His practical experience in the field of organisational change and business strategy has been augmented through non-executive directorships in printing, banking and engineering, including a spell as company chairman, and five years as chairman of a charity.He is a patron of the Centre for Tomorrow's Company, having served for three years as a member of the Board and Chairman of the Research Committee.

In 1986 he was appointed CBE for services to management education. He has been awarded the honorary doctorates of DSc (City University) and DBA (De Montfort University). He is also a winner of the Burnham Gold Medal of the Institute of Management.

He is a Companion of the Institute of Management, a Fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development, a Fellow of the International Academy of Management, a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts .

He has written or edited several books including Organisation Development, Managerial Leadership, Managing Talent, The Seamless Organisation, Managing Change, Leadership (fast track MBA series), Management Consultancy — a Guide to Best Practice, and Leadership in Tomorrow's Company.

Reviewed books: