Who are we?
People are at the heart of the ProfitAbility business.
If you have a question for any of the team, just give us a call or drop us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.
You can also follow @ProfitAbility on twitter.
Executive Team
Nigel Downing, chairman and co-founder
Nigel is an established leader in experiential learning, and a regular speaker at HR events. His passion is for education, and how the use of business simulations can accelerate learning. Nigel is a research scientist by training, with a special interest in coral reef biology.
LinkedIn: nigeldowning
Nigel is an established leader in experiential learning, and a regular speaker at HR events. His passion is for education, and how the use of business simulations can accelerate learning. Nigel is a research scientist by training, with a special interest in coral reef biology.
LinkedIn: nigeldowning
Brian Helweg-Larsen, Director of Innovation and co-founder
Brian founded ProfitAbility and has designed more than a hundred simulation-based courses for worldwide clients in over 20 different industries. With a team of simulation designers to continue his work, he now concentrates on new forms of learning, and new kinds of simulation using emerging technologies. With an unusual depth of business acumen, and familiarity with many kinds of business, Brian has an uncanny ability to design training that transforms people’s working effectiveness.
LinkedIn: brian-helweg-larsen
Twitter: @deepthinky
Brian founded ProfitAbility and has designed more than a hundred simulation-based courses for worldwide clients in over 20 different industries. With a team of simulation designers to continue his work, he now concentrates on new forms of learning, and new kinds of simulation using emerging technologies. With an unusual depth of business acumen, and familiarity with many kinds of business, Brian has an uncanny ability to design training that transforms people’s working effectiveness.
LinkedIn: brian-helweg-larsen
Twitter: @deepthinky
Jeremy Laming, Managing Director
LinkedIn: jeremylaming
Jeremy comes to ProfitAbility from Vodafone where he worked as a Business Improvement Consultant. Experienced in running successful programmes and managing large teams across multiple business units, he has a proven track record in delivering sizable and tangible business improvement.
LinkedIn: jeremylaming
Emma Beasley, Finance Director
Emma has worked with ProfitAbility since June 2008, becoming first Company Secretary in 2009 and then Finance Director in June 2010. Her excellent accountancy qualifications and 18 years of practical experience working in finance have equipped Emma to become an invaluable member of the management team. Her attention to detail, combined with a talent for careful planning, has enabled Emma to contribute effectively in building business strategy for ProfitAbility.
Emma has worked with ProfitAbility since June 2008, becoming first Company Secretary in 2009 and then Finance Director in June 2010. Her excellent accountancy qualifications and 18 years of practical experience working in finance have equipped Emma to become an invaluable member of the management team. Her attention to detail, combined with a talent for careful planning, has enabled Emma to contribute effectively in building business strategy for ProfitAbility.
United Kingdom
Idris Memon, Associate Client Team Director
Idris is a versatile senior member of the client team, with a particular focus on developing ProfitAbility’s international partnerships. Idris manages several of ProfitAbility’s key accounts, including major telecommunications brands and The London Business School.
LinkedIn: idrismemon
Idris is a versatile senior member of the client team, with a particular focus on developing ProfitAbility’s international partnerships. Idris manages several of ProfitAbility’s key accounts, including major telecommunications brands and The London Business School.
LinkedIn: idrismemon
Matthew Ballard, Client Team Manager
Matthew joined ProfitAbility following successful roles in both the energy and hospitality sectors. Matthew has a key interest and knowledge in the Legal, Academic, Hospitality and Pharmaceutical Industries as well substantial knowledge of Leadership Development, Change Management and Strategy Implementation.
LinkedIn: matthewsballard
Twitter: @MatthewSBallard
Matthew joined ProfitAbility following successful roles in both the energy and hospitality sectors. Matthew has a key interest and knowledge in the Legal, Academic, Hospitality and Pharmaceutical Industries as well substantial knowledge of Leadership Development, Change Management and Strategy Implementation.
LinkedIn: matthewsballard
Twitter: @MatthewSBallard
Andrew Lines, Client Team Manager
Andrew arrived at ProfitAbility with marketing and development experience from a global advertising agency. He’s currently focusing on key client activity across the manufacturing sector and spreading ProfitAbility’s business simulations into new industries.
LinkedIn: andrew-lines
Andrew arrived at ProfitAbility with marketing and development experience from a global advertising agency. He’s currently focusing on key client activity across the manufacturing sector and spreading ProfitAbility’s business simulations into new industries.
LinkedIn: andrew-lines
Alex Draper, VP ProfitAbility America
Alex has been with ProfitAbility since 2002. He started life as an account manager In the UK, working his way up and across the Atlantic to lead the North American business. With a clear strategic focus on innovation and customer service, the NA business continues to grow and acquire new clients. Alex leads the business, develops strategic partnerships, manages key accounts, facilitates pilot programs, and is always thinking about the next “industry first” simulation.
LinkedIn: alex-draper
Twitter: @alexdraperpbs
Alex has been with ProfitAbility since 2002. He started life as an account manager In the UK, working his way up and across the Atlantic to lead the North American business. With a clear strategic focus on innovation and customer service, the NA business continues to grow and acquire new clients. Alex leads the business, develops strategic partnerships, manages key accounts, facilitates pilot programs, and is always thinking about the next “industry first” simulation.
LinkedIn: alex-draper
Twitter: @alexdraperpbs
Brian Williamson, Director of Sales, ProfitAbility North America
Brian Williamson specializes in working with leaders to generate sustainable and measureable results through their teams. His experience in aligning strategic resources with specific business goals promotes sustainable results and long-term business relationships with ProfitAbility’s clients. Brian is a veteran of the learning and development industry, spending several years at Dale Carnegie and running his own consultancy before joining ProfitAbility. Examples of clients served include BP, Bank of America, McKesson and Johnson Controls.
LinkedIn: brianwilliamson
Twitter: @ExecutionU
Thanuja Kandasamy, Head of Innovation & Design
Thanuja has worked for ProfitAbility for almost ten years, and as well as heading up the innovation and design team, Thanuja is an expert in business strategy development. She has a degree in pure mathematics, and has a gift for interpreting client’s business needs and turning these into customised business simulations.
LinkedIn: thanuja-kandasamy
Thanuja has worked for ProfitAbility for almost ten years, and as well as heading up the innovation and design team, Thanuja is an expert in business strategy development. She has a degree in pure mathematics, and has a gift for interpreting client’s business needs and turning these into customised business simulations.
LinkedIn: thanuja-kandasamy
Philipp von Both, Master Facilitator
Philipp joined ProfitAbility in 2011 to head up our facilitator network, and to spearhead the “train the trainer” process. As well as being a master facilitator for ProfitAbility, Philipp is a bilingual (German & English) consultant and coach with extensive knowledge developed through hands-on experience in a range of industries, from IT to insurance and manufacturing. He has worked as an in-house Marketing & Business Development Consultant with a special focus on cultural differences, negotiation skills and sales process improvements. He also worked as a trainer and consultant for a US consultancy firm in the areas of Process Optimisation, Problem Solving & Decision Making, Project Management and Negotiation Skills.
LinkedIn: philippvonboth
Twitter: @pvboth
Philipp joined ProfitAbility in 2011 to head up our facilitator network, and to spearhead the “train the trainer” process. As well as being a master facilitator for ProfitAbility, Philipp is a bilingual (German & English) consultant and coach with extensive knowledge developed through hands-on experience in a range of industries, from IT to insurance and manufacturing. He has worked as an in-house Marketing & Business Development Consultant with a special focus on cultural differences, negotiation skills and sales process improvements. He also worked as a trainer and consultant for a US consultancy firm in the areas of Process Optimisation, Problem Solving & Decision Making, Project Management and Negotiation Skills.
LinkedIn: philippvonboth
Twitter: @pvboth
© 2011 ProfitAbility Business Simulations Limited