Ann Clayton has been appointed as the new Chair of The Springboard Consultancy (SBC), a UK-based international training company specialising in addressing women’s development issues.

Ann is also a Trustee and Director of ‘Instructus’, the charity which now owns and manages SBC.

Ann Clayton.

Ann began her working career as a computer programmer but, after a year, moved on to work in sectors including manufacturing, retail and finance. At the age of 37, Ann was one of the six executive directors who launched Clerical Medical International – becoming the first woman on the company’s board of directors – and she moved to the Isle of Man to set up and head the company’s administration base.

In 2002, Ann became a freelance management consultant, specialising in the training and development of managers and directors, and Corporate Governance. She was also a lecturer on management qualifications at the Isle of Man Business School.

Since gaining the Institute of Directors’ Diploma in Company Direction and qualifying, in 2004, as a Chartered Director, Ann has served as a non-executive director of a number of companies. She is an approved tutor for the Institute of Directors, delivering their ‘Women as Highly Successful Directors’ course.

Ann is both a Trustee and Director of Instructus and a Director of CQM, another company in the Instructus Group – and she was involved in the decision for Instructus to acquire SBC late last year.

Commenting on her appointment as Chair of SBC, Ann said, “I am delighted to be chairing such an amazing company. I’m passionate about individuals developing to the best of their ability – and I can see many exciting possibilities in SBC’s programmes and trainers.”