Player-coach for growing businesses
I work alongside founders, CEOs and leadership teams on the Sunshine Coast and in Brisbane to grow revenue and profitability, get clear on the numbers, and prepare for the next phase – whether that's growth, a reset or a sale.
Where it usually stalls
This is what growth looks like – and every one of these can be worked through.
You don't have to wait until something goes wrong. Often the best time to talk is when things are going well and you want to go further.
The record
Every number here is from a business I worked inside – usually right next to the founder.
Also: 21% year-on-year growth across ANZ, North America and EMEA at The Colin James Method, and US growth work with Five by Five Global today.
Big-brand thinking, local-business scale
Bupa. Hasbro. Sony Music. Senior leaders from SAP, Commonwealth Bank and L'Oréal. In a big company, there's a whole team working out where the next growth comes from. Most businesses don't have that. That's where I come in. Because one good partnership, one new market or one change to how you make money can make a real difference.
I bring the discipline I learned working with big brands – without the jargon, the endless meetings or the 50-page decks.
Where it starts
Most people rush to fix things. I start by getting to know you – how you think, what drives you, and what matters most to you and the business. That's usually where the real answer is.
I've been in your shoes. I know how overwhelming running a business can sometimes feel, and how hard it is to balance with the rest of life. Being the owner or CEO can be a lonely place. Finding the right people to stand beside you on the journey you've created is hard – but it's achievable.
So our first conversation is just that – a conversation. No pitch, no judgement. Being genuinely curious about your story is how we find common ground, and from there, the clarity and way forward you're looking for.
Then we work on it together – steady progress, with wins that add up.
Ways to work together
A lot of businesses never get someone who's scaled companies to a sale, opened new markets and sat across the table from global brands. Now you can – without hiring a full-time executive.
Imagine adding a senior player to your team – someone who's been here before, on your side, for as long as it's useful.
Two to four weeks getting to know you and the business – the numbers, the pipeline, the people and your customers. Then an honest read on where you're stuck, and the moves that will make the biggest difference.
You leave with: a clear view of the numbers that matter, and a one-page plan you can act on – with or without me.
Fractional CCO, a day or two a week. I work alongside you and your leadership team – bringing sales and marketing together as one commercial engine, keeping everyone focused on the numbers that matter, and opening doors where I can.
You get: senior commercial leadership without a full-time executive salary.
For a defined outcome: a reset of how you go to market, a step-change in growth, or getting the business ready for a sale. The kind of brief I've been brought in for before.
You get: someone who's done this before, accountable for the result.
The human bit
Officially Rakesh. Kesh to everyone else.
In 2013 I left London for Australia. Cohort needed someone to help it scale, grow and sell over the next few years, and London didn't feel like home anymore. We did all three. I stayed.
I trained at a tennis academy in Hong Kong – where I got to play with Björn Borg – and went on to play tennis and football at a national level. These days I'm the one coaching kids. It's never about winning. It's about building the confidence to try things, and practising the basics until they become second nature. Same in business.
Home is now the Sunshine Coast, for the community, the lifestyle, and the potential of this region.
“It is fair to say he was instrumental in achieving a high exit multiple when I took the business to market in 2008. I cannot recommend Rakesh highly enough, not just for all of his great business attributes but also for his work ethic and above all, his loyalty.”
Charles Boliston · Managing Director, RDP
“Rakesh is by far one of the most inspirational and insightful managers I have had the pleasure of working for. He possesses a very unique attribute which most directors lack - being totally down to earth.”
Rob Carpenter · Reported to Kesh at RDP
“Kesh brought along a commercial lens that revamped the agency model and clearly articulated where the growth was, and more importantly, how to achieve that growth.”
Michael Lai · Group Financial Controller, Josephmark
“His strong partnership ethic, ability to listen and appreciate the unique needs and challenges of our business was a key factor in the decision to form an exclusive partnership with Cohort. This really set Cohort apart from its competitors. Rakesh certainly challenged our thinking in order to help us achieve the best financial & acquisition outcomes.”
Tim Shepherd · Client, while at Cohort (now COO, CIMET)
Start here
Over a coffee on the Coast or in Brisbane, or a call if you're further away. I'd like to hear your story – where you are, where you want to get to, and what's getting in the way.
