‘I know what leaders go through in business. I’ve sat in the seat of the CEO, been MD in a family-owned business – I appreciate what’s involved.’

Alex Bloom’s lived experience as a leader is integral to his impact as a Partner with Telos Partners today.

Alex (right) with JGA’s Jeremy Gadd and Telos’s Adam Campbell

But until 2019 his focus was on products – first in roles with United Biscuits and L’Oreal, then with his fourth-generation family business.

So what changed?

He did. Having become MD after a decade, Alex realised that leading his family’s business wasn’t what he wanted to do for the rest of his career.

‘I loved being MD at first, but then I realised that although my focus had been in products I was more interested in people,’ he explains.

So he set his exit plan in motion and started looking for his next role...

The search took him to Telos Partners, the employee-owned change consultancy with which JGA is merging this year.

When his career coach introduced him to Peter Ward (now Telos’s Chairman) he quickly realised that Telos’s values aligned with his own. He joined in summer 2020. ‘I haven’t looked back,’ he says.

Finding his purpose with Telos

Alex (centre) with members of JGA and Telos’s team

As part of his search for a new role, Alex had gained a coaching qualification so, once at Telos, it was natural he combine that new skill with his sound commercial experience to support leaders through the challenge of change.

His own career pivot had clarified the ‘sense of fulfilment’ he was seeking – and his desire to do work that would bring ‘a clear and direct benefit’ to those he would support.

‘I wanted to be surrounded by people who could support and stretch me, to work with people with a growth mindset,’ he adds.

No surprise then that he particularly enjoys Telos’s work in the employee-owned (EO) sector. Indeed one of his first projects was with the eoa.

Combining great business with Great EO

Alex ‘in action’ with Absolute PR and Marketing’s team June 2024

As Alex explains: ‘Many challenges that EO businesses face are similar to those faced by family businesses. That means I have a strong understanding of the constraints they face.

‘I also like the EO sector’s camaraderie, the common values and ethos, and the willingness to share.

‘I’ve experienced most aspects of the business lifecycle during my career, so I can see there’s a lot of overlap between great business and great EO.’

Understanding the challenge of change

Alex and JGA’s Corrine Thomas at the eoa’s recent EO Exchange in London

He also understands the challenge of change, with the positive impact he has on leaders a reflection of his first-hand experience of the role.

Having been through the succession process himself – and been involved with the eoa’s ‘Road to Succession’ report – he knows how to enable exiting and incoming leaders to navigate that transition.

‘I have a personal interest in leadership and enabling leaders and their teams to clarify what success looks like,’ he says.

‘The Telos ‘Swirl’ starts with a leader’s ambition and ends with renewal. I find that exciting.’

Strengthening the combined value of Telos and JGA

Alex (seated right) and Adam (third from left) at April’s JGA Employee Conference in Burford

Exciting too, right now, is Alex’s role in helping to shape JGA’s merger with Telos. This is due to be completed by the end of January 2025.

‘I’m working with our combined teams to clarify our joint proposition,’ he explains. ‘Combining our experience and resource will enable us to have the greatest impact for ourselves and our widening client base.

‘I’m enjoying helping to create structure and clarity. There’s a natural alignment between Telos and JGA’s offer, values, mindset and beliefs. We both do things properly and ‘live’ what we advise.’

Looking forward to the future

Alex (centre) enjoying some ‘downtime’ with Telos’s Adam and JGA’s Garry Davis at 2023’s eoa Conference in Liverpool

Looking ahead, he’s also excited about the eoa Conference 2024 (which JGA and Telos will be attending together in November) as well as bringing the eoa’s new EO Framework to life.

Launched in April, the EO Framework provides a blueprint for Great EO for businesses at any point in their EO journey.

It has been developed using insights from the eoa’s EO Knowledge Programme – in collaboration with the eoa, former eoa CEO Deb Oxley and former Baxendale MD and EO Knowledge Programme lead Campbell McDonald.

‘I’m looking forward to helping businesses use the EO Framework to develop the awareness and understanding they need to improve their approach to EO,’ Alex says.

Enabling EO businesses to navigate leadership succession is also high on his list, as Telos and JGA build on our joint involvement with the eoa’s ‘Road to Succession’ report.

Problem-solving with a coffee – and music!

By any measure, that’s a very full list. So what 5 things help Alex get the most out of his working day? Here’s what he says:

1. Strong black coffee, courtesy of my Nespresso Vertuo machine.

2. Getting away from my desk and getting some fresh air by taking my dog, Scooby, for a walk.

3. Spotify – music that matches the mood I’m in helps my productivity…

4. Helping people, both clients and colleagues, to resolve a problem they’re struggling with.

5. Exercise and laughter!

Get in touch

Want to know how JGA and Telos can help your business to realise its potential through employee ownership? Get in touch to arrange a no obligation meeting now.