Aesara Partners 

At Aesara Partners, our mission is simple: enable you to be the best version of yourself. We offer a range of focused services that unlock the potential of people, teams and cultures to maximise business performance. 

Collectively our Partners and Associates have decades of experience both in executive coaching and as board level leaders themselves working in multiple sectors across global markets.

Partner & Executive Coach

Doshisha University

Professor of Strategic Management, Global MBA Program

The CFO Coach K.K.

The CFO Coach K.K. is a boutique executive coaching firm specializing in developing High-Performance​ Financial Leaders and Teams.

Founder & Executive Coach

Kansai Gaidai University

•	Awarded President's Global Education Award (Teacher of the Year).

Professor of Leadership & Management

Benesse Holdings, Inc. (USD 4.5B; Tokyo Stock Exchange Code: 9783)

•	Member of the Board of Directors for Berlitz Corporation; Benesse Corporation; and Benesse Style Care.  Chairman of Audit Committee for Berlitz Corporation. Member of Benesse Holdings Pension Committee.
•	Global CFO covering all 40+ Benesse group companies
•	Championed and supported multiple cash generation initiatives including a CFO led "Save to Grow" initiative to improve Company Financial performance and to identify significant savings for business reinvestment
•	Enhanced Finance bench strength and hired a high potential team to start financial business consulting
•	Implemented several process and capability best practices to move group companies towards global standards

Global Chief Financial Officer & Corporate Senior Vice President

McCann Worldgroup Holdings

• Overall Responsibility for Operations (Finance, IT, Legal, and Administration - 10 legal entities) 
• Successfully turned around long term loss making lead agency by delivering double digit margin improvements within two years
• Delivered double digit margin improvements for all six MWG Group companies 
• Built a new Finance team and moved from Scorekeeping to Business Partnership and improved business performance
• Major projects within last two years include: 
  - Shared Service center creation/migration
  - New Financial System Migration
  - Acquisition & Divestiture
  - Business Turnaround
  - Retirement Plan consolidation/change
  - Office relocation/rent reductions

Group Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President, and Member of The Board

Becton, Dickinson and Company

• Led Finance, Procurement, General Affairs, and Rebates teams (43 staff) to deliver multi-million dollar cash and profit performance improvement for first year and beyond. Exceeded all budget expectations.
• Engaged Japan Management Team and Global Finance Leadership Team on company objectives to deliver best outcome (Finance Transformation initiative, Sales effectiveness improvement, Key Account Management, Business Continuity plan, and strategy/selection of backup distribution center).  Led process for 2012-16 Business Plan development
• Developed and executed Finance department strategy and vision to move from scorekeeping to business partnership. Implemented job rotation program and hired several high potential employees to improve bench strength.
• Championed multiple Finance and Procurement initiatives including definition and implementation of new 401k Retirement Plan; divestiture of non-core business; change of primary banks (reduced bank fees by over 30%); vendor reduction process, and new travel expense management system 
• Taught New Manager Essentials program and selected as leadership trainer for PEPFAR program in South Africa to teach Leadership and Change Management to African Health Ministry officials

Finance and Administration Director

Avon Products Inc.

•	Implementation project leader for Avon Sales Leadership Framework (ASLF) – Highest priority project for the Company to adapt to a new Sales Model.  Completed project implementation in record timing.  Awarded regional award as part of ASLF Team. Only person in Asia recognized for both Top-line and Bottom-line contributions in the same year.
•	Defined and executed new vision and mission and led Sales Support department to complete over 40 initiatives (within a six-month period) as part of Team’s new journey towards field motivational excellence. Incorporated new processes to deliver high impact incentives, and to create Sales energy and momentum for sales turn-around.    
•	Achieved highest employee engagement scores with Sales Support Department significantly exceeding country results in over 95% of categories.  Previously had also led Finance department to highest employee engagement scores.
•	Global Project leader for a high potential, multi-functional, multi-national team to study and recommend actions to improve Global Sales Incentive management/spending process.
•	Oversaw execution of a variety of Company and Public/Media events ranging from Sales Conferences to Philanthropic events including Annual Awards to Women, and Pink Ribbon Campaign support.

Executive Director and Member of the Board

•	Responsible for Financial policy making/implementation and reporting for Avon Japan as a public company (including statutory/public, and Board Meetings). All year-end financial documents audited with no comments/exceptions.
•	Defined and executed new department Vision and Mission, and recruited, trained and developed a completely new Finance team (80% new hires within a six month period) to move from scorekeeping to business partnership. Finance team formed core of country high potential list.
•	Consistently over achieved profit performance commitment under adverse conditions of sales decline by aggressively managing strategic business needs with cost cutting; Delivered zero overhead growth during all years; Japan winner of regional awards for best cost management performance, and for boldest transformation strategy.
•	Provided leadership and support for critical decisions and strategy development as Japan Leadership Team Member.  Actively led change management process within company.
•	Consistently achieved best internal control results in Asia-Pacific/Avon over a period of eight audits.  Japan one of only two countries with highest audit rating. Outstanding performance generated support to remove Japan from list of High Coverage countries.
• Co-developed strategic/financial business case, and obtained approval for number of campaign reduction in 2006 making Avon Japan only country ever in Avon to undergo campaign reduction. 
• Independently analyzed and provided strategic direction for Plant study which challenged and reversed previous recommendation by outside consultants on plant closure.
• Provided leadership in several restructuring initiatives by providing an achievable plan to achieve 12% people related cost reduction.  Played lead role in this study representing Finance, Supply Chain and HR 
• Consistently achieved highest performance rating and nominations to several high potential programs
• Elected (and re-elected) to Board of Directors

Executive Director, CFO and Member of the Board of Directors

Delphi

• Prepared Asia-Pacific regional messages / presentations for Delphi Strategy Board, and for Delphi Board of Directors.
• Supported development and implementation of critical Asia-Pacific strategies.  Performed competitive intelligence and other special studies to identify risks / competitive threats and outlined regional / corporate response.
• Provided Miller Heiman strategic selling process training to Asia-Pacific personnel to improve value propositions and increase sales effectiveness.

Director Asia-Pacific Planning

• Management responsibilities for Finance, HR, General Affairs, and Six-Sigma.
• Active member of the Japan Strategy Board and Japan management team.  
• Six-Sigma Deployment Champion for Delphi Japan.

Delphi Japan – CFO & Administration Director

Country Responsibilities:
• Managed all finance functions including accounting, budgeting / forecasting and treasury.
• Lead development of cross-functional and cross-divisional Internal Control Review Board.
• Lead and supported strategic initiatives including venture development support, site enhancement, competitive analysis, transfer pricing, and cost reduction studies.
• Represented Japan in Asia-Pacific Financial Task Team.

Regional Responsibilities:
• Coached country CFO and staff to implement common financial reporting processes.
• Supervised and provided training for engineering / commercial / plant / site analysts.  Coordinated regional financial training programs for the sector in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Coordinated the regional budget, business plan, and capital management process.
• Supported development of common financial practices among ventures including:  Loan monitoring, F/X and cash management, compliance with accounting principles, report submission, etc. Provided regional oversight of venture risk exposure.

Asia-Pacific Senior Finance Mgr.

Executive Coach | MBA Professor | Ex-Global CFO

I help senior leaders master complexity, elevate strategic impact, and lead with authentic authority.

I bring over 25 years of C-level and boardroom experience as a former Global CFO for a $5B publicly traded company, combined with a deep commitment to human-centered leadership development.

Today, I coach global executives, CEOs, and leadership teams — specializing in executive transitions, strategic leadership, high-performance teams, and Asian leadership development.

I am also an MBA Professor of Leadership and Strategic Management, blending research-driven frameworks with boardroom-tested insights to develop transformational leaders.

Based in Kyoto, fluent in English, Urdu, and Japanese.

Connect with me: arif@thecfocoach.jp

Website: www.thecfocoach.jp (please sign up on my mailing list to receive future announcements and newsletters)

Arif Iqball

Hey, I’m Elle. I write in crayons. 🖍️

Not literally (most of the time), but because business doesn’t have to be boring.

Most people undersell themselves, not because they lack skill but because they don’t know how to position themselves. Whether you’re a startup struggling for funding, a small business lost in the noise, or a job seeker stuck in the rejection pile, the problem isn’t what you do. It’s how you tell your story.

That’s where I come in.

I help:

- Startups & Solo Entrepreneurs craft brands that attract funding, customers, and opportunities.
- Small Businesses stand out, get seen, and scale with confidence.
- Job Seekers & Career Climbers land the roles (and salaries) they actually deserve—I 5x’d mine in 2 years.

I’ve built and sold two companies, been the CMO & COO of a global health tech brand, and now run Sorrel Foundry, helping people and businesses get noticed for all the right reasons.

Why crayons?

Because we overcomplicate things. Great brands (and careers) aren’t built on jargon and spreadsheets; they’re built on clarity, creativity, and confidence.

If you feel like you have 100 tabs open in your brain, if you’re stuck in the “I’m busy” cycle but not making progress, I can help. Being busy isn’t a badge of honour—progress is.

📩 Let’s chat: DM me or visit 👉 www.sorrelfoundry.co.uk

(P.S. No AI-generated fluff—just real, human insights.)

Elle Lacey

Depot Connect International - EU & UK

In my role at Depot Connect International, I am focused on building and expanding the commercial landscape across the UK and Europe. I am responsible for strategic decision-making, leading regional teams, and implementing effective commercial strategies to enhance market presence. My efforts are directed towards significantly increasing market dominance in a competitive environment.

VP Commercial UK and Europe

Thea

Founder, Thea
Tell it. Harness it. Elevate it. Amplify it.

At Thea, I help ambitious leaders and professionals build standout personal brands that open doors to clients, stages, and opportunities.

We combine strategy, ghostwriting, and design to create content that feels authentically you but is managed end-to-end, so you can focus on what you do best.

✨ What we do:
	•	Full-service LinkedIn brand management (strategy, ghostwriting, design, scheduling)
	•	Personal brand coaching teaching you how to build and grow your brand yourself
	•	Profile optimisation for professionals seeking new roles, visibility, or credibility

Whether you want your personal brand done for you or want to learn how to do it yourself, Thea gives you the clarity, confidence, and consistency to get seen and get results.

We also offer consulting across marketing, sales, commercial etc on a 1-1 basis.

Founder

WAVESIX

6 month contract: Interim COO and CMO developing the world’s first holistic health tracking app, leading AI integration and building operational systems to scale with intelligence.

Interim Chief Operating Officer

Intellego Technologies 

Led AI-driven transformation across marketing and operations, managing a global team of 52 and fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation.

Implemented AI-powered systems and strategies that increased inbound leads by 5000% in 12 months, resulting in record-breaking quarterly revenue.

Spearheaded a £5M acquisition and integrated the business using intelligent workflows to strengthen market positioning and operational efficiency.

Directed a comprehensive rebrand, leveraging data and AI insights to elevate Intellego’s global visibility and brand authority.

Created and named Intellego’s second company, Yuvio, building its brand identity and go-to-market strategy with a future-focused, AI-integrated foundation.

Group Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Operating Officer 

Senior Vice President of Marketing and Operations 

Senior Vice President of Marketing

Yuvio Technologies

• Positioned YUVIO as a subsidiary of Intellego Group, creating the brand and marketing strategy.
• Developed the branding, including the company name, and successfully positioned YUVIO in the market.
• Led the marketing strategy efforts to establish YUVIO Technologies as a prominent player in the industry.

COO & CMO

MonetaGo

• Led the rebranding initiative, increasing brand awareness and securing new lead generation avenues.
• Designed and built a new company website from scratch, without external or internal resources.
• Managed the development and execution of integrated marketing strategies across digital, web, and social channels.
• Organized and assisted in running 54 conferences in 2022.

Global Integrated Marketing Director

Trellis

* Redundancy *

To manage all of the content and social media for inbound marketing clients including B2B and B2C which includes organic social, paid social managing ads across Facebook, LinkedIn and other paid channels, building landing pages, email marketing, blogs and optimisation of blogs and graphic design. 

I am responsible for managing digital apprentices and mentoring them through their apprenticeship and managing the content and social team to ensure targets are met. 

I manage the automations through crms such as hubspot and manage lead generation campaigns, and put together strategies based upon buyer lifecycles. 

I am also responsible for recruitment within the business.

B2B + B2C Senior Content Manager

Socially Vitality

Sold and exited. 

I grew my agency organically to service over 20 clients ranging from B2B and B2C companies. 

Organically grew an online membership for businesses teaching marketing strategies and social media strategies, to 60 members in 3 weeks. 

Sold out coaching programmes online consecutively every quarter teaching business owners organic and paid marketing. 

Helped businesses grow through strategic social media content and strategies. 

Managed various industries accounts from executive business coaches, small businesses, hairdressers, software companies, wellness and health, executive business owners, CEO's personal branding and more. 

My services included social media content creation, marketing plans, strategy sessions, social media mentoring and email marketing, paid social media campaigns, blog writing, speaking and coaching.

Coached small businesses on how to grow their own businesses and teach small business owners how to create paid advertising that works.

Managing Director

Keepu

Successfully exited and sold business. 

I was responsible for the entire companies operations and was managing director. I successfully built this business from 0 clients to working for 35 real estate agencies in Perth. The business was built to a 6 figure turnover in less than 6 months. Keepu provided outsourcing services to the real estate industry.

Hi, I’m Elle.

I help ambitious founders and leaders turn LinkedIn into the most powerful growth channel they have without the overwhelm of figuring it out alone.

Most people know they should be building a personal brand…
❌ but they don’t know where to start
❌ they worry nobody cares what they have to say
❌ posting feels like shouting into the void
❌ or they’re too busy running the business to even try

That’s where I come in.

I build standout personal brands that get seen, win clients, and land stages, all fully managed, so you stay in your zone of genius while your presence grows.

✨ Full-service LinkedIn growth: strategy, ghostwriting & design
✨ Ex-COO/CMO of a NASDAQ-listed company
✨ 2x founder with successful exits
✨ Grew my own audience by 10,000+ in 4 months, reaching millions
✨ Secured C-suite roles, book deals & opportunities all through LinkedIn

What I bring is more than marketing.
I know how to capture your voice, tell your story, and build authority that actually converts, because I’ve done it for myself and for dozens of others navigating reinvention, entrepreneurship, and thought leadership.

If you’re a founder or leader ready to stop blending in and start building a brand that drives real growth: let’s connect.

Group Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Operating Officer

Global responsibility for all marketing across all business segments, curing, healthcare, water and horticulture. Global responsibility for the whole companies operations including Human Resources and sales. Managing investor relations, company acquisitions etc. 

Managing a team across the group and subsidiary companies. 

taplio

The Battle

Arif Iqball

Eleanor Lacey

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