Laurence Winmill

Laurence Winmill is a business consultant and entrepreneur who specialises in leadership, strategic growth, and organisational transformation. His career spans C-suite roles across publishing, media, automotive, and pharmaceuticals, including his tenure as CEO of David Spear Commercial Vehicles, where he delivered 30% sales growth and national awards including recognition from Auto Trader and the Institute of Sales Management. His consultancy work has helped businesses secure major growth contracts through strategic planning and financial insight, whilst his mentoring supports startups and early-stage ventures. Laurence equips audiences with practical strategies for navigating change, driving performance, and building resilient teams that deliver measurable results in challenging markets.

When Laurence Winmill took the helm as CEO of David Spear Commercial Vehicles in 2016, he transformed the UK's leading LCV dealership through a combination of strategic vision and operational excellence that delivered 30% sales growth within a year. His leadership earned the business national recognition, including the Auto Trader Digital Click Award and the Institute of Sales Management's BESMA Award in 2017. That success marked a defining chapter in a career built across C-suite roles in publishing, media, automotive, and pharmaceuticals, where he consistently drove growth by understanding markets, customers, and the strategic levers that unlock performance. His entrepreneurial journey began in 2001 when he left corporate publishing to establish a thriving magazine business, followed by founding a comprehensive media agency in 2010 that created successful campaigns for major brands across retail, leisure, professional services, and property.

Laurence's expertise extends beyond leadership roles into hands-on consultancy work that delivers measurable outcomes for businesses navigating growth and transformation. His strategic planning and financial insight have helped clients secure major contracts, including recent work that enabled a company to redevelop its Fibre and Civils division through the introduction of financial dashboards and targeted guidance. As a business mentor, he supports startups and early-stage ventures, drawing on his deep understanding of recruitment, people management, sales negotiation, and customer service to help founders make critical decisions during formative periods. His ability to adapt business models became particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he drew on his hospitality background to safeguard both business continuity and workforce wellbeing through innovative approaches to service delivery and technology adoption. These experiences now inform his consultancy practice, where he helps organisations make strategic choices that position them for sustainable success in challenging markets.

Laurence equips audiences with practical frameworks for driving performance, building resilient teams, and navigating change with confidence. His keynote sessions have reached global audiences at organisations including Unum, P&G, Kellogg's, Dunelm, and Armstrong, where he shares actionable insights grounded in real-world experience rather than theory. Audiences leave his sessions with clear strategies they can implement immediately, whether that involves refining their approach to leadership, strengthening customer relationships, or identifying growth opportunities in competitive environments. His book, 'Live Your Life', extends his influence beyond the stage, offering a straightforward guide to personal and business success that reflects his authentic, results-focused approach. Laurence's ability to connect with diverse audiences stems from his genuine passion for helping others succeed, combined with a grounded understanding of what it takes to lead through uncertainty and deliver lasting impact.