusted Executive Leadership team, working with our teams of passionate, forward thinking professionals I am dedicated to delivering the values and behaviours that inspire trust within the clients we work with.

    Mark FreelandMark Freeland

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    Vicki CoddVicki Codd

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