executive profiles

Summary

Described as "A one man Ideo," Iain has twenty years of hands-on experience developing strategies for businesses in challenging growth situations.

His experience is international, encompassing work with senior executives from more than 80 companies in 9 industries and 3 continents. He has held senior positions in Marketing, Operations, Strategy, and Board level general management covering everything from deal structuring to start-up formation, investment management, new product launch, new division and business unit creation, and large scale programme management.

A key strength is the diverse nature of the work. “My experience spans multiple geographies, functions, and cultures. It lets me synthesize a range of perspectives rather than just focussing on one silo of ideas.” Common threads involve leading and facilitating cross-functional and cross-cultural teams, often in a financially and operationally stressful environment.

Career History

Scientist, entrepreneur, photographer, and author. Iain McCreary’s professional career has taken several twists and turns.

Fresh from graduate school Iain joined the Los Alamos National Laboratory as a research physicist, eventaully moving into the commercial assessment of 'high risk' technologies and a number of technical development programmes. Two major technical projects featured on industry magazine covers and a third was nominated for the R&D100 award.

Later he moved into what was loosely deemed 'foreign intelligence', eventually becoming one of the US government experts on Chinese energy infrastructure. While at the Lab he was also allowed to indulge in some more physical activities, doing what he describes as "running around with a gun and a green suit."

Leaving the Laboratory in 1997, he served briefly as a counter terrorism instructor before returning to his childhood home of Europe to attend the INSEAD business school.

In 1999 he moved to London and here spent four years with Accenture, specialising in new ventures, spin-offs, start-ups and large deal creation/negotiation. He was the sole strategy representative in their early venture capital group, reading (and usually rejecting) up to hundreds of dot-com business plans per day. He also became the firm’s global expert on DWDM (telecoms fibre optic systems) and one of the leaders for RFID installations. He served as interim line management at the #2 telecoms operator NTL as the Head of Internet, helped launch a telecoms venture for the national gas utility operator Lattice Group (which peaked at a market cap of just over US$1Bn), and worked in a variety of high tech markets throughout Europe. Iain‘s final role at Accenture was to transform their UK Aerospace & Defence, building the starting blocks of what is now one of the company’s largest European sectors.

Iain left Accenture to work independently, forming Insight SRI  and providing strategy and advisory services in the fields of defence transformation and network centric warfare. Clients included major defence contractors, national defence departments, and large consulting firms.

In 2003, Iain won a commercial photography permit for London’s Royal parks of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. That same year, he was involved in some work for the film industry, looking at market strategies for animation studios. This was also the year he founded HBL Limited, a high tech start-up developing a proprietary wireless spread-spectrum tracking technology. Despite building a strong team, and securing some UK£1M in IP and other contributions market timing was imperfect. HBL closed down in November 2005.

In December 2005, Iain was hired as Chief Executive of Synergis Technologies, a new UK based venture capital firm specialising in technologies from UK government labs (public sector research establishments) and leading universities. This was essentailly an interim posting, but one which according to a Library House analyst made him the youngest ever CEO in UK venture capital.

In September 2006 Iain returned to working under the Insight SRI brand, bringing in a number of Associates and pursuing ever larger projects. He remains the majority owner.

Accolades:

• Youngest ever CEO in UK venture capital (2005)
  
• Led the revitalisation of Accenture’s UK Aerospace & Defence practice for Accenture (now a £150M a year business)
  
• Largest single transaction valued at US$0.5 billion
  
• Largest value creation, US$1Bn in market capitalisation a utility company spin-out
  
• Helped to structure a new research division within a major pharmaceuticals firm
  
• R&D 100 Award nomination
  
• US DOE Research Excellence Award
  
• Various other awards and merits

Clients

Clients have ranged from some of the most promising university start-ups to larger established brands including Argos, BAE Systems, BT, GlaxoSmithKline, National Grid, QinetiQ, Shell, Sony, Telenet, Virgin Media, as well as the UK Ministry of Defence and US Department of Defense.

For a full list of clients, click here.

Statistics

Recommendations:

“Iain is the best type of strategist – a skeptic who has a firm mastery over the tools of the trade. You won’t get flavor of the month consulting from him, but rather a ready-to-implement, creative solution that has met his own high standard.”
Raul Guerrero, Managing Partner, Asymmetric Strategy LLC

"... Professional and no-nonsense in his approach, Iain is that rare individual who combines original thinking with deep business insight. He has the clarity of thought and weight of personality to challenge orthodox thinking... A pleasure to work with... His influence in recent years over the strategic thinking of a number of high technology industries has been immense."

Phil McLachlan, Managing Director, Qinetiq Airport Technologies

“One of the brightest, most stimulating colleagues… a truly exceptional strategic thinker. His energy and determination also make him impressively effective. As a teamworker, his personal generosity and inclusive, friendly approach make him a joy to collaborate with. Look no further for a brilliant and valuable advisor!”
Paul Crook, Vice President, IBM (formerly Regional Managing Partner, Accenture)

“Absolutely uncommon, common sense.”
Phillippe Rissault, Chairman, Integ Private Equity

“Iain McCreary[‘s work in] Segmentation, Market Analysis and Entry Strategy… enhanced our launch into the UK market and has proved to be a perfect piece of research. Iain was a joy to work with and his commitment to both the task and company was of the highest standard. He is a superb team player, enthusiastic, and I would have no doubt in recommending him."
David Farrar – Director Shotz Health Limited, (fmr CEO, Slimfast Europe)

“Iain approached us with a very novel idea, and changed how we thought about our work with industry…. An excellent communicator… He was sensitive to the politics involved and helped us to win both buy-in from both Department peers and the oversight Committees.”
Mr D. O’Neill - Acting Secretary for Industrial Policy

“An excellent strategist… Iain managed a complex, politically charged environment with grace... Pragmatic, efficient, and super intelligent.”
Sasha Julepten, VP Services, EDS