Our team
Gavin Freed
Chief Executive
Gavin joined esg. as CEO in September 2010, while maintaining his role as CEO of Paragon Skills which he has held since May 2007. Paragon is a sister company to esg. being part of Sovereign Capital, a leading private equity group. Gavin’s role focuses on managing the executive team in its achievement of the operational and strategic business objectives of the two companies. His involvement with both allows esg.’s predominance in the north and Paragon’s strength in the south to combine and create a powerful, national provider integrating the best of employability and skills services.
Prior to joining Paragon Skills, Gavin spent ten years working in the IT industry gaining experience with global organisations such as IBM and also private equity backed technology businesses; elata as CEO and Civica plc as Group Business Development Director.
He lives in Ringwood, Hampshire and is married with three children
Jerry Baker
Chief Operating Officer, Employment
Jerry was appointed Chief Operating Officer, Employment, for esg. in August 2011, having previously overseen the implementation of the Work Programme as Group Implementation Director. Jerry’s role focuses on managing the supply chains in the delivery of the operational and strategic business objectives of the contract portfolio. Jerry works closely with the Director of Skills to identify Apprenticeship and training opportunities across the business, integrating the best of employability and skills services.
Prior to joining esg, Jerry started his career working in the Civil Service with DHSS and Benefits Agency, delivering the first private sector provision of public sector services. He has since followed this with senior roles in private industry, working for major providers such as Serco, where he was Managing Director of training and consultancy. He also has experience and for private equity backed businesses across the UK, Middle and Far East education marketplace.
He lives in Colchester, Essex and is married with three children
Mark Thurston
Group Finance Director
Mark has been with esg. as Group Finance Director since May 2011, following international CFO roles within a variety of sectors including telecoms, IT and utilities. He joined our senior management team to lead on national financial strategies and ensure they support the broader corporate aims of our individual businesses. .
An ACA qualified accounting professional, Mark has a wealth of experience in transforming finance functions through people, systems improvement, efficient processes and outsourcing. He also brings a strong, listed company experience to esg., from both the UK and USA, including investor relations, debt and equity capital raising and mergers and acquisitions.
Steve Moore
Group Commercial Director
Steve joined esg. in April 2010, having previously delivered significant business growth as Business Development Director of welfare to work and skills provider, Working Links. Additionally Steve’s career history includes working for a number of years in various roles at global recruitment company Adecco and as Sales Director for US health and social care company Allied Healthcare International. Steve has a burning ambition as Group Commercial Director at esg. to develop our business into a brand that is synonymous with innovation and originality in all the sectors in which it provide services.
Steve is married with two children and lives in Sheffield.
Dan O’Keefe
Group Business Development Director
Dan joined esg. as Group Business Development Director in January 2011 whilst maintaining his role as Group Business Development Director of Paragon Skills which he has held since January 2010. Paragon is a sister company to esg. being part of Sovereign Capital, a leading private equity group.
Dan is responsible for delivering the Skills Funding Agency contracts for apprenticeships and foundation learning and is at the forefront of the company’s strategy for the development of new industry sectors and entry into new towns. Prior to joining Paragon, Dan spent 10 years with Serco Group plc as a Business Development Director where he was responsible for winning projects in education, local government and defence with clients including BBC, DCFS, DWP, DoH, T-Mobile and Vodafone. He also spent two years with Frontline Consultants helping them win significant contracts with the Audit Commission, North Tyneside Council and Scottish Government.
He lives in Surrey and is married with 2 young children. In his free time he enjoys skiing and following Manchester United.
Di Herft
Group HR Director
Di joined esg. in April 2011 and reports to the group’s chief executive, Gavin Freed. She will lead on the group’s national HR function and will work closely with esg.’s operations around the country to deliver on the company’s people strategy. She brings a wealth of experience with her, not only from the training and employment sector, but from her years in the healthcare sector where she spearheaded the HR strategy for the Nestor Healthcare Group, providing HR services to the company’s 81 branches.
An MCIPD qualified HR professional, Di joins esg. at a critical but exciting time for the business, which had just learned of its preferred bidder status from the Department for Work and Pensions to deliver its Work Programme across Coventry, Warwickshire, Staffordshire and the Marches. Additionally, esg. had recently combined its operations with Paragon Skills for Industry to create one of the largest integrated skills and employability providers within the UK. Di will play a major part in the combined group’s continued growth strategy.
Anthony Benton
Chief Operations Officer, Skills
Professionally qualified with a degree and background in Mechanical Engineering, Anthony has previously assumed leadership positions which have benefited from his systematic and pragmatic approach, most notably including his time as Managing Director of Foundation Software Solutions, Managing Director for Tribal Software and Services and more recently as Chief Operations Officer for Tribal Education.
Anthony has successfully driven significant business improvements in his previous roles and was responsible for major organisational restructures which led to growth in both revenue and profits. Change programmes instigated by him have covered technology, processes and quality, which have been affected through inspiring people and engendering a spirit of teamwork. Most of all he believes in releasing people’s talent, building capacity and developing effective teams.
Matt Corden
Operations Performance Director
Matt joined esg. in August 2007 when the training provider he’d run since 2002 - orient - became part of our group. During his time heading up orient, Matt was responsible for developing a strong business with a reputable name amongst big brand name employers, providing them with quality vocational training and assessment. Since joining esg. Matt has carried out the role of New Business Director, where, as part of the senior management team, he was responsible for the growth of skills and employabment contracts and the diversification of the business into new sectors. More recently, Matt has taken on the role of Operations Performance Director for skills, where he is utilising his experience from his days as CEO of orient.
Prior to entering the skills industry Matt spent the previous 11 years in the Royal Navy, ensuring, amongst other things, the operational effectiveness of his entire ship. Most notably in his naval career, Matt was the only Midshipman to have served on Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia.
In his spare time, Matt is rather unconventional in his pursuits, holding a private pilot’s licence and listing advanced diving, powerboat and fast-roping instruction as basic credentials on his CV. He’s also an avid supporter of Derby County football club, watching the Rams as often as he can.
Jose Rodriguez
Non-Executive Director of esg. and Assistant Director of Sovereign Capital
Jose has more than ten years of experience in private equity and financial services. Since 2004, he has supported a number of fast growing companies in the education and training sector implementing buy and build strategies, including esg. Jose is also a non-executive director of World Class Learning, an international group of schools and educational services with headquarters in London.
Jose has a BA in Economics from the ITESM and an MBA from the London Business School.