Meet our executive team
Gareth Evans
Chief Executive Officer
At Proxima, I am responsible for the overall business strategy and the delivery of innovative and excellent service to our clients. Starting at Proxima eight years ago, I previously filled the role of Chief Operating Officer, leading the growth of our business in North America. Prior to Proxima, I spent over 20 years building and running procurement services businesses. Throughout my career I have been a trusted advisor to senior executives for some of the world’s largest companies, ensuring cost management and procurement solutions are designed, implemented, and delivered successfully. When I’m not with our clients or Proxima team, I enjoy spending time with my family, coaching rugby, being involved with my local community events and traveling.
Edward Winterschladen
Executive Vice President, Europe
I am responsible for running Proxima’s UK & mainland European business by growing and fostering our client relationships. With over 20 years of procurement experience, I joined Proxima in 2004, leaving my role as CPO at one of the UK’s largest hospitality groups. I take pride in using my breadth of experience to help our clients shape and deliver optimum value from third party supplier spend. Having led procurement teams before, and now leading them for our clients, I have a deep understanding of the challenges facing today’s CPOs. When I’m not helping our clients, I’m busy cheering on my local English football team, Leeds United!
Dan Collings
Executive Vice President, North America
I’m responsible for leading Proxima’s North American business including managing key client relationships, overseeing sales, ensuring we meet our contractual commitments and supporting the development of our people. I joined Proxima in 2004 and have experience across delivery, sales and solutioning, and have worked across Europe and North America. I spend the majority of my time working with senior executives to realize greater business outcomes and transforming procurement functions to better align with their organization’s strategic goals. When I’m not thinking about delivering great results for our clients, I’m spending time with my wife and young family in Chicago.
Louise West
Executive Vice President, People
I am responsible for the people strategy at Proxima and work with my team to provide a comprehensive range of HR and recruitment services globally across the business. People are at the heart of our business and everything we do which is why I am personally focused on ensuring we continue to provide the best possible experience at every career stage for our employees. I joined Proxima in 2012, with over 20 years of experience working within HR. Before joining Proxima, I worked for a large global management and professional services organization, working across both consulting and outsourcing in various sectors. When not focusing on how to improve our Proximites’ development and career journeys, I enjoy being active through running and cycling and I am currently learning to freestyle swim.
Guy Strafford
Executive Vice President, Market Engagement
As one of the founders of the business, I have been with Proxima for over 20 years. I am responsible for our market-facing and origination programs through which I help our clients and industry leaders bring context to the challenges procurement faces within their organizations. I am particularly interested in the future of our industry and how businesses can get more out of supplier relationships. I am also proud to be an audit chair for the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply and Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales. When not spending my time helping Proxima grow, I collect mid-20th-century British art and unusual wines.
Richard Gibson
Executive Vice President, Service Delivery
I have more than 30 years of experience working within leading companies in the UK, Europe and the United States both in the Procurement and Supply Chain fields. Since joining Proxima in 2003 I have led multiple engagements across the public, private and charity sectors with the focus being on transformational change delivering long term sustainable benefit. Now leading our Delivery practice my work supports both revenue enhancement and operational excellence across our UK and US operations. I believe that in order to solve business problems our teams must challenge conventional thinking and assumptions in procurement. Away from work, I still harbor ambitions to sing on stage and believe that one day my talent may finally catch up with my aspirations!
Clare Harris
Executive Vice President, Operations
I am responsible for driving predictability, governance, and control through data insight and managing Proxima’s infrastructure. I joined Proxima in 2005 as a Program Manager until moving into my current role overseeing our operations. Before Proxima, I held a series of international roles, including responsibility for opening new import markets for large multinational retailers. I was also instrumental in launching the small store format for one of UK's largest supermarket retailers. I am passionate about driving continuous operational improvement ensuring Proxima can consistently elevate the outstanding service we provide to our clients and when I’m not, you can find me knee-deep in mud doing military-style athletic training.
Matthew Eatough
Executive Chairman
As Founder and Executive Chairman, I am proud to have overseen Proxima’s strategic growth for over 20 years. I began my professional life working for the family business, a footwear manufacturing company, but the opportunity to co-manage a business turnaround project revealed to me the value of controlling business costs and efficiency through managing procurement. I developed the business concept and created the procurement consultancy business that grew to become Proxima, the leading provider of procurement solutions in the UK and the US.