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About The Bridge
Meet the team
On forming The Bridge, we recognised that we would need a very different talent model to succeed. The norm of recruiting directly from business schools and keeping people for an average of 2 years was not going to give us the right people for designing and, above all, implementing major change. Nor was recruiting more experienced consultants with a strategy or advisory background.
Our people are first and foremost implementers.
They have balanced skill-sets which supplement technical capability with the commercial experience to assess the P&L and balance sheet impact of any changes. Above all, they are cross-border managers with the language and interpersonal skills to enable them to engage with clients and become part of a joint client-consultant team.
Core employees are augmented by a group of long-term associates, giving us access to approximately 100 professionals whilst enabling us to maintain a lean cost structure.
Chris Hacon, Senior Partner
Chris is a specialist in designing and implementing large-scale, strategic change programmes. In 25 years as an international consultant, his work has spanned most key sectors including financial services, healthcare, consumer, distribution, industrial, business services, construction and the public sector.
Prior to becoming a consultant, Chris held a number of commercial positions, spending most of his time in German and French-speaking Europe. Working for the Whitbread Group, reviewing and enhancing the performance of their portfolio, he moved back to the UK and completed an MBA at the London Business School prior to setting up a consultancy which later became The Bridge.
He and his German-born wife Rosi, now live in Chiswick with their two children; his leisure interests include biting off more than he can chew on the DIY front, languages, travel and food.
“The Bridge acts as a magnate for clients and professionals seeking an alternative that is built around people and adding value.”
Owen Williams, Account Director
Owen has spent the last 18 years in consultancy developing client relationships. His work spans both delivery of change programmes as well as a commercial role. He has worked in many sectors including utilities, telecommunications, manufacturing, FMCG, pharmaceuticals, transportation, automotive and construction.
Prior to becoming a consultant Owen held a number of managerial roles in both production and general management within the manufacturing and construction industries. He started his career as a Research & Development Technologist within the aerospace industry.
Owen holds a BSc in Metallurgy and Microstructural Engineering, and a Diploma in Management Studies. He has also participated in Executive Education programmes at INSEAD and Stanford.
Owen lives with his wife and son in Norfolk and enjoys playing golf, singing and gardening.
“We see our role as being one of the tools a management team can use to get things done.”
Jos Townley, Senior Partner
Jos has 22 years experience managing performance improvement projects for clients. He is a specialist at creating rapid financial benefits through operational improvements, revenue growth, organisational efficiency and business process change. Jos has achieved significant improvements in Operating Profitability and Working Capital in a wide range of sectors across the globe and has particularly wide experience in Western, Central and Eastern Europe as well as Africa and the US.
Jos started his career in UK retail banking for Lloyds Bank group within their accelerated management development scheme after graduating in Business & German at Loughborough University. He progressed into international trade and lived in Germany for several years becoming National Sales Director for a Finnish trading company. Commercial experience gained ranged from negotiating multi-million Dollar annual supply agreements between international companies through to sourcing and launching new products, spot trading and establishment of new agency relationships.
He and his American wife now live in rural West Oxfordshire with their four children. When he is not operating a free taxi service for his children, Jos enjoys travelling with his family and watching Bolton Wanderers football and Gloucester rugby teams.