Neil Wilks

People and Operations Leader for a 180-person cargo airline and aircraft manufacturing startup based in Sofia, Bulgaria. Trusted advisor and coach on business scaling to Founders and Board, expanding operations to 8 employing legal entities across the US, the UAE, and Europe. Secured results that delivered a funding of 70m€, including 15m€ investment from the European Investment Council.

— Elevated founders' roles and capabilities by sharing in-depth expertise to ensure growth, legality, and stability.

— Partnered with founders across all aspects of the business as an early employee, operating with a roving brief and at all levels, from strategic advisor to direct recruiting. Proactive, experienced, and incisive, stepped in where needed and took pre-emptive action.

— Hired expert executives, aerospace engineers and aviation postholders to take the business through from pre-first prototype phase at inception to four planes, an EASA flight testing license and a viable enterprise in under 5 years.

— Grew the business from 20 to 180 people across seven countries. Devised and delivered the people operations scaling plan, building engineering, compliance, manufacturing, airline operations, sales, and support capabilities.

— Built organizational infrastructure and pushed through significant founder and shareholder naivety and resistance. Overcame sizeable objections plus legal and geographical complexity to design and deploy an employee share options plan.

— In Chief of Staff role, chairs the leadership and technology management teams, assuming responsibility for operational planning and delivery against key objectives.

Executive Team member for People at 430-person fashion e-commerce retailer. Multi-faceted, transformation role with initial rapid growth plan that pivoted to managing P&L stability and business survival during Covid-19 global pandemic. Led team of 13 people.

— Acted decisively and swiftly to ensure the company survived the pandemic. In collaboration with the General Counsel, reduced the payroll cost base by 25%, stabilized buying and stock, and mitigated reputational risk and loss with investors and leaders.

— Navigated volatile landscape and orchestrated business transition to working from home before any positive Covid-19 cases. Planned re-occupancy into 80% less global office space, protecting 7% of revenue.

— Pioneered brand presence in two new luxury fashion markets, China & Hong Kong, adding 5% to global sales revenue.

— Re-shaped executive team with CEO on 90% rebuild and hiring of CFO, COO, CTO & GC, Raised group diversity to 65% BIPOC. — Generated 75% leadership approval rating by increasing cadence and transparency of leadership communication.

Group People Leader and Management Team member for three companies (advertising agency, music tech startup, and retail operation). Partnered on business strategy and oversaw talent management and people operations for 200 people. Led team of five.

— Grew music tech start-up from 20 to 40 people, including fivefold increase in technology talent. Hired executive-level leaders for Engineering and Product, and created a business strategy that enabled penetration of new music data-driven market.

— Achieved 50% reduction in product time to market by introducing changes to the product development cycle, and bringing 20% reduction in production costs.

— Implemented first leadership 360 development program and championed leadership behavioral accountability.

— Sponsored diversity and culture resource groups, enabling monthly grassroots-led learning program.