Ben Howells, FCIPD. Leader & team coach.
'Oppo', your opposite number & partner.
I’m a coach and thinking partner. I work with people who are growing a business, growing into a role or trying to build a team that works well together.
I make space for the things you can’t easily say elsewhere. Sometimes to be silent and sit in the sh*t with you, sometimes to ask the stupid, or pokey questions; but always to meet you where you are and listen intensely.
Then I help you work out what to do.
I know the responsibility that comes with leadership.
Before Oppo, I worked as a Chief People Officer. My experience spans life sciences, technology and founder-led businesses. I am also a visiting fellow on leadership at Kings College, London.
I qualified as a Performance coach in 2019. Oxford Spinouts Following a record £320m Series-A I was responsible for scaling Immunocore globally, circa 80 hires/year with an award-nominated EVP and employer-brand initiative. At Immunocore, I began to broaden my HR experience - leading on HR-tech as well supporting on a culture transformation project, leadership development programme and performance management. I have continued to build a career in highly-technical and regulated environments - joining the founding leadership team of Osler Diagnostics, an Oxford Sciences Enterprises (OSE) spin-out. As Head of People, from series-a to an £85 million series-c investment round and a £200m valuation, I scaled Osler to over 150 people bringing 41 nationalities and experts in biochemistry, electrochemistry and microfluidics to the UK. Private Equity Following a secondment to the broader OSE portfolio as an advisory and operator in 2020 - I went to New York, US in 2022 and joined Motive Partners, a $6Bn PE fund specialising in Fintech. I spent the next two years in private equity, working with investment teams to put talent at the heart of value creation plans as well as strategic HR advisor to PortCo's. I have supported Monzo, Oxford Science Enterprises and Grayscale (US) in an advisory capacity. In 2024 whilst supporting the acquisition of Businessfourzero by global search & consulting firm Heidrick & Struggles as People Director, I setup Oppo Coaching.
We all carry rocks and rockets. I help you identify the rocks that hold us back and weigh-heavy. But I also help you tap in to the rockets of potential and superpower that fuel better ways forward.
Powerful conversations are the thread through my work.
Conversations with yourself about what matters and what gets in the way.
Conversations with others about expectations, priorities and things left unsaid.
Conversations that lead to a clear commitment, followed by action.
We can take the time to think properly. We can also be precise about what changes next.
>> Trusted Partner
Shaun, Client
We found the centre of me today. And from there we focused the attention on my forward trajectory
Yasmin, Coach
Ben stands out as truly exceptional. His mind is razor sharp and fast. He brings the perfect blend of intellectual rigour and emotional intelligence to his work.
Liliana, Client
Ben has the most intelligent sense of humour. He can really listen and help others achieve sustained excellence and maximum performance.
