Mike has nearly 40 years of substantial and varied achievements in blue-chip organisations in the IT, consulting and financial services industries. Now an independent businessman, from 1997 to 2005 he was a member of the Group Executive (Management Board) of Allied Irish Banks, with specific responsibility for Human Resources. Although responsible for HR, he was heavily involved in strategy development for the Group, and in crisis management when (unfortunately) it was required. Before joining AIB, Mike was briefly responsible for the European Consulting arm of the Stanford Research Institute, a leading American think-tank. From 1989 to 1996 he was an Associate Director then Partner in Coopers & Lybrand, where he led the initial development of their corporate transformation methodology. His career started with IBM, where he held various technical and managerial positions over a 20-year period. Mike now has his own property development business, acts as an advisor to a range of companies, is a Governor of Harper Adams University College, and is restoring the garden of Hope End, the childhood home of Elisabeth Barrett Browning. Mike is a Criticaleye Associate.

Andrew Minton

Charlie Wagstaff

Matthew Blagg

We've all heard the phrase, 'It's lonely at the top'. As chief executives across Criticaleye's Membership tell me, being a leader can be immensely rewarding, but also quite isolating. Who do you turn to when it comes to debating important issues on strategy? And, where can you go for solutions?

Unlike the individuals on the teams you lead, who are more than likely encouraged to share ideas and information, there are few people you can ask for useful and impartial advice. Your staff will expect you to have the answers already and professional advisors are likely to push their own agendas. In addition to this, the immediacy of today's business environment, where advances in technology and communications have intensified the pace of change, has created a world where leaders and directors have to be up-to-date and on-message around the clock.

Criticaleye was created in 2002 with the aim of helping leaders across industry sectors, business functions and geographical locations resolve business issues through peer-to-peer debate and discussion. Our Community works on the premise that business leaders and chief executives  need a safe space to ask questions and discuss solutions without the threat of being held to ransom by employees, stakeholders or the media for not knowing the answer to every problem or challenge that presents itself.

Being part of the Criticaleye Community means a number of things: Access to a managed network of leaders who can offer you fresh perspectives on and solutions to your critical issues. Intimate events on topics that have been generated from within the Community; a dedicated Relationship Manager to monitor your Membership activity and ensure you're getting the most value from it; a seasoned executive or 'Associate' to provide high level advice and ensure you are talking to the right people in the Community. And access to Criticaleye's Insight through an interactive online knowledge portal which is made up of cutting-edge business research, event write-ups, film footage of events and interviews and Community Articles by other Members.

Matthew Blagg, Founder & CEO, Criticaleye