From Pressure to Performance: How a Senior Leadership Team Became a Strategic Asset – Stepping Into Global and C-Suite Roles
The Challenge
When Andy Hastilow, then Managing Director of Manufacturing at Stannah Group, reached out, the business was in a state of transformation. His role had evolved, the stakes were high, and he was carrying a heavy leadership load.
He needed to strengthen his own leadership, and build a team that could lead alongside him.
The Situation Before
- The business had recently restructured, creating new demands and complexity.
- Andy felt the team depended on him too heavily for answers.
- While capable, the team wasn’t yet operating as a unified leadership group.
- Honest, direct feedback was rare – both up and down the chain.
- Some leaders were skeptical about the value of coaching.
The Transformation
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Andy was promoted into a C-suite role (Chief Marketing Officer).
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The senior team took shared ownership of manufacturing leadership.
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Craig Mellor stepped into a global role as HA Global Head of Quality.
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Ben Whittington’s team became a strategic asset to the business.
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Leadership communication, resilience, and strategic focus improved across the board.
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Daily high performance practices like mental fitness became embedded for several leaders.
The Process
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Behavioural interviews to assess team and individual development needs
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DISC profiling to improve communication and collaboration
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12 months of 1:1 high-performance coaching across the senior team
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Focus on mental fitness, resilience, and clarity
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Honest, challenging conversations in a psychologically safe environment
What They Said
“You just got me through a very, very difficult part of my career… I’m in a completely different place now. Working with Nicola has been transformative… I’d recommend her to any leader wanting to break through to a new level of excellence.”
– Andy Hastilow, CMO
“Without a doubt, the past 12 months of coaching improved me as a person and helped me with my career.”
– Senior Leader
“I’ve been able to define and articulate a clear vision for myself and my teams… This work helped me take real steps forward.”
– Senior Leader
The Result
This wasn’t just about individual development. It was a complete shift in how the senior leadership team operated – from reliance to resilience, from firefighting to forward focus. Together, they built the confidence, clarity, and capability to lead at the next level.