Interim Sales Leadership

Our Business framework of
Strategy | People | Customers
defines ‘How’ we approach any assignment with a new or existing client and drive growth through any Interim Sales Assignment.

Delivering Sustainable Growth

Interim Sales Leadership

How Interim Sales Leadership can add value.

The interim Manager/Director will be wholly focused on the professionalisation of the Sales function, bringing about change and transformation to deliver top line revenue and EBITDA growth for your company.

Key deliverables from interim assignments will include:

  • Organisational restructuring.
  • Strategy setting and planning.
  • Sales team professionalisation.
  • Sales system and CRM implementation.
  • Introduction of data-driven management information and targets.

We have a brilliant track record of delivering change programmes for Sales Organisations.

We are functional experts with a wide range of sales experience.

We will hit the ground running, quickly build rapport and gain buy in from stakeholders.

We will deliver change and transformation projects quickly and efficiently. 

Learn More
Contact Us

Our Aims

Sharpstone is a Results Driven organisation. We deliver what we say we will deliver and having been used to working in major corporate organisations delivering huge growth, we understand and can demonstrate how we have achieved this. Delivering growth in any organisation is not just about hiring great salespeople, it is about having the Right Strategy, the Right People and the Right Customers. We will deliver a 3-dimensional approach that is proven and works!

We will:

  • always deliver the results committed to.
  • work in partnership, with empathy and become trusted advisors.
  • communicate and take responsibility.
  • be recommended by every client we work with.
  • grow your turnover.
  • grow your profits.
  • deliver people engagement.
More About Us
deniz-altindas-t1XLQvDqt_4-unsplash

What People Are Saying

Tony Gill
Sales Director
"When I look back at my time working with Richard his objective towards people was focused around one thing. He constantly wanted to illustrate his trustworthiness with his team therefore developing the levels of trust that people had in him as their leader.I have a personal example following a difficult conversation with Richard where I reflected and recognised fully that it would have been far easier for Richard to avoid that conversation however, it was the right thing to do for me therefore the conversation happened.He did it for me, not for himself.Planning was based around “Keeping It Short and Simple”.Richard’s philosophy was that any idiot could put a strategy together that was complicated and that as always, the great ideas and plans were simple. This would lead to greater understanding of the requirements by the people charged with the task of executing the plan and subsequently a far higher rate of successful conclusion. I always felt that what was expected was very clear which had a positive motivational impact on all the team.The KISS methodology is something that I picked up have applied into my approach as a leader. Richard believes that there is a strong link between strategy and customers. He always communicated a very customer centric message around fully understanding the focus and requirement of a customer and then tailoring a solution to match. The ongoing account management projects that were put in place during my time working alongside Richard were an illustration of this in practice.We built a genuine customer centric culture where any process wasn’t implemented unless there was a clear benefit to the customer.  In some respects, it was very similar to the approach around people in that it developed trust with the customer which aided retention as well as encourage customers to buy more and recommend to others."Read more
Julie Waites
Director
"I had the pleasure of working with Richard as part of a business development project to prepare one of his companies for expansion via franchising. Richard led the project internally and was a delight to work with. he is strategic and always has an eye on the big picture whilst being able to focus on the operational and financial detail to get things done and make it happen. He has extensive experience in growing businesses and has an almost instinctive ability to identify and maximise the commercial opportunity that is open to the company. He's a true professional - planned, prepared, cool, calm and collected and delivers what he says he will deliver on time, every time."Read more
Matt Townshend
Sales Director
"I have worked with and for Richard over the last 30 years and have developed a deep rooted trust in him and his ways of working. Richard is not only an inspirational sales leader, he is an exceptional business strategist. Innovative, creative and decisive, he is able to operate equally well at strategic and tactical levels. He keeps things simple yet impactful and sees the things that others don’t. That I am sure is why he has made such a difference to every organisation that has been fortunate enough to work with him. His ability to apply the right business model, in the right business at the right time is a skill he has repeated time and again, and it is no surprise success has followed Richard throughout his career. His leadership style allows people to express themselves, and there are too many people to mention that have gone onto build successful careers because of the investment Richard put into their development. Richard has a presence that very few people have, yet with that he is hugely personable and great fun to be around. Anybody who works with Richard is lucky to do so and should be excited for the journey ahead."Read more
Andy Kennett
Business Development Manager
"Richard is a true leader, role model and mentor to me personally on my journey in sales and someone who I have the upmost respect and appreciation for. I have gained tremendously from the mentorship I received working with Richard, and I have met and know many others who say the same.A ridiculously well-rounded business professional that has a proven track record for success in everything he undertakes. My personal experience working with Richard saw him take a 30 year old business with a turnover of 12m when he joined up to 16m whilst increasing profitability in just under 12 months.Richard has the ability to take a company vision and develop a culture that gives people across the business purpose, drive and a desire to work towards a common goal and objective. He has a natural talent to get the very best out of people at all levels. His integrity and the exceptionally high standards he sets of himself rub off on everyone around him and further enhance peoples willingness to go above and beyond.Richards achievements and results speak for themselves and the list is extensive and long. What people soon learn upon meeting Richard is he is also an all-round fantastic bloke."Read more
Louisa Fleet
Managing Director
"I’ve worked closely with Richard helping him build and grow his sales force and highly recommend him as someone that can drive results in a competitive space. Here are some of the reasons why:He is an excellent leader who works tirelessly with his managers and their teams to deliver outstanding results. He has high standards and he inspires and motivates his people to strive for the very best. He devises strategies to meet the company goals and he empowers his managers to get the best out of their people. Richard’s staff are incredibly loyal to him many of them have worked for him for a very long time. People I put forward for interview buy into him as a leader because of his down to earth personality, and he is able to win top talent over and above his competitors as a result. I would describe Richard as having incredible energy, he is always enthusiastic and develops new and innovative ideas to benefit the company, sales team and clients."Read more
Sarah Brown
Head of Customer Growth
"Having worked with and for Richard on and off for 20 years, there has been a mixture of both rewarding and challenging times. He has always enabled me to learn and develop my skills, with some fun along the way, from someone who I consider to be my greatest mentor.Richard will always take time to learn and understand the business or people he is working with before identifying and planning anything.This will always start with why organisations and their people do what they do.This then forms and shapes the strategy that Richard will inspire, influence and lead the team and wider organisation to strengthen and enhance the brand and what it stands for. The projection of his business will be aligned to the market sector where the most value can be added, ensuring profitability is maximised and customers are happy, growing the company reputation from strength to strength.Making sure that the right people are in the right roles to maximise performance and stability is a key strength for Richard.  He gives mutual respect, embraces collaboration and identifies everyone’s weaknesses and strengths - including his own.  He will build the most powerful teams, always focussed on delivering the result set out in the timeline agreed.Richard has a strong presence in any room - having accompanied him in many customer meetings as well as delivering internal sales meeting through to company conferences with 100 + people.  The enthusiasm, integrity and passion that he always delivers, achieves buy-in, trust and belief from customers, work colleagues, his sales teams and any wider audience.I have experienced Richard’s desire to get involved when things get tough, living and breathing first-hand the challenges his reporting lines face to really understand and identify the right solution or approach.  He will also stand back and allow his Management Team to lead, develop and grow gently steering them when required to deliver the required result and become the best they can be.Once the results are achieved, he also becomes quite imaginative on ways to celebrate success making any sales environment a fun place to be!"Read more
Tony Gill
Sales Director
"When I look back at my time working with Richard his objective towards people was focused around one thing. He constantly wanted to illustrate his trustworthiness with his team therefore developing the levels of trust that people had in him as their leader.I have a personal example following a difficult conversation with Richard where I reflected and recognised fully that it would have been far easier for Richard to avoid that conversation however, it was the right thing to do for me therefore the conversation happened.He did it for me, not for himself.Planning was based around “Keeping It Short and Simple”.Richard’s philosophy was that any idiot could put a strategy together that was complicated and that as always, the great ideas and plans were simple. This would lead to greater understanding of the requirements by the people charged with the task of executing the plan and subsequently a far higher rate of successful conclusion. I always felt that what was expected was very clear which had a positive motivational impact on all the team.The KISS methodology is something that I picked up have applied into my approach as a leader. Richard believes that there is a strong link between strategy and customers. He always communicated a very customer centric message around fully understanding the focus and requirement of a customer and then tailoring a solution to match. The ongoing account management projects that were put in place during my time working alongside Richard were an illustration of this in practice.We built a genuine customer centric culture where any process wasn’t implemented unless there was a clear benefit to the customer.  In some respects, it was very similar to the approach around people in that it developed trust with the customer which aided retention as well as encourage customers to buy more and recommend to others."Read more
Julie Waites
Director
"I had the pleasure of working with Richard as part of a business development project to prepare one of his companies for expansion via franchising. Richard led the project internally and was a delight to work with. he is strategic and always has an eye on the big picture whilst being able to focus on the operational and financial detail to get things done and make it happen. He has extensive experience in growing businesses and has an almost instinctive ability to identify and maximise the commercial opportunity that is open to the company. He's a true professional - planned, prepared, cool, calm and collected and delivers what he says he will deliver on time, every time."Read more
Matt Townshend
Sales Director
"I have worked with and for Richard over the last 30 years and have developed a deep rooted trust in him and his ways of working. Richard is not only an inspirational sales leader, he is an exceptional business strategist. Innovative, creative and decisive, he is able to operate equally well at strategic and tactical levels. He keeps things simple yet impactful and sees the things that others don’t. That I am sure is why he has made such a difference to every organisation that has been fortunate enough to work with him. His ability to apply the right business model, in the right business at the right time is a skill he has repeated time and again, and it is no surprise success has followed Richard throughout his career. His leadership style allows people to express themselves, and there are too many people to mention that have gone onto build successful careers because of the investment Richard put into their development. Richard has a presence that very few people have, yet with that he is hugely personable and great fun to be around. Anybody who works with Richard is lucky to do so and should be excited for the journey ahead."Read more
Andy Kennett
Business Development Manager
"Richard is a true leader, role model and mentor to me personally on my journey in sales and someone who I have the upmost respect and appreciation for. I have gained tremendously from the mentorship I received working with Richard, and I have met and know many others who say the same.A ridiculously well-rounded business professional that has a proven track record for success in everything he undertakes. My personal experience working with Richard saw him take a 30 year old business with a turnover of 12m when he joined up to 16m whilst increasing profitability in just under 12 months.Richard has the ability to take a company vision and develop a culture that gives people across the business purpose, drive and a desire to work towards a common goal and objective. He has a natural talent to get the very best out of people at all levels. His integrity and the exceptionally high standards he sets of himself rub off on everyone around him and further enhance peoples willingness to go above and beyond.Richards achievements and results speak for themselves and the list is extensive and long. What people soon learn upon meeting Richard is he is also an all-round fantastic bloke."Read more
Louisa Fleet
Managing Director
"I’ve worked closely with Richard helping him build and grow his sales force and highly recommend him as someone that can drive results in a competitive space. Here are some of the reasons why:He is an excellent leader who works tirelessly with his managers and their teams to deliver outstanding results. He has high standards and he inspires and motivates his people to strive for the very best. He devises strategies to meet the company goals and he empowers his managers to get the best out of their people. Richard’s staff are incredibly loyal to him many of them have worked for him for a very long time. People I put forward for interview buy into him as a leader because of his down to earth personality, and he is able to win top talent over and above his competitors as a result. I would describe Richard as having incredible energy, he is always enthusiastic and develops new and innovative ideas to benefit the company, sales team and clients."Read more
Sarah Brown
Head of Customer Growth
"Having worked with and for Richard on and off for 20 years, there has been a mixture of both rewarding and challenging times. He has always enabled me to learn and develop my skills, with some fun along the way, from someone who I consider to be my greatest mentor.Richard will always take time to learn and understand the business or people he is working with before identifying and planning anything.This will always start with why organisations and their people do what they do.This then forms and shapes the strategy that Richard will inspire, influence and lead the team and wider organisation to strengthen and enhance the brand and what it stands for. The projection of his business will be aligned to the market sector where the most value can be added, ensuring profitability is maximised and customers are happy, growing the company reputation from strength to strength.Making sure that the right people are in the right roles to maximise performance and stability is a key strength for Richard.  He gives mutual respect, embraces collaboration and identifies everyone’s weaknesses and strengths - including his own.  He will build the most powerful teams, always focussed on delivering the result set out in the timeline agreed.Richard has a strong presence in any room - having accompanied him in many customer meetings as well as delivering internal sales meeting through to company conferences with 100 + people.  The enthusiasm, integrity and passion that he always delivers, achieves buy-in, trust and belief from customers, work colleagues, his sales teams and any wider audience.I have experienced Richard’s desire to get involved when things get tough, living and breathing first-hand the challenges his reporting lines face to really understand and identify the right solution or approach.  He will also stand back and allow his Management Team to lead, develop and grow gently steering them when required to deliver the required result and become the best they can be.Once the results are achieved, he also becomes quite imaginative on ways to celebrate success making any sales environment a fun place to be!"Read more
Richard-Adams-Sharpstone-Consulting

Over 30 Years in Sales Leadership

Richard has spent over thirty years working with companies that have ‘Growth’ at the centre of their DNA and the past seventeen as a Sales Director in large corporate organisations. He is a results driven sales specialist, working with product or service led organisations with large sales teams.

Richard has a reputation for working with established businesses with sales growth issues, or businesses that require a turnaround.

He drives sustainable growth through delivering high-performing sales teams and sales leadership.

More About Us

FREE E-Book

Ten things you can do right now to optimise the sales growth strategy in your business

Our free e-book details 10 things you can do right now, in order to optimise the sales growth of your business. It is split into 10 easily-digestible parts, and can be read on a device of your choosing. Simply input your business email address below to download.

Latest News

Latest news and insights from the Sharpstone blog