About Griffonage

In the current economic climate companies are facing unprecedented times, and therefore need to maximise the potential of their most important asset, their people. With a particular emphasis on developing leaders and teams, Griffonage specialises in aiding your top performers gain an edge over the competition.

A team approach is recognised as a highly effective way to learn; so too is coaching, especially in times of change. So, whether you are looking to grow your talent as part of a change programme, succession planning, to win new business, or as part of a leadership development programme, Michael Smith, the founder of Griffonage, will work with your people in a team environment to achieve the required goal.  In doing so he brings over forty years' experience of people leadership and development in both the private and public sectors, all of which is underpinned by business coaching and consultancy qualified at doctoral level, plus the highest standards of professional expertise, ethics, added-value, client care and confidentiality.

Michael Smith DProf  MA  FCIPD  FCMI FIC CMC FRSA  MRAeS

The founder of Griffonage, during his late teens and early 20s Michael was a professional rock and jazz drummer, at the same time taking an active role in helping young people across London via the Air Training Corps; an activity that continued nation-wide during his later career. In parallel he studied for, and gained, a Higher National Diploma in Business Studies.

Commissioned into the RAF in 1969, he subsequently undertook a diversity of appointments which culminated in being an adviser to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Chief of Defence Staffs on personnel issues. Additionally, he provided evidence to the Top Salaries Review Body and the Armed Forces Pay Review Body regarding all members of the UK Armed Services, the senior Civil Service, and the senior Judiciary. Other appointments included: Law Tutor at the RAF College, Cranwell; military intelligence, specialising in the Soviet Armed Forces and the KGB (he is a trained cryptographer); HR, Legal and Financial Director to a fast-jet operational base with a community of 3,500 military & civilian personnel; policy & strategy development in Whitehall concerning military aid to the civil power in times of national emergency and war; and senior management tutor at the RAF Staff College, Bracknell.

During his 20 years’ service in the field and at the MOD Michael, who is a graduate of the RAF Advanced Staff Course, has advised on, and chaired, a substantial number of inquiries into fatal accidents and dangerous incidents. He has sat as a judicial member of over 30 Courts Martial, plus acting as a professional military adviser in cases of murder, rape and espionage. Additionally, as a senior manager and HR professional he has dealt with such delicate issues as indebtedness, alcoholism, sedition, infant mortality, family bereavement, suicide, fraud, blackmail, extreme violence, paraphilia, and terminal illness. He led teams of up to 600. As such he has been continuously trained, and trained others, not only in his many professional areas, but also in team building and leadership.

Michael left the RAF in 1990 to join the management consultancy P-E International where he worked with listed and private Boards across the majority of UK industry sectors. In 1996 he founded Griffonage specialising in senior executive & NED search, adding executive coaching to his portfolio in 2005, and team coaching and group facilitation in 2008. To date he has conducted at least 15,000 hours of interviewing, coaching and consultancy at a senior executive level in the UK, USA, Continental Europe and Asia.

It is these 40 years of leadership, teams, management, people and business experience, training and the qualifications above that he brings to the Griffonage of today. Finally, Michael is a member of the Institute of Directors, the British Psychological Society, the Court of Cranfield University, and the governing body of a City of London Livery Company. He is a member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council, and an External Adviser to, and Associate Tutor with, the University of Chester.