Born and brought up in the North East of England, Aidan gained an honours (upper second) BA in Psychology from Liverpool University. On graduation, he moved into computer programming with Scottish and Newcastle Breweries based in Edinburgh. Aidan had three years programming experience, using both high level and machine level languages, and also gained a technical computer qualification (British Computer Society examinations) from Edinburgh College of Commerce.

Aidan first became involved in improving the performance of industrial companies in 1973. From 1973 to 1982 Aidan worked in computer systems development, systems analysis, and industrial trouble shooting for large multi division industrial groups (Dunlop Industrial Group and Nairn International Limited - the latter within Unilever). At the same time as working in these roles, Aidan gained a Diploma and Management Studies (1975) and qualified ACMA (1979, later FCMA).

After working for briefly for Flymo as their IT manager, Aidan then worked on contract abroad for Shell. Aidan then became Finance Director for Trafpak Services Limited. This group had been loss making for several years, but was turned round by Aidan when he ran both finance and logistics functions and in the latter position improved the utilisation of the tank fleet by 10%.

After moving Trafpak into profit, Aidan became a Finance Manager within the Thorn EMI Rental and Retail group. During his time with Thorn EMI, Aidan was its most successful Finance Manager.

Aidan was then headhunted to become Director of the European arm of the Capetronic Group (a leading OEM monitor manufacturer). Aidan turned round the European operation ($240m t/o) from loss making and ran the finance and logistics side of the business during a period of 40% expansion pa.

On the sale of the Capetronic business to the Ho family in Hong Kong, and the movement of all management functions to the Far East, Aidan set up and developed Collingwood Management Limited. Using his operations, systems and finance skills, he has helped clients overcome commercial hurdles:

• Restoring temporary loss making companies to profit
• Helping already successful companies prepare commercially for business sale
• Supporting companies through periods of exceptional growth.