Management Team

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  Chris Parkhouse DL

  Chris Parkhouse FIoD FRSA FISMM is the founder and Managing Director of Deyton Bell. He is an expert in business development issues, who has spent over 30 years with high profile organisations, operating both domestically and internationally. In 2005, Chris established Deyton Bell to provide clients in the UK and overseas with bespoke economic and commercial development support delivered via a range of consultancy, in house and outsourced services. The business has developed a blue chip track record since launch and is proud to work with leading public, private and not for profit organisations around the world.

  Before assuming his current role, Chris worked for groups such as Provident Mutual, GRE, Aegon, Virgin, Abbey and Santander, in roles such as Corporate Sales Director and Director of Strategic Alliances. Chris has travelled extensively on business and has considerable global experience of international economic and commercial issues. He has managed business units active across over 80 countries. Although his primary focus is always on Deyton Bell, Chris has always been active across the wider community, and this has given him great insight and connectivity across the private, public and not for profit sectors. His activities have included:

  • 2005-2009 Chairman, Institute of Directors, Cambridgeshire
  • 2007-2009 Chairman, Cambridge International Relations Forum
  • 2007-2011 Non Executive Chairman, EEIDB Limited (t/a Business Link East)
  • 2007-2011 Deputy Chairman/Board Member, Greater Cambridge Partnership
  • 2008-date Liveryman and Freeman Worshipful Company of Management Consultants
  • 2009 Elected as a Fellow of the Institute of Directors
  • 2009-2017 Council Member of the Institute of Directors
  • 2009-2013 Chairman of the Institute of Directors, East of England
  • 2009-2011 Member of the Ministerial Regional Economic Forum
  • 2011-date Visiting Fellow in International Business, Ashcroft International Bus School, Cambridge
  • 2011-2015 Member, Nomination Committee, Institute of Directors
  • 2011-2015 Chairman, Greater Cambridge Group, GCGP Local Enterprise Partnership
  • 2013-2017 Honorary Commander, United States Air Force, 423rd Communications Squadron
  • 2013-2015 Member, Advisory Board, Institute of International Management Practice, Cambridge
  • 2013-date Member, Advisory Board, Ashcroft International Business School, Cambridge
  • 2013-date Director, East of England Business Group
  • 2014-2015 Director, Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce
  • 2014-2015 Chairman, Constitutional and Governance Reform Group, Institute of Directors
  • 2015-2017 Chairman, Governance Committee, Institute of Directors
  • 2017 Elected Honorary Lifetime Fellow, Institute of Directors
  • 2018 Elected Fellow, Royal Society for Arts
  • 2019-date Trustee Cambridgeshire Community Foundation
  • 2019-date Chairman, Advisory Board, Veterans & Families Institute for Military Social Research

  Away from the office, Chris is a rowing enthusiast who for over 40 years has trained and competed in all types of boat and crew, and he still enjoys any opportunity to be involved with the sport. He is a British Rowing Umpire and a Vice President of the Cambridgeshire Rowing Association as well as a former Senior Coach of Wolfson College Cambridge and Past President of Rob Roy Boat Club.

  In 2018 he was honoured to be appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire.

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  Steve McAteer

  Steve McAteer has over 15 years experience as a director and consultant, with significant expertise of strategic management gained from a wide range of organisations. Before assuming his current role, Steve was a director of the organisation responsible for delivering the Business Link and International Trade Services in the East for England, and was accountable as Executive Director for Inward Investment. The resultant organisation was recognized as the highest performing of its type in the UK, overachieving delivery targets for regional and national government contracts year on year for 7 years.

  In 2012, he joined Deyton Bell to provide focus on public sector and European funding consultancy using his extensive practical knowledge in both areas. He has devised, secured funding and project managed several EU funded projects in the past three years, as well as conducting assignments in the Middle East, Scandinavia and the rest of Europe. He has completed several extended interim assignments working for Local Authorities, focusing on transforming their delivery of Economic Development and Inward Investment functions, and has worked for over a dozen other first and second tier councils, analysing their current performance and options, and recommending appropriate commercially focused delivery models. Steve has also worked as Chief Executive Officer at Wenta, the Enterprise Agency based across Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Wenta manage and own 7 business centres, help start up over 1000 businesses a year (with 90%+ survival rates) and manage multiple support programmes for both individuals and SME’s. His work with this organisation gave Steve an excellent insight into the establishment and strategic development of incubators, managed workspace and business startup & growth programmes. Away from the office, Steve is an enthusiastic but very amateur skier and snowboarder, plays golf and racketball, and is the proud father of two children and an English Bull Terrier.

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  Pat Smith

  Pat has over 30 years senior management experience in economic development. This experience has been gained working in complex, multiple stakeholder environments across mainland Europe, North London, Greater Essex, and the 6 counties of the East of England. With particular expertise in:

  • Leading and managing the delivery of support services for new and existing businesses, including workplace skills.
  • accessing UK & EU funding;
  • public-private sector partnership development;
  • project and change management;

  Before assuming his current role, Pat worked for a range of public and not for profit sector organisations including the Manpower Services Commission, Essex Training & Enterprise Council, Essex Learning & Skills Council, Ixion Holdings and Exemplas Holdings. The latter two organisations have been responsible for nationally branded services including Business Link, Enterprise Europe Network, Investors in People, and Department for International Trade export services. Pat is widely known and respected for his ability to get things done in multiple stakeholder situations. His personal skills enable him to work equally well with organisations and people from all walks of life and develop meaningful collaborations for the benefit of new and existing businesses. Outside of work, Pat enjoys walking, swimming, family life, and is a life-time supporter of Lincoln City FC.

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  Neil Darwin

  Neil Darwin has over 20 years working in economic development across public, private and government sectors. Neil’s experience has been gained in complex, multiple stakeholder environments across the UK and working with partners across Europe. He has experience of leading projects with partners across all continents. With particular expertise in:

  • leading and managing broad services, including refocusing organisations and success in delivering new strategic plans
  • sourcing funding for both individual businesses and for public sector infrastructure;
  • strategy design and managing delivery in complex public-private sector environments
  • ensuring high quality outcome-focused delivery
  • supporting business growth and attracting inward investment

  Before joining Deyton Bell, Neil completed a successful period as the Chief Executive of the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership. Prior to this Neil has held a number of Economic Development roles across public and private sectors.   Neil has a strong reputation across public, private and government sectors and is known for his strategic thinking and ability to convert this into high quality delivery.  His is able to work effectively with all sectors and is able to develop meaningful collaborations for the benefit of new and existing clients. Away from the office, Neil can be found watching non-league football, and when he can face it he resumes his lifelong loyalty to Ipswich Town. Neil also enjoys attending obscure music gigs and has an extensive knowledge of the Indie genre. He also spends considerable time ferrying two teenagers around.

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