Les, one of the founders of Change Partners, has coached hundreds of senior executives from many different organisations and has helped these companies develop their better people into better leaders. He has held senior positions in several organisations and is a former MD of the Transvaal Coal Owners’ Association, at that time the world’s biggest coal exporter.

Recent coaching engagements include work for ABSA, Anglo American, BHP Billiton, FNB, Nike, Siemens, Vodacom, Zurich Insurance, Goldfields and Hollard Insurance.

As a senior corporate executive, Les made the development of management potential a top priority. In the early ‘90s, he launched an independent strategic planning and strategy implementation consultancy – work that confirmed his view that organisational success often grows out of leadership development.

He believes a good executive coach encourages coachees to extend their thinking horizons. “Unless my clients leave a coaching session with a whole bunch of new thoughts and ideas, I am not happy,” says Les.

Les holds a B.Com and is a chartered accountant (SA), and a Fellow of the Institute of Management Accountants of the UK. He holds the Middlesex University post-graduate certificate in Coaching.