Alastair Clyne

Alastair joined Upper Quartile as a Partner in late 2011. Upper Quartile generates over 90% of its income from international work in conflict and fragile states with approximately 40% coming from working directly with private multi-nationals investing in fragile states.

A highly experienced International Business and Economic/Trade Development specialist with over 25 years International consultancy/management experience, Alastair's particular focus is on transition, developing or emerging economies. This period has included a number of positions and appointments to International Directorships, Non-Exec Directorships and Team Leader/Consultant/Advisor roles.

As a highly skilled MD/Team Leader, Alastair's skills have been developed working in the public and private sectors, working/living in different countries, cultures, economies and political situations, with a distinctive personal strength for thriving and finding the best responses and solutions in poorly/ non-defined projects and situations. He has successfully handled major responsibilities for budget, policy, strategy, leadership/ capacity building - designing, delivering, monitoring, evaluating projects and then implementation, working with Donors/beneficiaries to ensure that all key deliverables/ objectives/ milestones are met.

Recent project experience (2009 – 2010) includes almost 2 years based in Almaty, Kazakhstan as Business Economist and Long Term Expert on the International Logistics Centre/ Project, an EU Funded Project covering all 5 Central Asian countries. Alastair was the driving force in directing and implementing a project to achieve its key objectives - supporting international trade by improving logistics, business capabilities, and transport facilities. The key deliverables were 5 Feasibility Studies (economic, financial (PPP/PFI), technical and environmental) to design, finance and establish a network of Logistic Centres in Central Asia. These have been widely recognised for their quality and value.

Following this project Alastair was invited by USAID in early 2011 to deliver a business and logistics project in the Sughd Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Tajikistan. As Team Leader working closely with the Tajik management team at the SEZ, the output presented a detailed feasibility and strategic plan to achieve important economic goals in this important region which is the prime geographical position to achieve significant success and in investment at this time of great planning, development and growth.

From 2007 to 2010 Alastair was European MD of MentorShop, a US/UK International Business Consultancy which specialised in business development and innovation support. Working with UK and east coast USA partners, Alastair delivered a number of highly impacting projects and programmes and worked closely with a number of private sector companies to assist them in achieving major new business and product/market development – from planning and development through financing to product launch or new market entry.

During this period Alastair also established IBTIX, a new company working with Development Agencies and Economic/Trade Development bodies to support SMEs and generate business, trade and economic growth.

From 2001 to 2007, Alastair was Corporate Services Director with the Bradley Dunbar Group (BDG), a Scottish based company specializing in the emerging economies of the EU's New Member States, Accession and neighbourhood countries. With Group companies in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, BDG achieved major success in EU, DFiD and other donor funded projects. Alastair was responsible for leading/delivering a number of projects and other key achievements included: business leadership/direction/motivation to Group companies, offices and staff; capacity building, training and leading key/major projects; expanding the Group's geographical presence and structure - from inception to final deal; evaluating new business development opportunities, structuring deals and achieving strategic partners and extending the partners/associate network into new geography and sectors.

From 1995 to 2001, Alastair had a number of senior roles with ScottishPower plc in both the energy and telecoms divisions. This included roles as Senior Sector Manager (major UK clients) in the power supply division, National Account Director establishing and leading the UK's largest ever affinity deal and Head of Strategic Marketing with the telecoms division (Thus plc)). In all roles major success and business growth was achieved during a period of great change, transition and growth in the UK utilities sector.

From 1988 to 1995 Alastair was a Senior Consultant at Scottish Innovation, an EU funded/supported Business and Innovation Centre (BIC), a highly skilled group of industry, techno logy, marketing and financial experts supporting technology companies with regards to product/market development, growth planning, business planning and funding, grant submission. In addition to company consultancy support, Alastair was responsible for evaluating and managing annual JLB Innovation Awards, European strategy (public, private, education sectors) re policy, programmes, funding, networks etc., managing Europe's first Venture Capital Club and leading the Europartenariat project which culminated in winning the contract for Scotland to host (1993), an event worth over £10million to the local economy.

An experienced Project Director and Team Leader, Alastair has been responsible for major budgets, key business development and leadership/capacity building achieved through valuing the importance of local relationships at all levels. His management approach is both leading and supportive, bringing a passionate and innovative dimension to all projects. Alastair's long standing client relationships and high level of contract retention/extension, demonstrate his commitment to total client satisfaction and project success.

During his professional career, Alastair has personally set up companies, partnerships etc. in 14 International countries and markets, and his career combines sales/strategic marketing experience and success (from SMEs to £million-plus contracts) with an empathy and deep understanding of the political, economic and social issues faced by Governments, Donors and Agencies across the world.

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