About Graham

I've spent more than 20 years leading businesses, products and transformation — not simply advising on them.

Senior commercial, product and operating leadership from someone who has run the businesses, products and programmes.

LinkedIn graham@goldenskyconsultancy.com

An operator, not simply an adviser

I've led businesses, products, commercial operations and major transformation programmes, including serving as Chief Executive of Welfare Call, holding senior product, services and sales leadership roles at Capita, and co-founding and leading Oksidia's UK business. That experience shapes how I work today: understanding the commercial and operational realities, taking responsibility for delivery and helping organisations achieve measurable results.

Experience across the whole business lifecycle

My experience covers product strategy, market entry, commercial growth, operational leadership, business transformation and performance improvement. At Welfare Call, I led a technology-enabled services business through restructuring and commercial change. At Oksidia, I co-founded the UK business and established its market presence, commercial operations and delivery capability. At Capita, I held senior product, services and commercial leadership roles, including responsibility for restructuring professional, technical and integration services.

Experience from multiple perspectives

My career began at Sefton Council, providing an early understanding of local government and public services. I subsequently held senior roles at Capita, including technology, commercial and transformation leadership, and worked with private-equity-backed businesses through Montagu Private Equity. My experience also includes working with technology and growth businesses such as Oksidia, FocusGov and iESE, alongside establishing Golden Sky Consultancy and Solution Focused Education. This has given me experience from the client, supplier, investor and operating perspectives.

I am not a frontline practitioner or a qualified specialist in the services councils run. My strength is the systems, operations and implementation around them, and the executive leadership needed to make change land.

International technology and delivery leadership

My experience also includes managing and working with international technology development teams and delivery partners in India, including operations in Pune and teams based in Chennai and Mumbai. This has involved coordinating distributed development capability, managing delivery relationships and connecting technology teams with the requirements of UK businesses and customers.

In Finland, Oksidia's parent company is a SaaS business whose UK subsidiary I co-founded and lead, and I hold a shareholding in the parent. I also bring knowledge of Victoria's public-sector environment in Australia, which has given me an international public-sector market and operating-model perspective.

Board and Strategic Advisory

I also accept selected non-executive and strategic advisory appointments with SaaS, GovTech, EdTech and public-service technology businesses. More on board and strategic advisory.

Career in brief

Golden Sky Consultancy — 2019 to present. Founder and Managing Director, delivering selected executive, operating, commercial, advisory and investment assignments. These include Montagu Private Equity (Servelec, 2019), FocusGov (Board and Strategic Adviser, 2020 to 2024), iESE (2020 to 2022), Investment Mastery (Interim Sales Director, 2023) and the ongoing operating partnership with Oksidia.
Oksidia — current. Oksidia is an ongoing operating partnership delivered through Golden Sky. Graham co-founded its UK business and serves as UK Director, leading commercial and operational development. He also holds a shareholding in the Finnish parent company.
Solution Focused Education — current. Co-founder and Director. A founder and director role, held alongside Golden Sky rather than as a client assignment.
Welfare Call — 2018. Chief Executive of a technology-enabled services business of approximately 110 people.
Capita — more than 12 years. Progressed through senior services, product and commercial leadership roles, including Services Director, Product Management Director and Sales Director, before becoming Chief Product Officer following the consolidation of Capita's local-government and education software businesses into Capita One.
Earlier career. Sefton Council, working on digital systems for children's services.

Experience & case studies → How We Work →

In their words

From people I have worked with.

“I met Graham back in February 2020 when I was a struggling sole trader selling solution focused brief therapy training and consultancy services.
Graham conducted a deep-dive into my service offering and made a series of recommendations which together we implemented over a 12 month period. The outcome of this was that I grew my revenues by 250% (>£100k) and became profitable for the first time.
I couldn't have achieved this without Graham's business acumen and sheer tenacity to make sure we were focusing on getting the important stuff done.”

Dr Geoffrey JamesCo-Founder & Practice Director, Solution Focused Education

“Graham provides our board with strategy, guidance, direction and valuable advice. He's a great listener and sounding board, very honest and has genuine in-depth knowledge of the sector we work within.
Many times Graham has gone beyond his remit to help the business and has a very genuine enthusiasm for what we do.”

Simon NewingManaging Director, FocusGovReflecting on Graham's board advisory engagement, concluded December 2024.

“His extensive background in the tech and education industries has been a game-changer for our market entry efforts, demonstrating an exceptional blend of experience and expertise that has propelled our operations forward.
Graham is a practical and realistic leader. His goal-oriented mindset, combined with impressive communication skills, has not only driven our sales but has also significantly enhanced our internal and external communications.
His strategic approach to market entry is marked by a focused drive to achieve targets. This approach, alongside his seasoned understanding of the local market, has ensured that we have been able to deliver results.”

Tuomas OksanenChief Executive Officer, Oksidia

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