MD at Munro Connections Ltd

"Jean always works in a professional manner showing real integrity and a pragmatic approach to problem solving."

About Jean

Born into a family-owned business originating in the 1930s, Jean’s upbringing was spent in their pub-restaurant, working lunchtimes, evenings and weekends. Before long, she became involved in the family auctioneering and mortgage-lending business.

At the age of 20, having graduated with a Diploma in Languages and Business Studies, she went to work in Brussels at the European Commission and from there spent time working and travelling in France and Australia.

Lit bulb on orange background“My upbringing taught me how small businesses work. Most especially, it taught me that a small business must use every last one of its resources effectively in order to survive. Everyone involved has to be willing to be hands-on. Or nothing gets done.”

Having worked internationally in Belgium, Ireland and the UK, Jean has developed excellent management and interpersonal skills through her experience of managing businesses and departments more efficiently through strategic planning, performance measurement and process improvement.

She has gained an extensive experience in a variety of project, senior management and director-related roles in small and corporate businesses.  She has been employed in a variety of industries: IT and Telecoms, Financial Services, Healthcare, Trade Development and the Public Sector.

Some of her achievements include:

  • At Eircom Plc, Ireland’s national telecoms carrier, she worked as a member of the IT Senior Management Team on the implementation of an ambitious Change Programme focussed on remodelling the IT strategy, structure and operational activities.  The outcome was an opportunity to sell Eircom IT as an external business valued at €46m.
  • As Head of Commercial for KCOM IT, based in Hull, she managed a combined capital and operational IT budget of £11m – delivering a 5% saving through process improvement.
  • She also held responsibility for the IT Process Model working to cultivate a culture of continuous improvement through the EFQM Business Excellence model and ISO9001.
  • She introduced the Kaplan & Norton’s Balanced Business Scorecard into two IT organisations, clearly linking KPIs to business strategy and the performance management system to ensure delivery.
  • She played an integral role in establishing a new professional training services company, delivering ante and post natal courses to specialists in the medical profession. Having worked on developing the company brand and establishing its operational model as a franchise, the business now operates successfully as a training services company across Ireland and the UK.
  • In 2011, she established her own business. She now works with directors and owners of small and medium-sized businesses through the Government-backed service, GrowthAccelerator, providing tailored expert advice to help these businesses achieve change and sustainable growth.