Selected professionals from around the world are appointed to Board of Advisors by the Board Chairman. Responsibilities of board members are to advice on the strategy matters of The Creighton Group.
Larry Taylor, PhD., Chairman of the Board of Advisors (USA)
Dr. Taylor is a seasoned independent professional corporate director having served on publicly traded corporate boards, private company boards, non-profit boards and corporate advisory boards. Currently he serves on the boards of the National Association of Corporate Directors (SoCal), the Creighton Group, and the African American Board Leadership Institute. He chairs the Private Company Director Round Table in Southern California. He chaired a Vistage CEO Group. Further, he was a member of the International Corporate Directors Network (ICGN) whose members oversee $18 trillion of corporate investments. In addition, he served on the board of AQSR International, an ISO Registrar.
Previously, he was the co-founder and chief financial officer (CFO) of a publicly traded corporation, where he routinely interfaced with the SEC, the PCAOB, the DTC and FINRA for nearly ten years. Further, he was the founder and chief executive officer of The Creighton Group, an international environmental management consulting firm for ten years. He spent ten years with Ernst & Young and Deloitte & Touche as the Principal-in-Charge of the productivity improvement consulting practices. Dr. Taylor was a manufacturing executive in the automobile and aerospace industries for eleven years prior to entering the consulting industry.
As a management auditor and consultant, Dr. Taylor has conducted over 100 management audits and projects for commercial, government and not-for-profit organizations. Further, he has conducted management assessment projects for the California Manufacturing Technology Center, U.S. Small Business Administration, and other institutions. Among his numerous domestic private sector clients are General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Hughes Aerospace, Northrop, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Mars Incorporated, Warner Brothers, Taco Bell Inc., Charter Hospital Systems, Prime Wheels, Inc and Pioneer Electronics.
As a lead environmental auditor and consultant, Dr. Taylor served on the Technical Advisory Group committee that wrote the ISO 14001 international environmental management standard. He is the author of an accredited lead auditor environmental management training program that is being used in Asia. He is the management representative for an aerospace fastener company overseeing the AS 9100 and ISO 9001 quality management system. He has conducted numerous assessments for the U.S Agency for International Development, the International Private-Public Partnership, the U.S. Environment Training Institute and the International Organization for Standardization around the world. Among his many international clients are Ion Exchange, Inc. (India), Oiltools Incorporated (Thailand), Lark Engineering (Mexico), Qualico Incorporated (China), Motorola (Malaysia), Tourism Department (South Africa) and the Business Council (Russia).
As an educator and speaker, Dr. Taylor was an adjunct professor or guest lecturer at several universities, including the Asian Institute of Technology (Bangkok), the Penang Development Center (Malaysia), California State University (Los Angeles) and the American College of Corporate Directors. Moreover, he has been the featured speaker at numerous conferences around the world and has been interviewed and quoted in business magazines and news media, including Siam Trade, Corporate Dossier Africa, Black Enterprise and CNBC News.
He holds a PhD. in Executive Management & Business Strategy from the Peter Drucker School of Management at Claremont University, a master’s degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University and a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Administration from General Motors Institute. He is a Board Leadership fellow with the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) and was a Professional Director with the Corporate Directors Group (CDG). He has held “fellow” status with Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE), the American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS) and the International Environment Management Association (IEMA). He was a registered environmental assessor (REA) for the State of California and Certified Air Quality Permit Processing Professional with the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Finally, he earned certificates from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) for Sustainability Reporting, and the University of Southern California Certified Public Accountant (CPA) program.
Paul Chan., Member of the Board of Advisors (Asia)
Mr. Chan is President of the Malaysian Alliance of Corporate directors and a board member of the Global Network of Director Institutes. Paul’s professional and business experience spans over 30 years in Accounting, Corporate, Financial and Business Advisory services, assisting clients to manage their corporate and personal financial resources. He is the President of Business Transitions Asia Sdn Bhd that focuses on assisting professional practitioners and private business owners to monetarise the wealth in their businesses. He is also the founder of S&P NetWorth Advisors that offers independent financial and wealth management resources to selected clients.
An Independent Non-Executive Director (INED) of four Main Board Companies listed in Bursa Malaysia Securities, he had served in various capacities, including as senior independent director, chairman of the audit committee, member of the risk management, investment investor relation, nomination & governance and remuneration committees.
Paul is an active contributor to the corporate and professional sectors, serving various local and international professional entities and NGOs as: President and Founding Board Member of Malaysian Alliance of Corporate Directors (MACD); EXCO Member / Treasurer of FPLC (Federation of Public List Companies); Secretary, MMAA (Malaysian Mergers and Acquisitions Association).
Further, he served as a member of the Corporate Governance Working Group that developed the 5-Year Corporate Governance Blueprint initiated by Securities Commission Malaysia. He was Council Member of MIA (Malaysian Institute of Accountants), Secretary General on the Board of Governors of MICG (Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance), CEP Accreditation Committee Member of Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd, President of ACCA Malaysia (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), President of MAICSA (Malaysian Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators), International Council Member of ICSA (Inst. of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators, UK.), Global Advisory Council Member of Financial Planning Association, USA, Chairman of APGFG (Asia Pacific Geographic Focus Group) of FPA, USA, Founding Board Member / Vice President of Financial Planning Association of Malaysia (FPAM), and Chairman, ISO/TC 222 Committee for Malaysia, for development of the International Standard of ISO 22222 Personal Financial Planning.
Professionally, Paul is qualified as and a member of CA(M): Chartered Accountant Malaysia, FCCA: Fellow, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK), FCIS: Fellow, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (UK), FCPA (Aust.): Fellow, Certified Practicing Accountants, Australia, CFP: Certified Financial Planner®, FCTIM: Fellow, Chartered Tax Institute of Malaysia, and ChFC: Chartered Financial Consultant (USA). He is a member of the Financial Planning Association (U.S), National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (U.S), and National Association of Corporate Directors (U.S).
Creighton Taylor, CFA, Member of the Board of Advisors (USA)
Creighton Taylor has over ten years experience in investments and managing technology projects. He has been intimately involved with the development and launch of over 11 mobile apps and 8 websites spanning the education, fitness, entertainment, and apparel industries. Creighton has led teams of up to 11 software engineers and 2 designers to build innovative apps that have attracted millions in funding. Yet, he has also coded 5+ fully functional mobile apps and websites from scratch.
Creighton co-developed Guided Compass in 2018, and is responsible for product management and marketing of the platform. Guided Compass has helped hundreds of students identify and get help working toward their career goals. While attending Harvard Business School, Creighton realized that the 40% that were career changers were overwhelmed with the career pathway possibilities. “If people with 4-5 years of work experience struggled with this, imagine the struggle for community college students?” he thought. This was the one of the major reasons he developed Guided Compass. Of course, this was in 2013, far before the buzz of the threat of A.I. and automation was so prominently in the news.
Prior to Guided Compass, Creighton was Growth Director for HackHive, a VC-Funded startup that helps software engineering students showcase their projects and get entry-level jobs. As Growth Director, Creighton was responsible for user growth strategy and execution acquiring the majority of the first 300 users. Prior to HackHive, Creighton was Head of Product at Emmasson, leading 5 engineers and a product designer to create the first version of a digital rights management platform with a heavy security feature.
Prior to Emmasson, Creighton was Head of Product at Fitspot, a $2MM funded fitness technology company. There, Creighton led 11 software engineers and 2 UI/UX designers to grow its existing mobile app and to launch new web app. Monthly revenue for the company grew 7x and the number of employees grew 10x over his tenure.
Creighton began his career working for a partner at Rochdale Investment Management, a small investment management company. There, Creighton wrote code that automated much of his job and supported the sales & marketing department, helping revenue double during his tenure. Rochdale was acquired by City National Bank shortly before Creighton went off to business school.
Creighton earned his Bachelors in Finance and International Business from Emory University, his Bachelors in Music from Emory University, his Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation from the CFA Institute, and his Masters in Business Administration from Harvard University.
Ms. Anita DeFrantz, Member of the Board of Advisors (International
)
Ms. DeFrantz, Esq. is an executive board member of the International Olympic Committee. In addition, she has a member of board for the United States Olympic Committee since 1986. Further she been the President of Kids in Sports, Los Angeles since 1994 and president of LA84 Foundation of Los Angeles since 1987. She has been Vice President of International Rowing Federation, since 1997.
She has been a Trustee of Western Asset Premier Bond Fund since 2002 and serves as a Director of Western Asset Funds, Inc. She has been a Director of Western Asset Income Fund since 1998. She has been a Director of OBN Holdings Inc., since June 2003.
Ms. DeFrantz graduated from Connecticut College in 1974 with a degree in political philosophy and earned her law degree at the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1977.
Ms. Julie Garland McLellan, Member of the Board of Advisors (Australia)
Ms. McLellan is an experienced professional company director and expert in strategic governance based in Australia. She has held director and chairman positions with listed and unlisted companies including several not-for-profit organizations and government owned companies. With experience in business spanning Latin America, Europe, Asia and Australia she is able to offer insights on a wide range of governance practices that assist companies to optimize effectiveness under diverse circumstances. Julie is one of Australia’s leading experts on corporate governance.
Among Ms. McLellan’s corporate positions are corporate planner for with BHP Billiton, the general manager of KPMG’s Energy and Natural Resources (KPMG), and managing director of Gamesa, a listed Australian multinational company. Further, she was CEO of Advisor to Boards and Directors. In addition, Ms. McLellan was Chairman of Oldfields Holdings, non-executive Director of Kimbriki Environmental Enterprises Ltd., and non-executive director at Kyoto Energy Park, Ltd. She was non-director at Bounty Mining, an ASX listed corporation. Further, she was chairman of the CEO Committee, a committee member at Industrial Research and Development Board, Innovation and committee member at the Clean Tech Grants Committee.
Her first book “All Above Board; Great Governance for the Government Sector” was published in Australia by the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is now in its second edition. Subsequent books include the “Director’s Dilemma” series and the globally acclaimed “Presenting to Boards”. Her newsletter ‘The Director’s Dilemma’ is read in 38 different countries. Her consulting, training and writing help boards to become more effective. Her teaching style is inclusive, interactive and insightful. She is often a speaker at Australian Institute of Company Directors.
She has an MBA from IE Business School in Madrid Spain, with a specialty in finance and investment. She has a degree in Civil Engineering from the City University London, United Kingdom. Further, she received a diploma in Company Directorship Course and an Advanced Diploma in Company Directorship.