Mazur Judgement & Target Operating Models (TOM)
I know, I know… many lawyers are thinking they dislike this insight already. Firstly, because TOM design feels corporate, which I understand can put lawyers off immediately, and secondly, because there is a significant amount of Mazur fatigue for many excellent lawyers who have been affected by the judgment. Lessons from Mazur are wider than […]
Fortify for Growth: Empowering Companies to Scale Safely
The Hidden Risk of Rapid Growth For a mid-sized business on the cusp of rapid expansion, growth is a double-edged sword. The excitement of new markets and surging demand often comes with an undercurrent of anxiety. Will our people and current processes hold up under pressure? Can our culture and cash flow withstand the strain? […]
The Hidden Cost of Business Failure
In 86% of UK liquidations, no money at all is returned to creditors. This figure, drawn from government research, shows that when a business fails, the damage rarely stays exclusively within the company. Value is destroyed across creditors, employees, and local communities. Liquidation processes consume what little remains, with average costs exceeding 160% of the […]
Inside Arx Nova: Q&A with Chris Johnson
What motivated you to co-found Arx Nova? I have previously been placed in a situation where I was thrown into the pilot seat of a business going through crisis. At that time, I had multiple advisors, all giving me good advice; however, each piece of advice came from their own perspective. It was left to […]
Inside Arx Nova: Q&A with Simon Larkin
What motivated you to co-found Arx Nova? Across my 20-year career in marketing and communications, I’ve been on the frontline of more crises than I can remember. I’ve seen how leadership teams are tested in those moments, and I’ve also seen how fragmented advice can make the situation worse. Legal, operational, financial and communications advisors […]
Inside Arx Nova: Q&A with Joseph Mawdsley
What motivated you to co-found Arx Nova? The position to effect rapid, measurable change is where I enjoy being most. I thrive on the energy and ambition that comes with generating forward momentum at pace and under pressure. We’ve built Arx Nova around providing resolutions to the most pressing questions, with the goal of allowing […]
How to Tackle Crisis One Step at a Time: Leadership Lessons from “Eating the Elephant”
Leadership Lessons from “Eating the Elephant” Applying critical solution based thinking and prioritisation sequencing to overcome overwhelming challenges “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” I have always agreed with this statement and understood it was created to prevent inertia; however, I have always thought it is an oversimplification and doesn’t […]
EBITDA: The Lifeline Metric in a Business Crisis
When a mid-tier company (£1m–£100m turnover) hits a crisis, one financial metric often determines whether investors hold their nerve or head for the exits: EBITDA. In turbulent times, EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortisation) serves as a key stabilisation indicator and proxy for a business’s core value. This article explores why EBITDA is […]
Infrastructure Crises, Delayed Action, and the Myth of Stability
Too Big to Fail, Too Slow to Save Thames Water’s problems were hiding in plain sight, from outdated pipes spilling sewage into the river, to growing financial pressures behind the scenes. Yet for years, these issues were overlooked. When the crisis finally hit it looked sudden, but the warning signs had been ignored for years. […]
Controlling the Crisis Narrative Within 24 Hours: A Board-Level Imperative
When a corporate crisis hits, time becomes your most precious and least forgiving asset. The way a business responds in the first 24 hours can define whether the crisis is contained or spirals into a long-term reputational, operational, and financial disaster. In that short period, the company either earns the trust of stakeholders and the […]