Members Report Back

"I see the group as a great environment in which to step back from day to day operations and to get to grips with key issues that we as CEOs are all faced with at various stages of growth."

James McDougall | ReVolt Technology (2010 Global Cleantech 100 Company)

"I never would have thought that you could build so much trust and learn so much in 3 days from a group of like-minded Business Leaders both within the concept of a native group and the wider CEO-CF community."

Andrew Fisher | Shazam (#1 in The Guardian's 2010 Tech Media Invest 100 list)

“I was able to get a NED because of CEO-CF. The greatest achievement was that we made our Board effective and productive. We aligned our Board regarding strategy and a potential future valuation range. This alignment even before Microsoft was in the radar was crucial for a successful sale of the company to Microsoft less than one year later.”

Carlos Oliveira | Alumni (Sold his company, Mobicomp, to Microsoft in 2008)

“In terms of ROI, it is always difficult to quantify, however, I would not have sold my company for seven figures (especially with the market conditions in October 2008) without the advice of CEO-CF members, and then my own rigour in fulfilling my commitments to the peer group.”

Inge Geerdens | CVWarehouse

“One of the most enlightening business experiences I have had."

Calum MacLeod | Royal Aero Group

“I wish I had come here earlier. You guys could have saved me a lot of time. I have already made major progress in the last few days.”

Sami Minkkinen | Care IT

"A powerful exchange of experience and learning from trusted peers."

Kari Tuomala | Merus Power Dynamics

"I am really thrilled about what this forum is doing for me and my business agenda."

Hans Berggren | Pipechain

"After being a member of CEO-CF for three years I’m still amazed about the value this forum contributes to my professional and personal challenges every time we meet."

Eivind Bergsmyr | Viking Ventures

"Presenting the Member Challenge gives me unparalleled insight from my peers. And in my peers’ own Member Challenges,  I uncover other nuggets that I see need addressing in my own business.”

Matthew Hare | CI-Net

“I am brimming with confidence after my first meeting and I have a long list of things to do. It was a really good format, I have taken stock, I am energized and ready to take on the world."

Naren Patel | Primesight

“This is the place where you go under the skin, sharing your business challenges with your peers and also exposing your frailties and then collaboratively developing approaches to minimize the impact of those in your business and life.”

Timo Lindström | Confidex

"The group’s diversity provides so many different perspectives with their international backgrounds and different experiences, the networking value is excellent."

Pierre Chauvineau | Cameron

“Before joining, I could not have imagined how valuable the advice and expertise of other CEOs could be when put into a powerful framework."

Erik Fjellborg | Quinyx FlexForce

Being a CEO is like being on a speeding train with your head out the window...CEO-CF is 3 days of high velocity,  but it gave me the chance to pull my head inside for a few days and thank about what was going on.”

Declan O'Mahoney | Firecomms

“By observing how much each of us is willing to share about the challenges of being a CEO,  I have overcome the fear of sharing my company’s issues."

Arturo Quintero | Moravia

"The underlying themes and feelings have been of opportunity,  not of crisis."

Alex Christoforou | Wadja Media

“I came away with the inspiration to create a larger business and think much more boldly.”

Hans Berggren | PipeChain

“As CEOs, even with all our differences,  we are in similar situations and I am not the only one with my problems.”

Miha Strmljan | Čistoča

"The starting ground for [CEO-CF] is trust,  and I like this approach."

Christian Dupont | Varioptic