After an apprenticeship in West Thurrock Power Station, Chris worked in Japan with the NEC Corporation and in 1983 started IT maintenance company FLS, based in Billericay.

In 1997 he joined the DTI ‘Wings’ Project, mentoring young entrepreneurs, and in 1998 the board of the Essex TEC, becoming Chair in 2000.

In 2001 Chris joined the LSC, later becoming Chair of Essex then, in 2008, Regional Chair of the LSC East of England. During the same period he was a member of the QCA 14/19 (Tomlinson Group) implementation working group and a Board Member of EEDA and the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership.

Chris is currently Chair of firstsite; a board member of the Thurrock Urban Development Corporation and Chair of the North East Essex PCT.

In 2004 he was awarded a Chartered Directorship by the IOD. He also holds a directorship at Abdi, the UK representative of the ROI Institute.