Steve Holden

I have run start up and existing businesses in the United States and the UK.

I have worked extensively in the US, Canada, Europe and the UK.

Highly experienced at building and managing diverse sales and admin teams in the US and the UK

Passionate about attention to detail.

Generally used to working and thinking “outside the box”

A “need to know” attitude, questioning the status quo to achieve successful and profitable change when needed

Extensive global mobility end-to-end management skills gained over more than 20 years.

Strategic Planner known for envisioning strategic reforms to boost gross and net profits by 69% - 83%, realizing 20% in operational cost savings. Resourceful Consultant known for servicing a broader client base of high-net-worth individuals, private estates, and top end realtors/estate agents with prospect to client conversion rate of 80%. 

People Manager credited with recruiting, hiring, and leading an international team of 37 Client Managers across the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Africa, the UKand Asia. Vocational assistance steering the development of 20 properties for a local Co-Housing project by leading fundraising and property development activities. 

Specific roles include

Most recently 

Managing Partner Cristal Clear Global employee mobility and relocation services / March 2010 - June 2021

• Successfully providing ‘end-to-end’ mobility services to HNWI’s and senior corporate employees – typically Directors and Vice Presidents. 
• Predominantly focused on UK inward bound relocations with 30% international mobility contracts.
• Exclusively providing rental property check in and check out services in the UK for BMW, Rolls Royce Motors and Mini.
• Recruiting, training, and managing a team of four inventory clerks, three administrators and three typists supplying rental property inventories, check in’s and check out’s to property owners and investors including Lord Heseltine, Baron Rothschild, Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, The Rothschild Foundation, Claydon Estate, The Lockinge Estate, The Great Tew Estate, The Bamford Family and many more.
• Responsible for all direct and internet marketing including key word, SEO, PPC, email shots, mailshots, and cold calling.
• Full P&L management control, achieving annual gross profits of 83% with net profits of 37%.

IMPORTANT NOTE: I sold this business in June 2021, moved with my wife to Herefordshire and took an extended sabbatical/career break following which I recently commenced searching for a new role that would make use of my skills, knowledge and global experience on a full-time, part-time or contract basis.

World-of-Relocation, Basingstoke. Web based global relocation directory / Aug 2008 - Feb 2010

Head-hunted to be Managing Director

• Established and managed corporate offices and teams across the US and UK.
• Elevated corporate identity by designing and executing marketing literature, website, and CRM system.
• Oversaw an annual marketing budget of £300K. Planning and managing exhibitions, online marketing, Google Ads, and PPC. Designed all marketing material and website with unique purpose built CRM.
• Attended industry-relevant conferences and exhibitions in the US and Europe to network, promote the business and keep abreast of the latest trends in the relocation industry.

Farthingtons, Global mobility and relocation services / Apr 2001 – Jul 2008 

Managing Director

• Minimised ex-pat clients' costs by 27% for Grant Thornton’s overseas clients by pioneering and executing a unique joint marketing initiative.
• Personally managed the relocation from London to Manhattan of the first architectural team to rebuild at Ground Zero, NY. (Richard Rogers Partnership at Three World Trade Center.)
• Led recruitment and training of corporate representatives in 21 countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Mexico, Ireland, Singapore, Nigeria, New Zealand, Italy, The Gambia, and India.
• Spearheaded development, launch, and running of a global corporate relocation business by managing global teams.
• Attained an average gross profit of 42.33% with an average order value of £6K by managing relocations for senior corporate personnel such as Directors, MD’s, and VP’s as well as HNWI’s.
• Managed the sourcing and lease negotiations of 20 city centre training academies for Microsoft’s leading European training partner.
• Designed and managed all marketing activity - predominantly SEO, PPC, direct email and cold calling plus attendance at relevant exhibitions and conferences in the US, Canada, and Europe.
• Secured  key clients, including Care UK PLC, Sitel Corporation, Lyondell Basell, Willis Corporation, Richard Rogers (RSHP), Autotrader, and the UK Military (MOD).
• Designed and developed a comprehensive Excel-based job costing program to manage the calculation of costs, profits and time plan involved in each relocation.

Bannisters, Oxford. Residential property & commercial premises management / Mar 1993 – Jan 2001

Managing Director

• Drove the expansion from start-up of a 650 residential property rental portfolio. 
• Achieved annual revenue over £800K, annual rent value exceeded £5.8M. (2022 values £1.4M & £10.3m)
• Negotiated the purchase of a competitor business in Aylesbury with 130 managed properties and actualised 20% operational cost savings for the joint business with 100% client retention.
• Negotiated the purchase of more than £100M of investment property.
• Accomplished rebranding of the acquired business to Bannisters whilst managing and training a 14-person team on property management and legal requirements.
• Achieved ongoing gross profit of 61% with a net profit of 37%.

RCH Project Management, Dunstable. Independent commercial project management / 1989 - 1993

Junior Partner

• Managed refit of 30,000 sq ft European Head Office for Hertz Corporation. Remained operational 24/7. 
• Designed and managed commissioning of new office suites for Schwarzkopf Head Office, Aylesbury.
• Managed the building of a new car rental facility at Heathrow Airport for Europcar.
• Managed the design and installation of a state-of-the-art AV conference suite at Hertz Corporation's United States Head Office

Secondary education followed by college in the UK,