Anna Barsby

Anna is an award-winning Global Technology Leader with over 25 years’ of experience leading large-scale business transformation across FTSE100, FTSE250 and highly regulated organisations. Having held executive roles including CTO, CDIO and CPTO at organisations such as Asda, Morrisons, Fortnum & Mason and William Hill, Anna is recognised for combining strategic vision with hands-on leadership to drive sustainable transformation, digital innovation and organisational growth.

Now turned entrepreneur, one of a handful of women to build and run a fast-growing management consultancy. Through Tessiant, she has led and advised on complex transformation programmes including a national grocers technology separation from its US owner, technology modernisation for a for a UK luxury retailer, a global travel group’s international business separation and major other transformation initiatives across the retail, engineering, technology, travel, gaming and hospitality industries.

Passionate about develop future leaders, Anna is recognised advocate for diversity, inclusion and mentoring. She founded Tessiant’s Mentoring Circle, connecting senior leaders and emergin talent across leading organisations which is now on its fourth successful year. She also actively supports initiatives that help advance women into leadership roles. Her commitment to developing people, building high-performing cultures and creating lasting impact has made her a trusted advisor to boards, executives and transformation leaders across multiple industries.

A judge for ‘Everywoman in Technology’, ‘Women in IT Awards’, Anna was also a finalist for the European CIO of the year in 2015. She ranked number 1 in the CIO list in 2014 and winner of the ‘CIO of the year’ 2014 at the Women in IT awards. Adding further still to her impressive list of credentials, Anna was ranked in the top 15 Innovative Influencers in Retail in 2018 and has sat on Retail Week Live Advisory Board. In 2025, Anna has been named in the Hot Topics ‘Global Hall of Fame’ for her continued efforts as a technology leader.

As Founder and Managing Partner at Tessiant, Anna specialises in:

Business transformation and change leadership
Digital, technology and data strategy
Operating model design and organisational effectiveness
Mergers, acquisitions, separations and integrations
Executive leadership, coaching and team development to CIOs and Senior Leaders
Transformation governance, programme recovery and delivery assurance

Outside of work Anna has a wonderful family, bees, chickens and dogs. She enjoys sketching, walking, travelling and reading.

Matt Neale

Matt Neale has 15 years of senior level recruitment experience within Project and Change Management. He has placed teams that have successfully delivered multi £M change programmes for FTSE and Fortune 100 businesses.

Driven by the lack of service he was able to give to corporates taking an outsourced approach to major projects recruitment, he partnered with leading independent management consultants to create a new business model to do things better.

That business model is Tessiant.

As a Founder and Managing Partner of Tessiant, Matt:

• Is the first point of contact for the Associate network and helps match the right people to the right assignments.
• Provides support to organisations when deciding on an appropriate model for change delivery.
• Advises leaders on talent acquisition, retention and team structure.

Outside of work, Matt loves to spend time with his family, cooking, walking, keeping fit and travelling.

Alex Ball

Alex has enjoyed a 20-year management consultancy career, predominately within Retail, Financial Services and Public Sectors. Most recently a Director in Berkeley Partnership, he has also consulted through EY and PA consulting.

Throughout his successful career, the approach Alex has taken is to work closely with clients and their stakeholders to develop business and IT strategies. He then helps them follow through with supplier contracting, team mobilisation and delivery. Recent clients have included Primark, Sainsburys, Debenhams, Pensions Regulator and Royal Mail.

As a Founder and Managing Partner of Tessiant, Alex:

• Provides “On the ground” support to our engagements, helping ensure quality and consistency in what we offer
• Helps organisations create operational strategies (e.g. digital, supply chain) and change roadmaps
• Advises leaders on complex programme set-up, outsourcing and programme turnaround

Outside of work, Alex spends much of his time keeping his young sons fed, entertained and happy (very rarely all at once…)

Stuart Smith

Stuart has extensive experience with over 30 years in retail, operations, supply chain, online and wholesale.

An outstanding leader with international experience, transforming performance across retail and digital operations and supply chains. Stuart has held senior roles across Tesco (Malysia, COO), Morrisons (Group Operations Director), Coles Australia (Exec Retail Director) and Walgreens Boots Alliance (Transformation).

Stuart leverages artifical intelligence / machine learning and robotics, and expertise of leading people, improving processes and implementing new systems to create future proof, yet pragmatic operating models and help create value across the business and supply chain.

Stuart specialises in:

Creating value in end-to-end supply chains and businesses
Transformation programmes across businesses
Using AI and machine learning solutions to develop and improve business and supply chain operating models
Developing capability and process to improve businesses for customers, colleagues and shareholders

Outside of work Stuart enjoys spending time with his wife, son and daugther, travelling, playing golf badly, reading and following West Ham’s fortunes.

Danielle Xerxes

Danielle has over ten years of executive search experience within the strategy and commercial space. She has placed global teams helping FTSE through to start-ups business growing their C Suite teams.

Danielle leads the Senior Industry Advisor team at Tessiant. The team brings together experienced executives who now hold portfolio roles. Typical assignments include:

Corporate organisations seeking high level strategic advice
Businesses looking for deep industry deal coaching experience
Private equity businesses seeking real world CDD guidance

Outside of work Danielle enjoys spending time with her husband and their young boy, attending music festivals, travelling and cooking – especially Indian and Italian cuisine.

Ross Macfarlane

Ross has worked in retail for over 25 years, mainly for Tesco and Morrisons but also with consumer goods suppliers and technology providers. He has had a variety of experience – delivering results through large change programmes, but also in leading operational teams – across supply chain, category management, space, range and merchandising, data and technology. He has worked in supermarkets, convenience, online and wholesale channels – locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. He has also held roles in general business improvement practice and has enjoyed supporting teams and individuals, in coaching and applying these techniques and skills.

Ross’ strengths are being able to study customer behaviour, turning complex problems into simple, effective and sustainable solutions. He also enjoys working with people, helping individuals to be at their best and build strong teams. He strives to deliver meaningful output, through his own personal drive and pragmatic approach.

Outside of work, Ross spends most of his time with his wife, running round after their two young sons facilitating attendance at football, golf, tennis, swimming and / or the latest activity of interest! If there is any time left over, Ross will be playing golf, walking up a hill, or watching with worry and low expectations, the mighty Partick Thistle Football Club!

Harriet Cowie, Finance Director, Tessiant Team

Yemi Olagbaiye

Yemi is a Director at Tessiant specialising in AI strategy, digital transformation and operating model redesign.

He works with organisations to turn emerging technologies like AI from a conceptual opportunity into a practical, embedded capability be redesigning how decisions are made, how work flows and how businesses operate day to day.

Before joining Tessiant, Yemi spent nearly 17 years at a technology transformation consultancy called Softwire where he held a number of senior leadership roles across strategy, sales and client delivery. During that time he led major technology and digital transformation engagements for organisations including the BBC, Rightmove, Channel 5, David Lloyd, Starling Bank, Treatwell and Lloyds Banking Group.

Yemi’s work focuses on helping leadership understand where AI genuinely creates value and how to realise it in practice, from prioritising high-impact opportunities through to embedding change in operating models.

Alongside his consulting work, Yemi is in an active voice in the AI and technology strategy space, regularly writing and speaking about how organisations can move beyond experimentation with AI and start redesigning systems, workflows and decision-making for an AI-enabled world.

Outside of work Yemi is a self-professional music producer and keen motorcyclist, with his Harley Davidson being his pride and joy. Most of his remaining time is spent being outpaced, outnumbered and occasionally outsmarted by his two daughters.

Charlotte Gledhill

Charlotte has over 20 years of experience in transformation within Consulting and Industry. She works with organisations to help them deliver their strategy, specialising in shaping, delivering and assuring programmes and portfolios.

Charlotte began her career at John Lewis and soon found her ‘home’ leading projects in retail operations, supply chain and multi-channel. She then spent 10 years at Deloitte in the Programme Leadership Consulting team, before joining Tessiant 4 years ago to lead a range of transformation work with our clients. She has worked across a range of industries, including Retail, Consumer Goods, Travel, Transport, Media and Technology.

Charlotte specialises in:

Leading transformations, in areas such as Digital, M&A, Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement and HR
Assuring programmes at different phases, from mobilisation to preparing to launch and making practical recommendations
Designing the change management to unlock the value through the people involved
Managing portfolios, including prioritisation, business case and roadmap planning

Outside of work, Charlotte loves spending time with her family, good food, travelling and visiting art galleries.

Mark Weeks

Mark has over 20 years of experience spanning management consulting, business transformation and senior operational leadership across a variety of sectors including Financial Services, Retail, FMCG and Construction. He has worked across the whole transformation lifecycle, from strategy and programme ideation, through to delivery and operating model design, to programme turnaround.

He also has direct management experience leading a technology operations department at Burberry and sitting on the EMEA and Americas Leadership teams. Before joining Tessiant, his consulting experience has included 10 years at both Accenture and The Berkeley Partnership.

Outside of work Mark has school age children so spends most of his time as a Taxi service, but when he can he enjoys riding his road bike, watching sport and exploring his love of military history.

Natalie Black

Natalie Black has 20 years of experience in management and systems implementation consulting. She has worked across various industries and sectors, most notably Retail and Finance, but she has a real passion for Retail and it’s clients.

Natalie’s key competency is Project and Programme Management whether it be short, key strategic projects or large-scale programmes. She also comes with a wealth of experience in defining and implementing Operating Models and Governance Frameworks for Enterprise Programme Management Offices, thus helping organisations on their PMO maturity journey.

She enjoys leveraging the skills and abilities she has developed to date to further the interests of organisations and to add maximum value.

Outside of work Natalie is a keen marathon runner, trying to reach her goal of 100 marathons; loves all that is outdoors and travelling to new places around the world with her husband and son.

Jen Draper

Jen is an ambitious senior product and program manager, with a passion for transformation, process improvement and business change. With over 12 years experience working on complex projects and programmes, from blue chip to established retailers and start-up businesses. Key examples include Boots, Holland and Barrett, Halfords and NFU Mutual.

Over the years she has managed a range of projects from large scale business system implementations to process change and operational programmes. Jen thrives in challenging environments and thoroughly enjoys stakeholder management and engagement as well as taking pride in the fact she has turned problem projects around in a matter of months.

Eva Valentine

After graduating with a degree in Psychology, Eva spent 4 years working in the recruitment industry where she gained critical sales and client management skills. Eva then pivoted to consulting, spending a number of years working as a Business Analyst for Public Sector clients with Accenture.

Eva has been instrumental in driving software development projects for Public Service organizations, playing a pivotal role from concept through to post-launch support. Her ability to bridge the gap between business needs and technical development teams has been critical to the successful execution of end-to-end solutions. With a keen eye for detail, Eva excels in requirements gathering, process optimization, and fostering collaboration across cross-functional teams.

Outside of work, Eva enjoys listening to podcasts and keeping active.

John Wang

John brings nearly a decade of experience across the Retail, Financial Services and Public Sectors. Having spent over four years at EY consulting following a successful time in the retail industry, he has developed a reputation for bridging the gap between complex strategy and practical technology-driven execution.

Throughout his career, John has focused on helping organisations navigate change by putting the customer at the heart of the solution. Whether he is validating business cases for major investments or optimising operating models, his approach is rooted in transformational thinking, ensuring that emerging technologies, such as Gen AI are used as genuine catalysts for better business outcomes rather than just buzzwords.

As a Senior Consultant at Tessiant, John:

Drives Operational Excellence: helps clients streamline their internal processes and operating models to increase efficiency and agility.
Unlocks Investment Value: works closely with stakeholders to develop and validate robust business cases, ensuring every project delivers a measurable return on investment.
Navigates Digital Transformation: leads the application of emerging technologies and agile methodologies to modernise the customer journey.
Builds Collaborative Partnerships: manages complex stakeholder environments to ensure alignment and buy-in from the senior leaders to the front line.

Outside of work, John is a proud dad of two young girls. When he isn’t being kept busy at home, he is an active runner, often spotted on his Sunday circuits around Richmond Park and a keen basketball player who enjoys the heat of the game as much as watching it.

Ben Lloyd

Ben has over 7 years’ experience supporting complex transformation programmes across the retail and public sectors. He specialises in shaping and delivering large-scale business and technology change, with a particular focus on programme delivery, change management, product management and operating model design.

Ben joined Tessiant from Accenture, where he led end-to-end transformation initiatives for major UK organisations, working across merchandising, ERP and digital platforms to drive operational performance and unlock commercial value. He partnered with senior stakeholders to shape delivery approaches, align on outcomes and ensure programmes delivered sustainable impact.

At Tessiant, Ben partners with retail and consumer organisations to land complex transformation programmes, with a growing emphasis on how AI and emerging technologies can enhance decision-making, streamline operations and improve delivery outcomes. He brings a pragmatic, outcome-led approach, combining structured problem solving with a strong focus on embedding sustainable change within organisations.

Ben specialises in:

Business and technology transformation
Product management and user-centered digital solution design
Operating model and process design
Change management and stakeholder engagement
AI-enabled transformation and innovation

Ben holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Newcastle University and a Master’s degree in International Business & Management from the University of Manchester.

Outside of work, Ben enjoys travelling, trying new restaurants and bars in Manchester and (sometimes) watching the Arsenal.

Yomola Oyedipe

After graduating with a degree in Business & International Relations from Aston Univeristy, Yomola trained as a consultant where she completed a range of professional certifications in Business Analysis and Project Management. With a passion for project management, Yomola focused her career here where she has gained 4+ years of experience in public and private sector with clients such as Capgemini, HMRC and AWE.

Before joining Tessiant, Yomola worked on a number of different Digital Transformation Projects where she played a crucial role in optimising operations, enhancing customer experiences, and driving growth. She is highly skilled in analysing data, stakeholder management and implementing governance.

Outside of work, Yomola enjoys travelling, spnding time with family and friends, and watching criminal investigative shows.

Zofia Pastuszka

Zofia is a change and programme management consultant with an academically rooted passion for research and a strong focus on digital enablement and transformation.

Since joining Tessiant, Zofia has been supporting a wide range of clients across retail and transportation, managing complex, multi-workstream projects. Transformations she’s been involved in span from supply chain and finance to IT and operations. Her work typically sits at the intersection of business, technology and change, ensuring initiatives are grounded in real operational impact and adopted at pace. She is known for end-to-end project management skills, from strategic design and programme set-up, through issue analysis and solution design to day-to-day delivery.

Earlier in her career, Zofia worked as a research project manager, leading research programmes and co-creating digital transformation reports for EY. Then, she joined Deloitte, where she was trained in organisational design and change management. During her time at Deloitte, Zofia supported finance and digital transformations of global e-commerce and consumer packaged goods clients. Her consulting skills are supported by her academic backgrounds in organisation and social psychology gained at The University of Edinburgh and LSE, where she focused on organisational development and culture.

Zofia spends most of her spare time trying to manage her extensive network of friends across London Boroughs, countries and continents. Otherwise, she enjoys cooking, a daily dose of sports, traveling and exploring London’s rich cultural and culinary scene – all of those activities preferable done with her close ones.

PATRYCJA SOCHRAN

Patrycja specialises in operational improvement, retail transformation, and people development, with a passion for practical, scalable solutions that enhance customer experience and team performance. At Tessiant, she draws on her background in retail operations, project management, and L&D to help clients deliver measurable change.

She brings over a decade of retail and operations experience, most recently with Amazon Fresh, where she helped launch Deliveroo across Fresh stores, improved forecasting, and scaled the programme nationally. She also contributed to enhancements in Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology and played a key role in the global Learning & Development team, designing training and e-learning to upskill leaders and support international teams.

Patrycja combines hands-on operational knowledge with transformation delivery and learning design expertise. Outside of work, she enjoys tennis, exploring podcasts on health, finance, and personal growth, travelling with friends and family, and spending time with animals whenever she can.

Jordan gilfillian

Jordan is a consultant with experience delivering digital transformation and organisational change initiatives across government, technology, and regulated sectors.

He has worked on large-scale programs within the UK public sector, including the Home Office and policing organisations, supporting project delivery, governance, and stakeholder coordination across complex delivery environments.

Most recently, Jordan worked in a FinTech operations role in Australia, operating within a highly regulated superannuation environment where accuracy, compliance, and process governance were crucial.

He holds an MSc in Organisational Psychology, which shapes his interest in how organisational behaviour, incentives, and communication influence the success of technology and transformation programs.

Paula Keville

Paula started her career in higher education supporting the commercial function at The University Of Warwick. From there she found her passion for recruitment.

Paula is a specialist recruiter within change and transformation supporting global projects across a multitude of sectors. Her capacity to ensure she is connected and delivers an honest and transparent service to her network enables her to place the right people on the right projects. Her vision is to ensure that associates have the opportunity to continuously develop within their chosen career path.

As network engagement manager, Paula’s role within Tessiant is:

first point of contact for all Associates
to ensure Associates are given the tools and opportunity to work on the right projects
sourcing and delivery

Outside of work, Paula enjoys spending time outdoors, whether that be on a beach, on a mountain or walking the dog. She takes a holistic approach to life and ensures that her family are looked after and enjoying life to the full.

Loren Harris

Customer service and relationship building is at the heart of everything I do. From handling the everyday functions of the office, to ensuring the company is running efficiently and is compliant in all the areas where compliance is required.

Bringing with me extensive knowledge of the processes and requirements of the industry. I am always on hand to assist with any queries or questions from Clients or Associates, providing a professional, high level customer service experience.

Outside of work, I love anything from getting fully engrossed in a TV series to discovering secret gin bars! And of course letting the world know I’m VEGAN.

Sophie Ward

Since Graduating from Nottingham Trent University with a degree in business management and marketing, Sophie has gained 5 and a half years of valuable experience within the marketing industry, within a professional environment. She has successfully built up the social profiles, websites, brand awareness and followings for companies operating in varying industries, from the professional service sector to the hospitality sector.

As Tessiant’s Marketing Manager, Sophie specialises in:

Devising and developing a clear marketing plan for the company
Managing the companies LinkedIn
Content Creation
Building up the company’s online presence and following
Designing and updating the website
Providing marketing support to all the partners within Tessiant in terms of communicating offerings to a wider audience

Outside of work, Sophie loves to spend time with her husband and little boy, and family and friends. As well as regular pilates workouts, and going out on long walks. Not forgetting the guilty pleasure of getting immersed into any reality TV series going.

Reena Hawkins

After graduating from Sheffield Hallam University with a degree in International Business with German, Reena gained extensive marketing experience across diverse roles, including Product Management and Trade Marketing, working with well-known companies such as Hertz, Merlin Entertainments, and Warner Bros.

Relocating from Surrey to Warwickshire over a decade ago, Reena took a career break to focus on raising her young family and establishing her own marketing consultancy, which she continues to run today. Supporting Tessiant’s marketing on a fractional basis, she brings a wealth of experience, insight, and fresh ideas to benefit the whole team.

Outside of work, Reena enjoys staying active, taking adventurous holidays with her husband and two teenage boys, and spending quality time with friends.

Yasmin Jafaripour

Yasmin is a dedicated finance professional who supports the business with end-to-end management accounting, forecasting and financial analysis. She works closely with project teams, consultants and senior leadership to ensure financial information is accurate, timely and meaningful for decision-making.

She specialises in margin analysis, utilisation reporting, cashflow forecasting and month-end management accounts, with a strong focus on process improvement and clear, reliable financial insights. Known for her attention to detail and collaborative approach, she plays a key role in helping the company maintain financial control and confidently plan ahead.

Outside of spreadsheets, she’s usually lost in a good book or a film, wandering around an art space or planning her next trip.

KATE HETHERINGTON

Kate graduated from the University of Reading with a 1st in Zoology and is now part way through her accounting qualifications. So far she has completed AAT level 2 and 3 and is keen to become fully qualified.

She has worked as an Assistant Accountant for the past 2 years and has gained experience in:

Processing invoices
Financial reporting and forecasting
Bank and balance sheet reconciliations
Monitoring the status of accounts payable to faciliate efficient processing
Providing ad hoc assistance to AP coleagues to achieve invoice approval and dealing with queries in an effective manner.

Outside of work, Kate loves travelling, skiing and open water swimming. She also enjoys spending time with family and friends and lots of walkies with Dougie the Labradoodle.

WHO WE ARE

We are consulting reimagined, with the aim to build a consultancy, we wished we could have been buying from. Our purpose is to create value – relentlessly pursuing excellence for our clients, and on a mission to create an environment for our people to flourish.

CORE TEAM

Our core team of employees; the consulting team running the successful delivery and advisory of projects. Alongside the support team consisting of operations, marketing, finance and business development. Meet our team below.

Anna Barsby

Managing Partner

Matt Neale

Managing Partner

Alex Ball

Managing Partner

Stuart Smith

Managing Partner

Danielle Xerxes

Partner

Ross Macfarlane

Partner

Yemi Olagbaiye

Director - AI

Charlotte Gledhill

Director

Mark Weeks

Director

Natalie Black

Principal Consultant

Jen Draper

Principal Consultant

Eva Valentine

Senior Consultant

John Wang

Senior Consultant

Ben Lloyd

Senior Consultant

Yomola Oyedipe

Consultant

Zofia Pastuszka

Consultant

Patrycja Sochran

Consultant

Jordan Gilfillian

Analyst

Paula Keville

Engagement Manager

Loren Harris

Head Of Operations

Louise Wyatt

Office Manager

Sophie Ward

Marketing Manager

Reena Hawkins

Marketing Manager

Yasmin Jafaripour

Head of Finance

Kate Hetherington

Finance Assistant

HONEST

We listen hard and take pride in what we do.

AUTHENTIC

We are who we are, we don’t try to be like anyone else.

PRAGMATIC

We make a difference, cutting to the chase, but with care.

RESPECTFUL

Everyone is included and treated with respect.

A TRUSTED WORKPLACE

After just 6 years in the Change and Transformation space, we are proud to have been recognised as a Sunday Times Best Place to Work, three years running (2024, 2025 & 2026), placing in the Top 100 Small Businesses to work for. As well as winning a spotlight award for Sunday Times Best Place to Work for Women 2026.

Right from the start, we have made it our focus to build a workplace culture and environment that enables our employees to thrive, both individually and together as one. Being deemed a highly engaging workplace in areas of reward and recognition, instilling pride, information sharing, empowerment, health and wellbeing and job satisfaction, is a true testament to that.

Anna Barsby

Matt Neale

Alex Ball

Stuart Smith

Danielle Xerxes

Ross Macfarlane

Yemi Olagbaiye

Charlotte Gledhill

Mark Weeks

Natalie Black

Jen Draper

Eva Valentine

John Wang

Ben Lloyd

Yomola Oyedipe

Zofia Pastuszka

PATRYCJA SOCHRAN

Jordan gilfillian

Paula Keville

Loren Harris

Sophie Ward

Reena Hawkins

Yasmin Jafaripour

KATE HETHERINGTON

WHO WE ARE

CORE TEAM

Anna Barsby

Matt Neale

Alex Ball

Stuart Smith

Danielle Xerxes

Ross Macfarlane

Yemi Olagbaiye

Charlotte Gledhill

Mark Weeks

Natalie Black

Jen Draper

Eva Valentine

John Wang

Ben Lloyd

Yomola Oyedipe

Zofia Pastuszka

Patrycja Sochran

Jordan Gilfillian

Paula Keville

Loren Harris

Louise Wyatt

Sophie Ward

Reena Hawkins

Yasmin Jafaripour

Kate Hetherington

our core values.

A TRUSTED WORKPLACE