Dean Smith Coaching & Consulting

About Me

I’m Dean Smith - an executive coach, consultant, and people strategist with over 15 years of experience in leadership, culture, and organisational change. I’ve been in the boardroom, I’ve been on the ground, and I’ve seen what happens when leadership goes right, and when it doesn’t. That perspective shapes everything I do.

Academically and professionally, I’m a Chartered Fellow (FCIPD) and ILM Level 7 Executive Coach, holding Master’s and Undergraduate degrees in Business and HRM, with further advanced leadership study through the Oxford Executive Leadership Programme at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School.

Over the past 15 years, I’ve led people, culture, and change programmes across global corporations, public bodies, and SMEs. These experiences have shaped how I approach leadership and performance today.

I bring real-world experience, honest challenge, and practical action to help leaders and organisations perform at their best. Clients describe me as calm but direct, strategic but grounded.

For Individual Leaders and Teams

Coaching that challenges your thinking and turns reflection into action.

Coaching is tailored to your needs, we’ll identify goals together, and make sure progress is driven forward after every conversation.

• Let's Talk

For Organisations

Hands-on consulting and fractional people leadership support to help you strengthen how you lead, engage, and grow your people.

I work directly with CEOs, MD’s, Chief People Officers, and Senior Leaders to:

However we work together, the aim is simple — clarity, traction, and results that last.

• Let's Talk

1-1 Coaching

Focused, practical, and challenging in all the right ways.

I’ll help you see what’s really holding things back, ask the uncomfortable questions, and push you to take action that creates value and drives progress.

My approach:

• Contact Me

Consulting & Fractional Support

No frameworks for the sake of it. No endless slides.

When the challenge is bigger than one person, I step in as a strategic and hands-on partner — methodical, practical, and focused on results.

My approach:

• Contact Me

Global Retail - McDonald’s UK&I

From strategy to adoption at scale.

Led a 52-strong team delivering leadership and change initiatives across 170,000 employees.

Designed and launched an AI-driven recruitment system, cutting time-to-hire by 65%.

Rolled out a digital comms platform reaching 160,000 staff, hitting 70% adoption in six months.

Built a change governance model that improved strategic prioritisation across the UK&I business.

Regulations & Public Sector - Financial Conduct Authority

Building enterprise engagement and culture through data-led transformation.

Built an internal change and engagement practice supporting 4,000 employees.

Co-created Ideas Lab and Data Week, engaging 1,700+ staff and winning a UK IT Industry Award.

Partnered with executives to modernise communication and culture during a major transformation.

Manufacturing - James Cropper PLC

Rebuilding leadership and engagement in a heritage business.

Partnered with the CEO and Board to redefine communications strategy and launch Workvivo - a SaaS engagement platform - boosting clarity and confidence in leadership by +12% within nine months.

Designed and embedded new performance frameworks, leadership development programmes & apprenticeship strategy.

Simplified and redesigned end-to-end talent and performance frameworks, introducing clear succession plans and strategic alignment — resulting in 90% of employees having defined, strategy-linked objectives.

“Dean has been an invaluable partner in my development. His coaching gave me the clarity, tools, and confidence to elevate both my mindset and performance. He helped me define meaningful goals, build resilience, and stay focused through demanding challenges. His insight, challenge, and structured yet flexible approach has driven real progress.”

- Paul Edmondson (Global Head of R&D)

• LinkedIn

“I can't recommend Dean highly enough. After six executive coaching sessions, I've gained a level of clarity and focus in my business that I honestly didn't think was possible. Dean's approach isn't just about quick fixes—he challenged me to step back, really reflect, and see the bigger picture for Foxgroves Recruitment.”

- Lyndsey Fitheridge (Founder & CEO)

• LinkedIn

“When it comes to change, people and making things happen Dean is one of the most switched-on HR professionals I have ever encountered. He is a true strategic thinker, the rate at which he generates work is breathtaking - and yet he is incredibly down to earth and approachable. Working with him is an absolute pleasure - and he gets things done!”

- Peter Anderton (Director – Leadership Consultancy)

• LinkedIn