Management Team
Kevin Jones - Director
RoleKevin is currently responsible for all work in the defence sector, including the nuclear and ‘search and destroy’ submarine refit programme and next generation warship production. He is developing Newton’s consultant teams to deliver wider supply chain operational improvements as well as direct manufacturing performance increase.
Background
Kevin moved to the United States in the mid 1990's to help two multi-national paper manufacturers achieve million pound performance improvements. Since then, Kevin has consulted across a range of manufacturing sectors, including chemicals, food and packaging, before co-founding Newton Industrial Consultants to deliver manufacturing improvement in the UK. In recent years Kevin's defence clients have involved working with Newton consulting teams in dockyards and factories, increasing productivity and reducing programme cost and duration. Originally a Cambridge University engineering graduate, Kevin specialises in helping his clients with both the business challenges and practical problems which they face.
Andrew Hawes - Director
RoleAndrew co-founded Newton in 2001 and is the Director responsible for all healthcare work. He has worked with the boards of many NHS Trusts on performance improvement programmes and has an excellent track record of delivering results.
Background
Since 1995 Andrew has been helping organisations increase profit through operational performance. Andrew’s background also includes the delivery of major improvement programmes in the commercial sector including Kimberly-Clark, Guinness, Glaxo Smithkline as well as supporting Newton’s work in industry with clients such as BAE, Rolls Royce, Nissan and Babcock. He studied Manufacturing and Management at Cambridge University.
Andrew recently completed a tour of US hospitals with the Chief Exec and Chairman of a forward thinking NHS Trust to understand best practice surrounding productivity, hand hygiene and asset control. Andrew is frequently invited to speak at manufacturing conferences, including Helsinki, Cambridge University and Kimberly Clark’s.
Tom Wedgwood - Director
RoleTom manages a number of manufacturing clients in the UK and Europe and is currently responsible for delivering all the work in the high volume manufacturing sector. He co-ordinates the activities with Private Equity clients and oversees all due diligence and upside work in addition to delivering the profit improvements within the portfolio companies. Within Newton, Tom is responsible for the on-going development and innovation of the company's approach, intellectual property and best practice transfer both in the UK and and internationally.
Background
At Cambridge, Tom was awarded the Institute of Civil Engineering Queens Scholarship and won the Roscoe Prize for achieving the top degree of his year. After graduating Tom worked as a Civil Engineer for Ove Arup in Zimbabwe, Australia and London, before specialising in manufacturing consulting as part of an international group of consulting companies. Tom worked with Acordis, McVities, Kimberly Clark and GSK before co-founding Newton with Andrew Hawes and Kevin Jones. He has since worked across Europe, leading client engagements with some of Europe’s most successful manufacturing companies, in sectors which include paper, chemicals, food, automotive, textiles and plastics.
James Frost - Director
RoleJames' focus is on helping both Newton and their clients, capitalising on his experience in areas such as profitability management, cost control & efficiency programmes, working capital control, management reporting development and systems integration & implementation. James’ role extends beyond internal management within Newton, supporting its consultants in the rapid and transparent delivery of benefit to clients' bottom lines.
Background
Prior to joining Newton, James worked for Dyson, the electrical products manufacturer, where he gained a strong background in commercial, operational and manufacturing finance. Prior to this, James was Group Finance Director during the restructuring and subsequent £100m sale in 2006 of a leading international flooring business, and has held a number of senior finance positions at Alliance UniChem plc, the FTSE 100 European healthcare and pharmaceutical business, working in a range of established, start-up and newly acquired businesses, including four years as Finance Director of the £2.5bn UK wholesale division and latterly within Alliance UniChem’s international retail division.
Adrian Butler - Director
RoleAdrian's role is to grow the successful Newton operation in North America.
Background
Adrian demonstrated his ability to improve processes early in his career at Ford Motor Company. Here Adrian experienced the difficulties that “hold back” large manufacturing companies when faced with an urgent demand for increased productivity. After leaving Ford, Adrian joined a well respected consulting company specialising in productivity improvement and spent 5 years working with clients around the globe including extended periods in Australia, USA and Germany. He joined Newton in 2002 and now lives in Toronto where he runs Newton’s North American operation.
Ian Quest - Associate Director
RoleIan is responsible for key clients in the Aerospace and Defence Sectors, where improvement programmes across whole businesses are creating fundamental cultural changes as well as large financial results. In addition to this, with demand from today's multi-national manufacturing companies, he is also leading Newton in developing the skills and understanding to ensure equally high levels of service across cultural boundaries.
Background
Ian’s career began in engineering with Rolls-Royce Aerospace, but soon his desire to solve larger business problems led to his work in manufacturing consulting. Since then, he has helped clients in the US, Germany, Holland, Ireland as well as the UK, to achieve multi million savings. Ian has primarily worked with large Manufacturing and support businesses in the Aerospace and Defence industries.
Marc Freeman - Associate Director
RoleMarc is currently responsible for major clients in the Defence and Healthcare sectors ensuring programme as well as financial targets are met or exceeded. He leads some of Newton’s largest engagements. Marc also assists clients by driving change in 'back office' processes and, internally, is responsible for running recruitment for Newton.
Background
Marc has been helping multi-national clients, based across Europe, drive improvement for the last 8 years. He has worked across most sectors of industry, but has specialised in the Defence and Healthcare sectors achieving savings of several million pounds. Marc has a Masters Degree from Durham University in Engineering.
Lindsey Sutherland - IT Director
RoleLindsey is responsible for Newton’s Information Technology Practice. This spans the full spectrum of efficiency focused IT solutions, from small desktop based systems to web-based technology with industrial scale databases and automatic data capture.
Background
Lindsey’s experience has been gained in a variety of arenas including Defence, Manufacturing, Construction and IT. He has significant experience as a process improvement specialist for a multinational management consultancy firm and as a programme manager for a London based systems integration firm. Prior to this he served for 5 years as an Officer in HM Forces and gained his degree in Engineering from Durham University.