Potentialunlocked

Blackstart is a boutique consultancy with specialisms in brand, marketing, data science, financial services and M&A.

Blackstart’s partners bring together complementary skills to help senior teams develop and deliver their brand, plan and execute marketing and communications, set and manage business strategies and advise on mergers and acquisitions.

All with a huge dose of pragmatism.

Jan Gardner

Jan is a senior brand and marketing professional. She has a particular specialism in B2B, primarily in data science, marketing and customer contact agencies, from private start-up to plc. Her broad management remit often extends to M&A, investor communications, IP protection, premises development, policy setting, international development, and business systems, process and culture transformation.

Jan has also formulated and executed strategies for a range of B2C clients, often in financial services - in particular in personal banking, lending, fintech and insurance - but as diverse as utilities, publishing, construction, telcos and FMCG.

Alongside her Blackstart role, Jan is an Associate Consultant for Pavement Creative.

Andy Gardner

Andy is an experienced CEO, COO, Chief Strategy Officer, Data Science and Credit Director. A mathematician by training, Andy’s career began in operational research. The switch to banking saw him leading data science across marketing, credit risk and fraud risk for both First Direct and Egg.

Andy set up data science consultancy Jaywing with business partner Martin Boddy as a private business that subsequently became part of Jaywing plc. The plc also encompassed customer contact, creative, brand and performance marketing agencies. He returned to Jaywing plc as COO and ‘the numbers guy’, which saw him turnaround a failing business to achieve a near five-fold increase in share price. As Chief Strategy Officer he executed numerous acquisitions/divestments, including internationally.

Recently, Andy was data science director for fintech startup, ilumoni

“Having never considered our brand in depth before, Jan quickly understood the essence of Paragon to arrive at a proposition and values that truly reflect who we are. Her skills, from strategic vision and project management, to thought leadership and content development - always with meticulous attention to detail - helped us navigate an unfamiliar process with ease.

“In particular, Blackstart has ensured we have a beautifully designed and expressed identity, with consideration for practicalities and self-sufficiency, all accompanied by helpful hints and tips that will help us stay on track. This is without doubt a significant step change in how we showcase Paragon that will last for years to come; achieved in no small part because Jan cares deeply about delivering the very best outcome. We’re immensely proud.”

Jalal Khylou, Partner Paragon Business Solutions

Services include:

  • Brand and marketing Strategy

  • Brand identity development

  • Marketing planning and operations

  • M&A advisory services

  • Business strategy and planning

  • Business transformation

  • Data science strategy

  • Interim management/NED roles