Leadership
Our Group Leadership Team
LEADERSHIP
Michael Gilbert – Director
Michael graduated in Physics from the University of Birmingham in 1972 and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Cooper & Lybrand, becoming a partner in 1982. He spent most of his career in the Midlands with PwC, providing audit and advisory services before retiring in 2008. He served on the University of Birmingham Council from 2005 to 2014, including eight years as Treasurer, and was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2012. Michael joined the Cullum board in 2009.
Leadership
Richard Cole – Director
Richard trained as an accountant in Birmingham, before moving to Ove Arup and worked in London and the Middle East. After meeting his Australian wife, he moved to Perth and became GFD of three companies, which Richard re-shaped and helped the remaining business to grow a Komatsu franchise from $30m to $120m turnover. He sold that company to an Australian Group, part of a larger UK business and became Commercial Director of the Australian holding company. After selling the group companies, over a period of four years, Richard moved back to the UK. He became GFD, within a large UK Plc, then got away an MBO of an automotive plastics business, working as the MD. Finally, Richard worked as FD of another MBO, serving the Oil & Gas, Defence and Nuclear sectors. This was successfully sold to a FTSE 250 plc.
Leadership
Jane Minards – Director
Jane is a chartered accountant with over 35 years of experience. She recently retired as Tax Partner with BDO LLP Southampton, where she had responsibility for the provision of all aspects of tax services to a broad range of clients, with a particular interest in working with entrepreneurial privately owned businesses and start-ups.
Jane has extensive experience of advising on all aspects of corporate and shareholder tax planning, including reorganisations, acquisitions and disposals. Jane also has a wealth of experience of advising on all aspects of international taxation and holds the Advanced Diploma of International Taxation.
Jane also spent time as trustee of EBP South, a charitable body which connects businesses and schools to inspire young people about career options. Jane joined the Cullum board in Oct 2022.
Leadership
Mark Jansen – Group Managing Director
Mark joined the Royal Navy from school as a technical apprentice and served for 10 years until leaving in 2008. He has subsequently enjoyed a diverse career within the engineering / manufacturing space, primarily across the Aerospace and Energy sectors. With a strong focus on Commercial, Sales and Project delivery, Mark joined Cullum in 2016 initially as Operations Director, and moved to Managing Director in Oct 2018.
Leadership
Mark Thompson – Group Finance Director
Mark trained and ACA qualified in audit at PwC before moving into Transaction Services, where he gained 13 years’ experience advising on acquisitions and disposals across a broad range of industry sectors, with particular focus on industrial and consumer products. In 2016, he joined the Sanisure Group, a private‑equity‑owned global manufacturer, holding senior finance and leadership roles across Europe, including European Finance Director for Sanisure and Finance Director of the Q Medical Device division. In 2023, he was appointed Group Finance Director of Parker Plant a privately owned global machine manufacturer, leading strategic growth through acquisitions and organic development. He joined the Cullum Group in September 2025, bringing deep expertise in international manufacturing and engineering, M&A execution, operational finance and value creation.