I’m William O’Brien, founder and director of Corporate Development Ltd. Corporate Development is my personal vehicle for advisory, non-executive and fractional-executive work – so when you engage the business, you work with me directly.

I started my first business at nineteen. I built a vertically integrated furniture manufacturing, interiors and property group from a standing start to £20 million turnover. In 2022 I moved to portfolio advisory and non-executive work, helping other owners and boards grow, navigate difficult moments and make sound decisions.

My operational background informs how I work. I have carried the risk, worried about the payroll and made the calls that owners and founders face – so my advice is practical and commercial, not theoretical.

I’m a Fellow of the Institute of Directors (FIoD). Alongside my client work I sit on pro-bono advisory boards for “Be the Business” (helping SMEs boost productivity and performance) and the Jobs Foundation’s Business Council, informing my interests in sustainability, human capital and helping people from disadvantaged backgrounds into fulfilling employment.

Where AI fits in

More recently I have increasingly focused on helping SMEs implement AI effectively, identifying what will really make a difference, while minimising costs and risks. For boards, I approach AI as a matter of oversight, governance and very careful attention to risks and regulatory compliance.