Lightbeam UK Ltd is headed by Robert Brook and Sue Jennings, both of whom worked for many years within Mars, Incorporated - a vast multi-national corporation, which spans the globe. In 2005 both Sue and Robert left Mars, and after a short break set up Lightbeam UK Ltd.

About Robert

Robert went to Leeds University, before starting work at Axa Equity & Law – where he soon moved into the world of IT. From there Robert moved to Eagle Star insurance, and then on to the East Midlands, working for Mars, Inc. – the start of a long and varied career.

In the East Midlands, Robert managed a variety of teams, in a variety of locations in the UK. He was then promoted to a new position, based in Germany – setting up an integrated IT operation for a number of Mars’ sites in Germany, Belgium and Holland. This meant relocating to Dusseldorf with wife, new-born baby, and new-found nanny, and starting a whole new life – which lasted for three happy years. After this time, Robert moved back to the group’s head office in the Thames Valley, with overall responsibility for numerous projects in the Supply Chain area of Mars’ business – which took him to most countries in Europe. After that Robert took responsibility for the management of all European-wide applications, before setting up and implementing the new global support strategy.

With this experience behind him, Robert had learnt what makes individuals ‘tick’ – what holds their interest, and keeps them motivated and performing highly - whatever their background; and what makes teams perform exceptionally, and what gets in the way – whether they be co-located, or dispersed across multiple countries, continents and time-zones.

Finally Robert decided to leave Mars and, after a short break from busy work life, re-trained as a Life Coach, with the renowned, international life coach, and author – Curly Martin. He then set up in business with Sue, a former colleague – using his significant management experience to coach individual business clients and business teams to higher levels of performance, and support personal clients through their particular journey of change.

Robert lives in South Oxfordshire, just North of Reading, with his wife Chris. He also has an apartment in Nottingham, which provides a base for Lightbeam, and working with Sue. Robert has two ‘children’ – a daughter in full-time employment, and a son on his gap year. His passion is ‘challenges’ – for example, completing the National Three Peaks challenge in under 24 hours (along with Sue and two others), and the London Moonwalk in 2007 in five and a half hours.

Robert is currently a business mentor for the Princes Trust. The Prince's Trust helps unemployed young people to start up in business by offering training, funding and other practical support. They are a 'last resort' funder for people who have nowhere else to turn for help, though despite this their 3-year survival rate of 55% compares well with high street lenders. More information can be found about their work at www.princes-trust.org.uk. As a "business mentor" Rob gives a few hours each month to support the development of young people and their businesses, offering guidance, motivation and support.

About Sue

After graduating in Mathematics and Management Science from Manchester University in 1982, Sue worked for two years as a graduate trainee for ICI, working for the IT division in the finance area - in Cheshire and then in London. She then moved to Mars, Inc in the East Midlands.

Sue held a number of different roles within the IT function of Mars, working with the businesses of Mars Confectionery, Pedigree Petfoods, Masterfoods and Thomas’s, across a wide range of business areas, from R&D and Manufacturing, to Sales and Customer Services, to Warehousing, Distribution and Haulage, and Finance. She worked in project management, managing the design, development and delivery of a number of business change projects – in the UK, in Europe and then globally. She was also global application support manager for a variety of applications, from single site, through to ones which were implemented in multiple locations around the globe. Whilst Sue remained resident in the UK, she enjoyed the challenge of working with and managing individuals and teams from many different countries and cultures.

Working in these roles not only gave Sue practical experience of working with a variety of business functions, but also of managing individuals and teams from different backgrounds and cultures across multiple locations. During this time Sue’s interest in individual personality differences, and what makes teams work well, intensified. This led her to form Lightbeam, with Robert, a former colleague - helping companies to improve the engagement and performance of their greatest assets – their people and teams. Sue's specialities within Lightbeam are exploring personality differences, and thus exploiting diversity, work life balance, and developing trust and relationships in teams.

Originally from Liverpool, Sue is a keen Evertonian. She is married, to John, and has three teenage children. In addition to being a qualified MBTI practitioner, Sue is also a qualified ASA Swimming Teacher, and has been coaching children to swim for the last 10 years. In her spare (!) time Sue enjoys swimming, skiing, fitness and travel.