Talk about executive coaching and you conjure up the image a group of middle aged men sitting around a table in grey suits. Yet for the Academy for Chief Executives, this image couldn’t be further from the truth. This membership organisation attracts top talent and grows leaders by delivering an experiential learning model that addresses mind, body and spirit.

The Academy for Chief Executives approaches its 21^st birthday next year and has forged a strong, diverse community of over 400 dynamic UK business leaders who together promote business excellence and shared learning. The Academy grows leaders and transforms businesses by inspiring CEO’s to become more professional, more fulfilled and more successful.

Andrew Morris Academy for Chief Executives CEO leads the organization by example. He says: “Growing leaders and transforming businesses is what I do. I have led many businesses to market leading positions, from brave start-ups, to high profile, private equity backed institutions, as well as publicly owned organisations.”

Andrew’s stellar business career includes leading and developing businesses to commercial success such as the ground-breaking Business Design Centre in Islington, Earls Court & Olympia, and the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham.

Today, his key focus is as Chief Executive of the Academy for Chief Executives, helping businesses accelerate their growth through outstanding leadership. And his mantra is ‘take your job seriously, but not yourself.’

The Academy business model is based on an experiential learning process that allows business leaders to learn with a peer group of other leaders.  The organisation has a holistic approach to business, believing that the health of the mind, body and spirit are inextricably linked to the bottom line so that a person’s work/life balance is addressed.

The Academy is broken down into regional groups that operate across the country.   Each new member is assigned to a group each group has a Chairman.

Individual members are CEO’s or MDs of companies (non-conflicting) turning over between £2m and £200m.   Each group meets monthly for a whole day hosted by members.   During the day an expert presents to the group on a topic of interest from selling businesses, personal wealth management and staff motivation to negotiation, recruitment and leadership.In addition there is a session where members to talk about issues that are affecting their own business and the group in turn provide their experience and expertise to help develop a strategy for dealing with the issue.As well as a monthly meeting, the Chairmen meet with each member for a 2-hour individual mentoring session.

The Academy draws on a bank of world class speakers such as charisma expert Nikki Owen, CEO Expert Roger Harrop and Discover Coach Giles Miskin. Members leave speaker sessions with a range of take aways including fresh ideas for innovative approaches to business and achieving success.

The Chairmen are highly experienced and successful business people at the top of their game and members come from a range of sectors such as manufacturing, financial services, professional services (accountancy/legal), marketing, IT, retail, automotive and charity.

On the benefits of membership Andrew Morris says: “It’s often lonely at the top. CEO’s and MD’s are supposed to know it all and can’t discuss some of the problems they have with staff due to confidentiality. The Academy gives them the opportunity to air their problems and develop solutions in a confidential and secure environment and draw on the experience of other professionals.”

To find out more about the benefits of membership call 0845 118 1028 or log on to the Academy website .