Meet The Team

Working With You - For The Success Of Your Project

Kevin Godden

Kevin Godden

Managing Director

Kevin is a qualified accountant who has vast experience and sector knowledge of strategy, facility development, finance and procurement gained from projects in the UK and abroad.

Kevin's areas of interest include leisure, stadia, arenas and sports facilities. His passion is classic cars and his pride and joy are his 1953 Morris Minor and MG cars.

Damien Adams

Damien Adams

Director

Damien has worked in the sport and leisure industry for 20 years. He has managed numerous major projects for governing bodies, local authorities, operators, developers and sports clubs. He is a specialist in management options appraisals, feasibility studies and procurement processes.

Outside of work, Damien enjoys travelling, live music and is a passionate amateur sportsman.

Emma Madden

Emma Madden

Director

Emma is a procurement specialist having developed the standard leisure procurement toolkit and delivered the full range of procurement processes in the leisure and sports sector.

Emma is one of the founding directors of the company. She is a keen sportswoman and most weekends can be found pitch side cheering on her children.

Darren New Image

Darren Lamb

Director

Darren has extensive sport and leisure management experience in the leisure trust and local authority sectors. He has over 25 years senior management experience including being Chief Executive of a multi-contract leisure trust in the north of England. Areas of expertise include operational management, business growth, strategy and partnership development. He has experience of leisure asset transfers, joint ventures and company mergers and is a Fellow of CIMSPA. Darren enjoys time with his family, playing piano in a band and following his son - an international golfer.

Tim Mills

Tim Mills

Director of Consulting

Tim has been in senior management roles in the sport and leisure sector for over 20 years, including more than ten years as Director of Business Development for a major leisure trust. He has also worked in the local authority and private sectors and his particular areas of expertise include business planning, operational management, facility feasibility studies, tender preparation and partnership development. In his spare time, Tim enjoys family life combined with a mix of tennis, squash, golf and cricket.

David Heam

David Hearn

Associate Director

David is strong in people leadership; combining a consultative and advisory approach, proven commercial skills and project-leading abilities. He helps organisations to maximise their ROI's, engage diverse stakeholder groups and deliver targeted goals, in sometimes politically charged environments. He has a background in contract management and operational improvement within the sport and leisure sector. He is a co-opted Trustee of Lewes based leisure operator Wave Leisure. Outside of work, his passions include reading, researching and getting outdoors.

Nick Page

Nick Page

Principal Consultant

Nick has worked at FMG since leaving University in 2011 where he gained a 2:1 in Sports Science. Working across various projects whilst at FMG, Nick has specialised in delivering facility feasibility studies, business planning, business cases and strategy projects for various partners from the voluntary sector through to NGB’s. Nick has a particular interest in football and has been a key part of FMG’s football consulting team.

Outside of work, he plays cricket for his local club and is a season ticket holder at Tottenham Hotspur.

Dave Cove

Dave Cove

Director of Consulting

Dave has over 30 years' experience in the leisure industry, 14 as a CEO of a successful leisure trust known for its innovation and strong community engagement. Dave also has a wealth of experience of boards as a Non-Executive Director including; The Sports Council Trust Company, The Football Foundation Grants Panel, Sports Leaders UK, Wycombe Wanderers FC Foundation and British Surfing.

He loves to travel and been involved in the building of a school in Nepal.

John Bates

John Bates

Associate Director

John joined the team at FMG in January 2020 having worked in the sport and leisure industry for over 35 years. He has a finance background and a thorough understanding of Leisure Contract Management having worked as a Regional Director and a Business Development Director for one of the leading leisure management companies.

John is a keen sportsman, with a single figure golf handicap, representing Berkshire Over 60's cricket team and is a qualified FA referee.

Beatrice Wheatley

Beatrice Wheatley

Senior Consultant

Beatrice has worked for FMG since leaving University where she gained a 1st Class Law Degree with Honours. Since joining FMG, Beatrice has worked on numerous strategy and facility development projects and is particularly experienced in consultation, data and business analysis, and the procurement of public sector leisure services.

Outside of work, Beatrice is a member of her local running club and a keen equestrian, often competing on her horse, Marty.

Oliver Hitchcox

Oliver Hitchcox

Sports Planning Manager

Oliver has over 10 years’ experience working within sport development, with a background in facility development and strategic modelling. He enjoys delivering community led projects that help to increase participation within sport and physical activity.

Outside of work he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, going to the gym, football and live music.

Louis Thompson

Louis Thompson

Data Scientist

Louis is a data scientist for FMG, specialising in data-driven solutions to complex problems. A graduate in Physics, he has extensive experience with tackling varied real-world problems as well as a proven track record in developing new tools and techniques. He’s otherwise passionate about health and fitness, as an avid gym-goer.

Simon Burnett

Simon Burnett

Director of Consulting

Simon is a Director of Consulting at FMG and our strategic lead for Health and Wellbeing. He is a highly experienced ex-local authority officer with more than 35 years’ experience of managing services and developing strategic partnerships in the leisure, culture, health, wellbeing, social care, education, employment, regeneration and community sectors.

A keen sportsman and swimmer, Simon has swum all the lakes in the Lake District and also enjoys playing rugby.

Billie Early

Billie Early

Research Consultant

Billie is a Project Manager working on one of FMG’s international projects with other colleagues. She has a Masters Distinction in Contemporary History, and she enjoys using creative and strategic problem-solving to manage projects. She is a great communicator and organiser. Outside of work, Billie is passionate about theatre and film, and staying active at the gym.

Gabriel Ortiz

Gabriel Ortiz

Business Analyst

Gabriel has a 1st Class BSc(Hons) in Sport Management and a Distinction for an MSc in Sport Management, Politics, and International Development. Gabriel's experience includes demographic analysis, strategic reviews, financial modelling and performance benchmarking analysis. He has worked on a range of projects, from feasibility studies to indoor built facilities strategies and the procurement of public sector leisure services.

In his spare time, Gabriel has a passion for football, film, and exploring different languages and cultures.

Shicksa Bhinda

Shicksha Bhinda

Junior Data Scientist

Shicksha has joined the team as a junior data scientist to support and develop our data insight work and sports planning models. She is currently studying Data Science and Computing and has a great passion for numbers and statistics.

She is a keen badminton player and has represented her country in this sport. Shicksha also enjoys morning runs.

Jack Neale

Jack Neale

Business Analyst

Jack Neale is a skilled Business Analyst at FMG Consulting with a background in International Football Business. He brings a focused expertise in sports infrastructure strategy and stakeholder engagement, particularly within the context of local authority sports provision.

Jack’s combination of analytical rigour, field engagement, and collaborative project management makes him a valuable asset.

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Testimonials

What Our Clients Say

"Sports England commissioned Darren of FMG to prepare the Business Plan for SCSC. The Committee connected with Darren right away at the first meeting. His exceptional bubbling personality, booming enthusiasm, insightful ideas, and eagerness to help became quickly apparent. We knew, felt, and have been proven right that he was the right person to be working with a community who in the past had little faith in professionals and the establishment. The Committee worked with Darren and his team for about six months, gathering information in small group discussions, carrying out a desktop search, including a survey of our users. He kept in touch with me, constantly updating and clarifying information to ensure that the Committee owns the business plan. The business was completed well ahead of time. It was presented to the Committee Members and the wider community of over one hundred and fifty guests at a recent meeting. He was applauded for the comprehensive nature of the business plan, which was easy to read and presented."
Sport England
"FMG have been invaluable in supporting the redevelopment of Gurnell Leisure Centre with a 50m competition pool and major water park, from initial feasibility through to the development of the business case and financial modelling. Their ability to work with the Council and professional team on addressing some of the key issues around operational design and project financing have contributed positively to the success of the project."
London Borough of Ealing
"Guildford Borough Council have been working with FMG Consulting, Tim Mills and Bea Wheatley, on a time sensitive leisure contract procurement. FMG came on board, following a competitive tender process, with one-year remining on our current leisure contract, less than the ideal eighteen months. However, with their professionalism and support we carried out effective soft market testing and have received a number of tenders that have surpassed our expectations. The structured, inclusive approach taken by FMG has ensured Council wide support for the procurement process and ensured we are on schedule to achieve a great result within the tight timeframes of our tender. Working with Tim and Bea has been both educational and enjoyable and the support has been invaluable to achieving such a positive result. FMG have been great to work with and I would have no hesitation in recommending their services to other Councils."
Guildford Borough Council
"FMG have supported the Foundation with its football hub programme since its start and have been invaluable and creating the contract structure, financial modelling and business planning for the roll out of the hubs across England and their work has been invaluable to its success."
Football Foundation
"I have worked with FMG on a range of projects over the years and always found their knowledge and expertise to be invaluable in guiding our strategic decision making around the Sports and Leisure agenda."
Wokingham Borough Council
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