Michael Tait – Biography
Michael Tait is an independent chairman with 25 years’ experience in developing or turning around private-equity backed companies. Mike has worked with many leading names in private-equity such as 3i, Electra Europe, Sovereign Capital, Advent International and Milestone Capital, and banks such as RBS, Hambros and Investec.
Mike has a strong corporate background. He was Vice President & General Manager, Europe-Africa for Unisys Corporation, the world’s second largest computer company, and built a £500m Europe-Africa IT business. Under Mike’s leadership, Unisys became one of Europe’s leaders in UNIX and distributed systems. Mike was a key member of the Europe-Africa Board. Mike has also held senior management posts with Digital Equipment Corporation, Tesco Stores, RHM Foods and Argos.
Mike became chairman of 23.5 Degrees, the leading UK Starbucks franchise network where he presided over a period of considerable growth to 40 high street stores and DriveThrus, and the achievement of considerable growth in revenues and profits. This successful chain, now has over 100 Starbucks stores.
Previously, Mike, with his management team, developed Coffee Nation to a network of over 900 sites across the country with Tesco, Welcome Break, Sainsbury, Moto and other big retail names, and created and led the sale of the company to Costa Coffee for £59.5m.
Mike led as executive chairman, the turnaround and development of Claims Management Group, a leading Lloyds and London Market insurance services company, and subsequently sold the business to Capita Group Plc for £32m.
Mike was originally trained as a mechanical and production engineer with Pye/Philips and Rolls-Royce.
Over the past 5 years, Michael has been Chair, Member, Vice Chair of a Multi Academy Education Trust in Norfolk in parallel with his interests in property development in Dorset. He is currently trustee director of a teacher training organisation that trains and places 100 teachers per year, and is trustee director of a large Alms House and property trust.