james brook leadership and talent consultant executive coach | Plexus Leadership

Maddy Lucia – Consultant

I work as a specialist in whole life change. I take a holistic, integrative approach to coaching, taking the whole person into consideration, not just performance and output.

My coaching style is characterized by a straight-forward approach, blending keen listening skills with sharp intuition, swiftly getting to the heart of the issues, and reflecting those back to the client. I provide a space for my clients to do their best thinking and I ask powerful questions to deepen their thinking, awareness, and to help them discover their own bespoke solutions.

Sandra van den Ordel – Consultant

Sandra is a Chartered Psychologist (Occupational) who is passionate about people development. She is driven to make a difference to people’s wellbeing by equipping individuals, teams and leaders with insights and practical tools to thrive.

Sandra has 20 years of consulting experience working at different management levels within organisations in the areas of assessments, coaching and group workshops. Industry experience includes petrochemical, telecommunications, financial institutions, education institutions, shipping, retail, pharmaceutical and manufacturing.
As a consulting psychologist, Sandra has extensive experience in psychometric and competency-based assessments for management / leadership development as well as selection. She has also been involved in designing and facilitating various learning and development interventions. Her primary passion in people development is Emotional Intelligence; Leadership Development; Team Development; Career Development and Mentoring. Furthermore, Sandra has been involved in managing projects such as engagement surveys for organisations as well 360-degree feedback surveys for individuals and teams. Sandra is qualified to utilise psychometric tools such as the Hogan suite, MBTI, EQi 2.0 and Strengthscope ®

Outside of work, Sandra recharges by spending time with family, taking walks in forests and along rivers, cooking and Stand Up Paddleboarding. Sandra’s top strengths are empathy, relationship building and developing others.

Alexandru Popa-Antohi – Consultant

Alex has over 11 years of international business and organisational experience across Europe and the US. His main focus areas are: (1) coaching senior leaders and teams in their shared endeavour to create value for their organisations and stakeholders and (2) designing, delivering and embedding bespoke leadership development programmes. He is particularly experienced in working with tech-driven organisations and scale-ups operating in an agile environment.

Over the years, Alex has delivered high-impact work including the design and roll-out of global leadership development programmes, talent management and high potential programmes, coaching culture strategy, learning academies and technology, while being part of a global HR centre of expertise.

He holds a Bsc. in Computer Science and a Master’s in Psychology – Adult Education. He is an APECS Accredited Executive Coach and a registered psychometric test user (including Hogan Assessments, EQ-i 2.0, NEO and Saville Wave). He is currently undertaking an Advanced Diploma in Systemic Team Coaching (AoEC).

Alex sits on the Board of the Association of Professional Coaching and Supervision (APECS) and he is a core member of the Future of Coaching Collaboration (FCC). He is also a former trustee of an educational charity in Romania, where he co-designed a four-year curriculum of non-formal learning for high-school students. This has now been followed by over 17.000 students across the country.

Alex’s top strengths are relationship building, strategic mindedness and creativity. Outside of work, Alex practices Japanese ju jitsu and enjoys listening to big band jazz music.

Emma Carter – Marketing Intern

Emma is passionate about people and the use of psychological principles and research methods to solve problems in the workplace and improve the quality of life. Emma believes that strong positive leadership enables growth, wellbeing and productivity to thrive within a workplace, which can both empower and develop employees.

Emma has an MSc in Occupational Psychology, with a thesis on the reliability and validity of a psychometric recruitment tool, and a dissertation on the experience of fathers in full-time work. She has analysed a variety of data types and researched many theories of workplace wellbeing and productivity, which has allowed her interests to flourish.

Her top strengths are compassion, critical thinking, and developing others. Outside work, Emma enjoys being active, going on long and participating in sports, as well as reading and going to the theatre.

Su En Chan: Business Psychology Intern

Su En is passionate about understanding the behaviours of people within organizations. This is because she believes people make up the core of an organization; they are integral in ensuring the success of an organization through challenging times. Specifically, her interests lie within how positive leadership impacts organizational functions such as culture, employee relations and wellbeing. She is currently studying an MSc in Organisational and Social Psychology to facilitate her understanding of these topics.

Su En’s interest in wellbeing and leadership was strengthened through her experience as a research intern at Cardiff University School of Healthcare Science. She analysed trends in survey data to identify trends in NHS incident reporting rates and the factors which influenced this. Survey data revealed staffs’ reluctance to report malpractice due to fear of punishment, and evidence of declining wellbeing as a result. Comparison of these trends to NHS Trusts’ leadership scores revealed that positive leadership management is a facilitator of incident reporting rates and positive staff wellbeing.

Su En’s top strengths are detail orientation, collaboration, and compassion. In her free time, Su En enjoys baking, reading, and experiencing different cultures.

Marius Barnard: Consultant

Marius, an ex-professional tennis player, brings a powerful combination of insight, empathy, and emotional intelligence to his work as a consultant and coach. Applying his specialist knowledge and experience of elite sports and performance psychology, he focuses on co-creating relevant strategies for leaders and managers to enable them to lead effectively in times of great stress and change.

Marius’ 13-year tennis career included doubles victories over six World No. 1’s: Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Marat Safin and Goran Ivanišević. He won 6 tour titles, reached 8 further finals, quarter finals at Wimbledon and the Australian Open. Following his international tennis career, Marius established himself as a coach, mentor, and teacher (York St John University).

His current work involves coaching CEO’s, directors, and managers to improve their performance, adapt to fast change and manage their work pressures with self-belief, optimism, and resilience.

Marius has a degree in Business Psychology and Business Management. Additionally, he has completed a Life Coaching Diploma, and studies in Emotional Intelligence and Managing Mental Health and Stress in the workplace.

Marius loves family time, playing golf, bodyboarding, sketching and listening to music in his free time. His top strengths are self–confidence, developing others and resilience.

Terms and Conditions: Open-enrolment Programmes and Mentoring

All payments are required in full prior to the start date of the programme/mentoring.

Payments for programmes/mentoring are non-refundable.

For our all programmes, if you cannot make your booked date then we are unable to refund the cost of the course. However, if you provide us with at least 7 days’ notice before the start date, we will do our best to accommodate you on a future programme.

For mentoring, if you are unable to attend a session, then you will be charged for the session unless you give at least 5 working days’ notice in advance. Please note that up to 2 sessions in total can be rescheduled by giving the appropriate notice specified, after which you will be charged for any missed sessions.

From time to time, it is necessary to rearrange programmes. If this happens, we will offer you the option to transfer to another programme or refund you the full programme fees within 10 days of making such a decision.

James Brook – Managing Director

James is a leadership consultant, organizational psychologist and executive coach. He has over 25 years’ experience working with leaders, teams and organizations globally to optimize their performance, talent and future success. He specializes in positive leadership, thriving workplaces, collaboration and influencing, organizational change and transformation, accelerating innovation and coaching executives and leaders in innovative sectors including Tech, Digital, E-commerce and Life Sciences.

Before setting up Plexus Leadership, James held leadership roles in HR and Talent Management in the UK and abroad with companies such as NatWest, Yahoo! and Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals. After this, he founded and led several talent and leadership consulting and assessment businesses, including Strengthscope®, an online strengths assessment and development business serving a wide range of UK and global clients. James grew this venture into a global market leader before selling the business in 2018.

James has supported, advised and coached leaders and teams globally across diverse industries and geographies. Clients he has worked with include Allen & Overy, Commvault, Equinor, Facebook, GSK, Hilton, John Lewis, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, NHS, Oracle, Sainsbury’s, Swiss Re, Tesco, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, WSP and Yahoo!.

James has a Master’s in Organizational Psychology, an MBA, an Advanced Diploma in Executive Coaching and a Harvard Business qualification in Sustainable Business Strategy. He is a member of the Institute of Directors, the Association of Business Psychologists and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD). He is currently undertaking a PhD in Organizational Psychology examining the start-up experiences of Tech and Digital entrepreneurs.

James is a regular contributor and speaker on leadership, coaching, innovative talent management and the future of work. His most recent book, Optimize Your Strengths, explores how leaders can create thriving workplaces by inspiring and supporting people to optimize their potential and teamwork to deliver breakthrough results.

James’ top strengths are courage, leading, empathy and strategic mindedness. Outside work, James recharges by running, spending time with his family and travelling the world.

Holly Moor – Consultant

Holly is a Coach and Trainer and has been working in People Development for over 8 years. She is passionate about developing people and helping them to perform at their best by building their self-awareness and using their strengths at work. Most recently, Holly worked at Ernst & Young where she was involved in the design, development and facilitation of technical and behavioural learning programmes. Prior to that, she worked in Learning and Development consultancy with organisations such as Mercedes Benz, Lidl, Scottish Parliament and QBE.

Holly holds a BA in Occupational Psychology and Sociology (with distinction), a PGDip in Business and she holds a CIPD Coaching Qualification (with Merit). Her top strengths are collaboration, creativity and developing others. Outside of work, Holly enjoys spending time with her husband, young son and labrador and you can often find her wading through toy cars and lego trying to find things.

Fion Cheah – Consultant

Fion is passionate about empowering clients to optimize their talents and become the best version of themselves. She has worked across various industries and enjoys learning about different perspectives on how to lead, improve performance and manage talent.
Fion is pursuing an MSc in Occupational and Business Psychology and holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Her top strengths are collaboration, determination and flexibility. Outside work she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, travelling, good food and painting.

Paula-Lee Baetu – Consultant

Paula is a qualified Psychometrician with a BA (Hons) in Psychology and is a Brain-based Coach trained through the NeuroLeadership Institute. She is an accredited user of a wide range of assessment tools such as the MBTI, Hogan suite, 16PF and EQi2.0.

She has 5 years of psychometric and consulting experience which includes facilitating workshops and using assessments to help companies make better hiring and development decisions. She has worked with all business levels and abilities, in a magnitude of companies worldwide (Africa, the U.K., Middle-East, and Asia), as well as across industries (telecommunications, banking, mining, insurance, finance, and academia).

Her top strengths are flexibility, relationship building and empathy. Outside of work Paula enjoys strength-based exercise, photography, good food and travelling the world.

Nicki Hayes – Consultant and Marketing Lead

Nicki is passionate about helping people to play to their strengths, live their values and do great work. As well as coaching, Nicki has contributed to a wide range of coaching related books and training programmes. Topics include life skills, emotional intelligence, positive psychology, corporate storytelling, leadership and team building. Having also worked for over 25 years in Tech journalism and corporate communications/employee engagement consultancy, Nicki’s coaching toolkit is extensive. As one client commented: “She’s the sort of free thinker that organisations and people who want to set the pace need on their side.”

What Nicki loves most about her work is finding simplicity in the complex, witnessing innovation and watching people grow. Her top three strengths (creativity, collaboration and compassion) make her a much-valued companion for those wishing to identify new ways forward and stretch themselves beyond perceived comfort zones. Outside work, Nicki recharges by spending time with family, reading, gardening and walking in nature.

Bobbie Groves – Business Development Executive

Bobbie holds a Masters Degree in Occupational Psychology, driven by a strong desire to succeed and ongoing thirst for knowledge. Bobbie is particularly passionate about employee motivation and workplace engagement and has a keen interest in helping individuals and their businesses to prosper. Affording others the opportunity to get the best out of themselves and of their work is something that is reflected in all aspects of her own life and work.

Bobbie has studied how to facilitate learning, training and development in the workplace; work design and organisational change; leadership, engagement and motivation; well-being and psychological assessment at work; research and professional skills and strategic management.

Bobbie’s top strengths include relationship building, empathy and enthusiasm. Outside work Bobbie loves to dance, as she has done since she was three, as well as hit the gym, read and spend quality time with family and friends.

Aidan Tod – Consultant

Aidan Tod helps organisations to become wholly and productively their best selves in the workplace through leadership coaching and facilitation. Aidan has over 20 years’ experience in senior HR positions with diverse organisations such as the Sony Corporation, Motorola, Coca-cola and many more.

Aidan holds a Bachelor of Science and is a graduate of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Aidan is a qualified executive coach with a Diploma with merit in Advanced Executive Coaching and is an accredited as a mediator by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR).

Aidan contributed to two books on coaching, 101 Coaching Strategies and Techniques published by Routledge and the Strengths Partnerships Ltd. Personal Development Workbook. His top strengths are courage, critical thinking and flexibility. Outside work, Aidan recharges by playing and building electric guitars.

Omi Ducat – Consultant

Omi is passionate about empowering people to be their best selves through strengths-based coaching, mentoring, leadership, performance and inspiration. She believes that having clarity on your values, purpose and direction unlocks your true potential to be your best self.

She has a degree in Computer Programming and over 15 years’ experience in the digital and technology sectors working with both global blue chip clients and small independent start-ups. She’s also founded/co-founded her own businesses where she’s learned valuable lessons, including growing stronger through setbacks and failure. Her experience includes consulting, digital transformation, executive coaching and mentoring, leadership development, organizational development, high performing teams and building great cultures.

Omi holds a Practitioner Diploma in Executive Coaching (AoEC), is Certified in Leadership Coaching through Turbulent Times and is a qualified practitioner on a variety of psychometric profiling tools. She is also a mentor with Bethnal Green Ventures and an advocate for Women in Technology.

Her top strengths are developing others through collaboration, courage and inspiration. Outside work, Omi enjoys yoga, surfing, live music, travel and walking her puppy along the river.

Lizzie Rhodes James – Consultant

Lizzie encourages and enables people, teams and organizations to be creative and go beyond what they think is possible so they can maximize their performance, resilience and wellbeing. Lizzie has over 15 years’ experience working in in a mix of organizations from enterprises like Microsoft to small and medium sized companies, as well as having served as an Army Officer. During this time, she has built and optimized talent, leaders and teams, including setting up and delivering people programs, coaching talent and acting as a people consultant.

Lizzie holds a Master’s in Training and Human Resource Management, is an International Coaching Federation Associate Certified Coach and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute Personnel and Development and Learning and Performance Institute. She is qualified to deliver various psychometrics including Myers Briggs, Extended DISC, iWAM (inventory for Work Attitude and Motivation) and Strengthscope®. Her top strengths are creativity, enthusiasm, resilience and developing others. Outside work Lizzie recharges through outdoor adventures with her children, swimming, yoga and learning.

Sandra Ng – Consultant

Sandra inspires and empowers people and organizations to think differently, be curious, improve their confidence and resilience and positively impact performance and wellbeing. Sandra has over 15 years’ experience in helping people explore possibilities and reach their full potential, whilst building capability and driving growth and collaboration. Her specific experience includes consulting, behavioural change, organisational development, talent management, leadership, coaching, end to end from needs analysis.

Sandra holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management. She is also a Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Level 7 Certified Online Learning Facilitator, Certified Performance Consultant and holds an A1 Assessor Award. Her top strengths are developing others, strategic mindedness and collaboration. Outside work, Sandra enjoys photography, live music, food, yoga and travel.

Anna Marriott – Consultant

Anna helps people create positive workplaces that drive happiness and high performance. She has over 5 years’ experience in coaching and consulting.

Anna brings strong and varied commercial HR experience to her coaching, leadership and team development practice, with experience that spans senior HR roles for global brands in tech, e-commerce, media and communications. Her specific expertise includes leadership, team development, coaching and facilitation. Anna holds a degree in Business Management and is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Practitioner in Executive Coaching (AoEC) and Strenghtscope Master Practitioner.

Her top strengths are strategic mindedness, developing others and empathy. Outside work, Anna enjoys travelling, spending time at the countryside, sport and planning her next travel destination.

Cheryl Isaacs – Consultant

Cheryl has over 15 years’ experience within the areas of workplace behavioural training, executive performance coaching, psychometric profiling and leadership development. Her specific expertise is in behavioural performance psychology and neuro-diversity. Cheryl has developed a number of bespoke developmental courses for a range of clients in both the private and public sectors (U.K, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa). Cheryl holds regular talks and training events on: Impact Change, Resilience, Assertiveness, Well-being, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Management Skills, Leadership Development, Performance Appraisals, Communication, Women’s Development and Influencing.

Cheryl is also a regular guest speaker at various industry events and is a regular contributor to newspapers and industry journals. Cheryl holds a Master’s in Occupational Psychology, registered status with Health and Care Professional Council (HCPC), chartered status with British Psychological Society (BPS) as well as Associate Fellow status (AFBPsS).

Cheryl is also an ILM Certified Executive Coach and is a registered psychometric test user (including WAIS, NEO, Hogan Dimensions and Strenghtscope®). Her top strengths are creativity, enthusiasm and developing others. Outside work, Cheryl enjoys to travel (70 countries and counting) and seek out experiences that enrich her human understanding.

Helen Hatton – Consultant

Helen is an enthusiastic and courageous person, with curiosity to learn about people and business and help move them forward. Helen has over 15 years’ experience leading HR teams, scaling from national giants like Royal Mail to entrepreneurial start-ups like Innocent drinks. For the last 10 years Helen has been an independent coach and people consultant helping businesses set up people functions, build C-Suite, develop managers & leaders and coach talent.

Helen holds a Master’s in Personnel Management, certificate in Executive Coaching and is a Chartered Member of The Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and a Member of International Coach Federation (ICF). She is also a registered practitioner of a variety of psychometric tests including Hogan Personality Inventory and Development Survey , SHL Occupational Personality, Strengthscope®, and Restorative Practices In Workplace Conflict. Her top strengths are creativity, developing others and enthusiasm. Outside work, Helen recharges by spending time with her two kids, yoga, meditation and martial arts.

Silvia Katrencikova – Service Delivery Executive

Silvia is an ambitious and dedicated post graduate, who takes a strategic and evidence-based approach to achieve client’s goals, whilst always sustaining a positive attitude. Silvia has a good deal of experience in delivering projects and services to diverse companies of all sizes, from small to established businesses.

Silvia holds a master’s degree in Occupational Psychology and she is a trained Occupational Test User. Her top strengths are efficacy, developing others and collaboration. Outside work, Silvia recharges by exploring new parts of the world, hiking and spending time with family and friends.