Mike went portfolio aged 39. He evolved a portfolio business model coaching and facilitating peer power, collective intelligence and agility in the c-suite for mid-market companies and corporations globally. He has increasingly specialized in working with boards as a member and Chair … governance boards, advisory boards and peer advisory boards … the latter of peer forums emerged as his greatest passion and he has been facilitating peer groups of CEOs, Executives and Professionals for 25 years, including now for Portfolio Professionals.

Before that Mike’s corporate career was in Oli & Gas and then Aerospace. He was serial CEO of technology companies culminating in him running the Aerospace Division of a British Public company, initially from the UK and then from the USA. He is English originally, American now and has lived in Southern California for 25 years. He lives in Temecula Valley wine country between Los Angeles, San Diego & Palm Springs, from where has an extensive network globally.

Zarir (aka Zed) Vakil has spent 30 years seeing business from every side of the table — as a Company Director, Venture Capital Partner, Non-Executive Director, Fractional and Interim CEO, and Business Growth Partner. Call him a Portfolio Professional now, he will call it paying attention properly, in more than one place, at once. That has evolved to leading peer to peer groups, and with Mike Richardson launching PXO Exchange as the movement for portfolio professionals. Zed is also currently co-authoring Portfolio Life with Mike Richardson, and together they are embracing AI to augment their delivery of success outcomes for their clients and members.

A decade in large multinationals like BAT Industries PLC and GKN PLC provided Zed the commercial and operational grounding. Co-founding venture capital firm DCD London & Mutual PLC, which through over a decade and three investment cycles gave him the investor’s eye. Spinning out his own consulting venture, and an eight-year run as Non-Executive Director of US technology company WRLD Inc.,through a $20M Series B and beyond gave him the rest.

Today he operates under his eponymous brand, ZED Portfolio, partnering with founders, CEOs, boards, and portfolio professionals, who want practical growth and commercial advice and fractional leadership. Kenyan-born, London based, and of British Parsi heritage, Zed brings a lifelong instinct and passion for servant leadership to every board, founder and business he serves.