WHO WE ARE

Highly experienced change management practitioners

We were born in a time of phenomenal change, pioneering a new way of working and embracing the new era. We are on a mission to foster a culture that celebrates each individual person and their strengths, giving everyone a strong sense of belonging. We believe our uniqueness lies in the deep industry knowledge and breadth of skills we offer through our mix of industry advisors, employed and associate consultants.

Darren Manning

Director and Programme & Project Management Practice Lead

Darren is passionate about delivering high functioning and successful projects/programmes by building highly motivated and goal driven teams of all shapes and sizes. He understands the challenges organisations face to deliver change at all levels in an ever-changing world with customers whose motivations and needs are more sophisticated now more than ever.

Darren started his career in change management 25 years ago as a humble COBOL coder. He built his project and programme experience working on ever bigger and more  complex projects across a number of small, medium and large financial services organisations. In more recent years Darren has branched out into management consultancy to help organisations through large transformations.

Darren's most notable roles are as Programme Mgr for Sainsburys Bank on the Savings and Loans Programme & Argos launching their Multi Payments Product. He also led the Teller replacement programme back in 2006 -2008 helping Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank replace its legacy Teller system which required not only a new back end Teller system but a full branch refresh programme replacing the front office infrastructure for over 500 branches across the UK.

​Outside his professional life, Darren is an avid traveller and enjoys outdoor activities, detective mysteries, and quality time with loved ones. Sadly, he is also a Stoke City supporter… you can’t have everything!!

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​Jim Biryah

Director and Delivery Management Office Practice Lead​

Jim is passionate about the rigour and controls required to successfully deliver complex change, with a specialism in project, programme and transformation office design, build and operation. He has both the technical know-how and proven consulting experience to deliver robust portfolio, programme and project management solutions that are tailored to the needs of the organisation’s environment.

Jim started his career as a Barclays graduate, joining the Barclaycard graduate programme with project delivery placements in the Technology Office and Change Delivery. Since Barclays, Jim’s entire professional life, 20+ years, has been invested in providing project and programme services to large organisations. As a result, he has developed a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience of multi-million £/$ large-scale change delivery, across both Business and IT. Much of this has been within the banking and financial services sector, but also spans other blue-chip organisations within business services, utilities, distribution, and public sector.

Some notable experiences include the re-design, build and operation of a cross-divisional, multi-jurisdiction, programme management office to support the delivery of a global banks ~ £400m Sanctions and Anti Money Laundering programme. And the re-design and build of a programme management office, in line with the Government’s Centre of Excellence standards, to underpin a 5-year engagement for the procurement and transformation of the UK’s retail banking payment system (critical national infrastructure).

Outside of his professional life, Jim is an avid walker, often found in muddy boots hiking across the Cotswolds and Peak District. During a brief break from professional life, Jim co-founded a start-up retail and direct-to-consumer food business and led the campaign to raise c£1.4m venture capital, private investor, and grant funding. His and his partners contribution to the business was formally recognised as finalists at the 2022 Great British Entrepreneurs Awards. “Just on a break”, he said!

T E S T I M O N I A L S

I’ve had the privilege of being able to hire Darren Manning on several occasions for critical programmes I have been accountable for . Darren is an exceptional Senior Programme Manager, and I wholeheartedly recommend him for adding value and creating confidence to delivery programmes . Here are the key reasons why:
Darren's leadership skills are unparalleled, he combines technical expertise with a deep understanding of organisation dynamics and stakeholder perspectives. His ability to inspire and guide teams is commendable. Darren's strong technical background ensures that he navigates complex programmes with ease., whether it's managing intricate systems integrations, leading complex migrations, or overseeing large-scale transformations he consistently delivers positive results.
Darren successfully turned around a set of highly visible major transformation programmes in challenging situations with confidence and credibility re-established with stakeholders . His strategic thinking and adaptability make him an asset in any high-pressure environment.
Darren creates and fosters well-rounded, cohesive teams specific to the work he is leading. Darren’s emphasis on collaboration and stakeholder management both internally and externally drive both confidence and successful programme outcomes.
In summary, Darren Manning is a seasoned professional who excels in leadership, technical acumen, and programme delivery.

Gareth Hodgson – Financial Services Senior Manager