Team Biography
Jim Paton
Chairman
Jim is a consultant who enables business transformation by combining analytical and strategic insights with his ability to facilitate organisational alignment and change. An adaptable leader with a twenty year track record of academic and professional excellence, Jim previously restructured, turned round and managed one of easyJet’s largest operational areas, and oversaw significant performance enhancements during the restructuring of Spanair's network and schedule. Jim is the founding Director of Invenzyme Limited, a consultancy specialised in developing and facilitating innovative solutions for business change.
Jim’s creative approach to problem solving draws on his experience of line management and consulting roles in the energy and air transport industries. Having lived in Switzerland and the United States as well as the United Kingdom, his outlook is international and pragmatic, and reflects the complementary skills of his MBA, science degree, and interest in Neuro-Linguistic Programming.
Jim develops and uses experiential tools, and is certified to facilitate using the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY™ methodology, a ground-breaking approach based on academic research, which can be used to develop and effectively align business and team strategies in today’s ever changing environment.
Consulting Work with Invenzyme
In 2007 and 2008, Jim worked with Monarch Airlines in the UK to improve their approach to crew resource planning and develop the supporting processes and organisation. This included reviewing current performance, developing a balanced scorecard, exploring opportunities for further schedule optimisation and identifying ways of enhancing crew roster stability.
In 2008, Jim also ran a team development workshop for jnpgroup in the UK, and facilitated people development and strategy workshops at the Thames Valley Innovation Festival, Greenwich University Creativity Conference, and Business & Management University in Geneva. Jim also worked with International SOS Assistance, facilitating a large client workshop in the Middle East.
In 2009, Jim worked with clients including Tiger Airways Australia, CITYJET, Spanair, IATA and Northern Rail, and he contributed to the IATA crew planning guide. He launched the UK Airline Pilot Productivity Monitor and presented at the AGIFORS Strategy and Scheduling Conference on crew-efficient airine scheduling, where he received an award for the best presentation.
Previous Professional Experience
Group Business Development Director, International SOS Assistance – 2006 to 2007
Jim led an expanding medical consulting business unit with annual turnover in excess of $5m. He oversaw the extension and re-launch of the product, and re-designed the matrix organisation to better support growth.
Head of Crew Resource Planning, easyJet – 2003 to 2005
Jim turned around and led one of the airline’s largest operational departments, with a budget in excess of £135m, and a team of 70 responsible for all aspects of planning and deploying the airline’s 3,500 crew. Jim designed and implemented a more scalable organisation and processes capable of absorbing 20% p.a. growth, delivered a 10% enhancement in crew productivity, and introduced industry-leading rostering practices.
Transformation Manager, easyJet – 2002 to 2003
As a core member of the change management team overseeing the £400m easyJet/Go merger, Jim facilitated the work to combine the commercial teams and sell under a single brand, with a new distribution strategy that involved significant headcount savings. Jim’s work was instrumental to the success of the merger which was completed in half the planned time, and at two thirds of the planned cost.
Business Consultant, easyJet – 2001 to 2002
Jim managed key strategic projects sponsored by the CEO, and delivered business improvement initiatives worth over £10m p.a. in areas as diverse as operations, maintenance, advertising, ground handling, and in-flight catering. Jim articulated new strategies and worked closely with the management teams to deliver successful outcomes. Jim also shared responsibility for creating a new strategic planning process, consulting at all levels to develop and communicate the airline’s vision and guiding principles in the “easyJet Way”.
Management Consultant, PricewaterhouseCoopers – 1997 to 2000
Jim managed project teams implementing electricity supply deregulation in Scotland, and creating the performance framework for the partial privatisation of London Underground. He advised lending banks on Eurotunnel’s commercial performance, evaluated the impact of airline alliances on transatlantic competition, reviewed a rail freight operator’s business model, and devised a market strategy for a proposed cargo airport in Germany.
Summer Associate, Booz●Allen & Hamilton International – Summer 1996
During his internship, Jim advised power utilities and oil companies on strategy and process change.
Business Analyst, PowerGen – 1991 to 1995
Jim monitored competitor activity and assessed the fit of proposed international investments.
Commercial Analyst, British Steel – 1989 to 1991
Jim monitored sales and industry trends, developed demand forecasts and oversaw commercial reporting.
Academic Qualifications
Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, USA - 1995 to 1997
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Arjay Millar Scholar (top 10% of class)
St John’s College, Cambridge University, UK - 1986 to 1989
Bachelor of Arts (BA Hons), First class, Natural Sciences (specialisation in Physics)
Subsequently awarded Master of Arts (MA) in 1993 without further examination
Collège Claparède, Geneva, Switzerland - 1982 to 1986
Certificat de Maturité, Science and Modern Languages, with distinction
Other Qualifications
PPD Learning Limited, London - 2006
Certified Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (PNLP)
LEGO Group, Denmark - 2007
Certified LEGO SERIOUS PLAY Facilitator
Jim is bilingual in English and French, and has a working knowledge of German and Italian.