PILOTpartners TEAM
James Wheeler
Partner
James is the founding partner of PILOTpartners with more than 33 years’ experience in executive recruitment. With a particular focus on international and interim management opportunities, including 8 years with Coopers & Lybrand, 15 years with Hewitson-Walker Group and 6 years with AshtonPenney, James is one of the most respected names in international interim & executive resourcing. He specialises in turnaround and restructuring appointments as well as CFO appointments across all commercial and industrial sectors.
T: 0780 859 0176
E: j.wheeler@pilotpartners.eu
Michael P Gebauer
Partner
Michael began his career in New York with Fuji Bank; for 10 years he was involved in providing debt facilities to multinationals and funding M&A activities. Then with Banque Paribas he partnered with US private equity firms structuring and financing numerous acquisitions, MBO’s, MBI’s and buy & builds. He then joined a portfolio company, a £250m public specialty retailer as CFO. Michael has produced two feature length films and served as FD in several private media companies. At PILOT Michael directs the firm’s private equity business supporting clients in UK, Europe, the Middle East and the USA. Michael speaks fluent German with an American accent.
T: 0783 423 5458
E: m.gebauer@pilotpartners.eu
Carolyn Valentine
Partner
After a varied career in turnaround situations in business services and the public sector Carolyn has spent the past twelve years in specialist research with EIM, Whitehead Mann and AshtonPenney.
T: 0794 646 7401
E: c.valentine@pilotpartners.eu
Hugh Ligertwood
Partner
Hugh’s career has been in international marketing with P&O based in UK and Dubai followed by positions in specialist aeronautics and corporate photography. For the last three years he has worked in board level research for interim turnaround and private equity opportunities. Hugh speaks fluent German with an Austrian accent.
T: 0785 418 3585
E: h.ligertwood@pilotpartners.eu
Andrew Meehan
Chairman
Andrew is non executive Chairman of a number of private equity backed businesses in the retail sector; he is also on the board of Fortnum & Mason. After qualifying as a chartered accountant with Coopers & Lybrand (where he first met James Wheeler) his career centred on board positions at Burton Group, Sears plc, Storehouse plc and most recently as CEO of Co-Operative Retail Services and Gordon Brothers International.
John Gerry
Non Exec Director
John has had an extensive career in retail management, latterly as MD of Mecca Holidays & Hotels and Wickes Building Supplies. For the last ten years he has specialised in Interim Management/Turnround leading EIM and Whitehead Mann Interim before joining Ashton Penney as a consultant responsible for CEO appointments.
