Mike McManamon

Mike has worked for over 18 years as an applied psychologist, supporting organisations and individuals to enhance their performance. He has worked across the private, public and third sectors, including blue chip multinationals, heritage brands and charities. Much of his work has concentrated on leadership advisory solutions, ranging from executive assessment and profiling at C-Suite level to coaching, conducting board reviews and supporting change and development programmes. He has also provided mediation between Execs and Non-Execs. A key client for over ten years was the Civil Service, where he oversaw the assessment of Senior Civil Servants, including Permanent Secretaries, advising the Cabinet Secretary on candidates for appointment.

Mike’s career began in-house for a global broadcaster, where he led a department on the design, implementation and delivery of talent and behavioural interventions. These interventions ranged from behavioural assessment up to executive level, to that of leadership and team development initiatives such as flagship leadership programmes. A key responsibility for Mike during this time was as a services delivery manager for a Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO), and the leadership of both an assessment and outplacement service. This involved, amongst other things, careers counselling and life coaching to staff. It was this early exposure to coaching, which he has continued as a core thread across his career and deepened his respect for the needs of the individual and how they perform within their environment.

Mike has an informal and disarming approach to leadership advisory, which is grounded in best practice. He strives to be values driven, act with integrity and for this to come through in his methods. As a psychologist, he encourages leaders to focus centrally on raising levels of self-awareness and autonomy, and to support them to own any change. His advisory and coaching style applies a blended approach drawing on various theories, models, and methodologies, but which is pragmatic and best suited to his clients’ needs.

A registered psychologist through the Health Care Professional Council (HCPC), Mike is also certified through the Association for Business Psychology and an accredited careers coach and counsellor through the Association for Coaching. He read psychology at the University of Manchester, a post graduate certificate in Management and Entrepreneurship at Manchester Business School and a Master’s in occupational psychology at the University of Nottingham.

Outside of work, Mike is busy with his young family. He’s a sports enthusiast, follows current affairs and enjoys spending time over a drink with friends.

Client Testimonials

“I undertook some executive training with Mike following the sale of my company, not only a great coach through a transitional period, Mike brought a holistic approach that went beyond regular careers coaching into a more tailored analysis and discussion that focusses on achieving goals in life more broadly.” Former MD, Media Distributor

“I really enjoyed working with Mike on the appointment of our new CEO. Throughout the assessment and feedback process he was professional and reassuring. His input to our process was critical to ensuring we appointed the right person and we were incredibly satisfied with the outcome.” Director, People and Operations