

WACL NED Talk – 21 March 2018, ‘Finance, Acquisition & Debt talk in the Boardroom’
Dear all
For our next WACL NED event we will be re-opening the discussion around Finance in the Boardroom and in particular focussing on how businesses are funded, how we can check their funding structure & strategy as part of our interview due diligence, and some of the language and structures that operate around financing businesses.
The lunch event is Kindly hosted by the lovely Larissa Joy at Charles Russell Speechlys , on the 21 March 2018 between 12:15 and 14:00 at 5 Fleet Place , London EC4M 7RD (closest Tube stations : Chancery Lane, Blackfriars & St Pauls) access to map here
With our very own NED Sharon Baylay leading the conversation we will look to take some learnings from looking at companies (Carillon as a topical example) that can illustrate the numbers, explore the basics of financing, debt structures, terms such as ‘leverage’, ‘gearing’, as well as the very important job of delivering shareholder value and operating businesses as a real “going concern”.
A light lunch will be provided
This is a members-only event and free of charge, capacity for the room is 20 people so please let Francesca know soonest on Francesca@ecsery.com if you would like us to reserve you a seat.
Speaker Biography
Sharon Baylay
Non-Executive Chairman and Non-Executive Director
Sharon runs a plural career and is currently Non-Executive Director at Market Tech Holdings Ltd, Restore PLC and ITE Group PLC. Sharon also runs her own business specializing in Senior Leadership Coaching and Mentoring services. Sharon is an Advanced Coach & Mentor, accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and is also a holder of the FT/Pearson Non-Executive Director Diploma.
Sharon’s executive career encompasses 15 years at Microsoft Corporation where in her role as European Marketing Director she re-launched the MSN Brand and took the No.1 online portal position throughout Europe. Aged 35, Sharon won the coveted Bill Gates Chairman’s Award for creating a sustainable online business model and as a Regional General Manager opened new MSN businesses throughout the America’s, Asia, Latin America and Europe. Subsequently as Managing Director of the UK Online and Advertising business Sharon initiated the acquisition of the online search business – Multimap UK.
More recently in her executive role as Director of Marketing, Communications and Audiences for the BBC Sharon was responsible for the strategic direction of the BBC brand portfolio and in a period of significant transition for the organisation led all internal and external communications, re-organised the marketing team and oversaw significant cost reductions in staff and budget.
Sharon has done three turnaround roles as a Managing Director, led a significant acquisition and several other integrations and worked in every market internationally (except Japan). Sharon’s previous Board career includes Non-Executive Chairman Dot Net Solutions, Non-Executive Chairman – Havas EHS, Non-Executive Member of BBC Worldwide, Freesat and Digital UK and Executive Board Member of BBC Corporation and Microsoft UK Ltd.
Sharon is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
Key Insights
WACL NED Speaker Lunch – 21 March 2018
Speaker: Sharon Baylay – Finance in the Boardroom
How are businesses funded? A discussion of funding structures and strategy as well as delivery of shareholder value and due diligence in the board room.