Richard Done
Founder & Principal Advisor @Arete Advisory Limited
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WORK HISTORY
Founder & Principal Advisor @Arete Advisory Limited
Fractional Leadership for Owner-Led BusinessesARETE Advisory exists to support owner-led businesses at moments where clarity matters more than speed.I work in a fractional leadership capacity with founders navigating growth, transition, acquisition or increased complexity, stepping in where decision-making is stretched and experienced perspective is required.My role is not to advise from the sidelines, but to- strengthen strategic judgement in complex environments - identify where momentum is being lost across people, process and performance - support confident decisions that align ambition with operating reality - embed where necessary, then step back as capability and confidence increaseEngagements typically involve- strategic growth clarity - operating model alignment - acquisition integration - senior decision support in regulated or high-pressure contextsFractional leadership is not about replacing executives.It is about strengthening the environment in which leadership decisions are made.ARETE’s principle remains simple:no pitch, no dependency, just perspective that holds up when tested.
SKILLS
ABOUT RICHARD DONE
I work with founders and owner-led businesses who have reached a point where experience alone is no longer enough.The business is working.The market is shifting.Decisions feel heavier, riskier, more consequential.Growth has changed the nature of leadership and clarity becomes harder to access.My role is to help leaders see clearly when complexity clouds judgement, and then turn that clarity into action.I bring over 25 years of commercial and operational experience, including senior leadership roles inside complex, regulated and time-critical environments. I’ve led growth, integrated acquisitions, stabilised operations under pressure and helped teams move from dependency to confidence.I now operate primarily in a fractional leadership capacity, working alongside owner-led businesses during periods of growth, transition and increasing decision weight.What I don’t do is pitch.What I do is act as a critical friend:– I ask the questions others avoid– I challenge assumptions with evidence and experience– I help leaders separate signal from noise– I stay close enough to reality that decisions actually stickClients usually come to me when:• growth has stalled or feels fragile• the operating model no longer matches ambition• an acquisition or transition is stretching leadership bandwidth• risk is rising but hard to define• or the founder feels they are carrying too much aloneFractional leadership is not about replacing executives.It is about strengthening the environment in which decisions are made.If there’s a thread running through my work, it’s this:Better decisions create better outcomes.Better perspective creates better decisions.If you’re navigating complexity and want a second set of experienced eyes, you’re welcome to start a talk, connect with me here or visit
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