Board of directors

Neil joined the Board on 3 October 2022 as Proudfoot CEO. On 5 March 2024, Neil was also appointed Chairman and CEO of MCG. Neil is a highly ambitious and successful leader with a strong track record in growing, diversifying, and creating consulting, digital & technology businesses. As a strategic innovator, Neil has successfully launched new businesses and attracted third-party investment from both finance and private equity institutions. With over 20 years’ experience across Digital, Innovation, Clean Energy, Inclusion & Diversity, Engineering and R&D, Neil has led and advised teams on large-scale complex business transformations achieving sustainable results for major global companies in USA, Europe, Africa and Asia. Neil believes in taking full accountability for delivery and has developed outcome-based consulting, technology and outsourcing solutions, supported by enduring client relationships based on trust and partnership for the long-term benefit of both organizations. As Proudfoot’s CEO, Neil will spearhead the company so that it can continue making a positive difference by helping clients accelerate sustainable operations through people, so they can unlock the hidden value in their business and transform into the company of the future.

Marco Capello, aged 62, joined the Board on 18 June 2010. He is the founder and managing partner of BlueGem Capital Partners LLP. From 2002 to 2006 he was a managing director of Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity. Previously he worked for over 18 years at First Boston, Wasserstein Perella and,since 1994 at Merrill Lynch. During his career in investment banking he worked primarily in mergers and acquisitions both in New York and London. Mr Capello holds an MBA frm Columbia University in New York. He graduated in Civil Engineering from the Politecnico di Torino. He is a board member of Olicar S.p.A, The Private Clinic Limited, Fintyre S.p.A, Neomobile S.p.A., Liberty Ltd and Ufi Filters S.p.A. He is a member of the Remuneration Committee and the Nominations Committee.

Fiona Czerniawska, aged 61, joined the Board on 10 March 2017. She is the founder and director of Source Global Research. Prior to this, she was director of strategy and planning for EY in the UK, and head of research for the Management Consultancies Association, and has more than 25 years’ experience in the management consulting industry. Fiona has a PhD from the University of London and is a graduate of Oxford University. She is a director of the Source Information Services Limited.

Emilio Di Spiezio Sardo, aged 46, joined the Board on 18 June 2010. He is a partner of BlueGem Capital Partners LLP. Before joining BlueGem as a partner, in 2007, he worked in London as a hedge fund manager at York Capital Management, a global multi-strategy hedge fund with approximately US$10 billion under management. Before that he worked for six years in investment banking at Merrill Lynch in London and Rome. Mr Di Spiezio Sardo graduated summa cum laude in Economics and Finance from Bocconi University in Milan. He is a board member of Olicar S.p.A, The Private Clinic Limited, Fintyre S.p.A, Neomobile S.p.A., and Liberty Ltd.