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  John was our energy. I remember the first time I met John in person. He was the managing partner of the UK practice for EY consulting and he invited me over to share ideas about learning. I was the head of learning for EY US and we developed most of the learning IP for the practice globally. John introduced me to several key leaders in the UK and we met for sometime to discuss how to leverage the learning capability in the US more significantly with the UK practice. I remember several things coming away from this first meeting:

  1. John was a leader of significant compassion. He truly believed in his people's potential and was committed to providing all available resources to support their success
  2. John was a leader of great insight. He understood the intensity for market pressures, competition, and the rate of change. He was constantly innovating and bringing his people along with him.
  3. I remember thinking - This is a man people follow through the dessert or over a mountain ... or through a wall. If I ever have the opportunity to work for John Kelly, I would take it in a heartbeat. He was integrity ... he was extraordinarily insightful, had a deep appreciation for each individual and their contribution. I believe his travels around the world gave him a deep appreciation for differences, and he had the leadership ability to bring those differences together in a way that resulted in a powerfully innovative team.
  4. Thankfully, I did get a chance to work with John. When he took on the role of head of Cap Gemini Ernst & Young's Global Service Innovation, Knowledge, Learning and Methods, I became the global learning director on his team.

  I remember once him telling me a story about something that was one of the most significant moments in his career. And, it had to do with encouraging an up and coming manager to take an assignment abroad. He coached and mentored this person through their decision to take a new emerging leader role in a new territory. The individual eventually took the job and later wrote John a letter of the great personal impact John had on his career, his life, and his ability to achieve this extraordinary move. John said to me - that was one of my most rewarding moments as a leader.

  That is why I believe his launch of Bridge gave him the opportunity to meet a personal passion head on - to help others achieve their full potential.

  John cared, and people believed in him. He was a leader you would follow anywhere.

  Jenny Whitener, Bridge Consulting

• My Friend John Kelly

  John Kelly was my supervisor for many years. But John was much more than a boss to me. He was a mentor, a coach, a role model, and very good friend. I am truly heartbroken at his passing but I know that his legacy and his teachings will live on. So many many people have benefitted from knowing this wonderful man. I for one, feel deeply enriched because of the wonderful things John taught me.

  The most important lesson from John... Family First. John adored his wife, kids and grandkids and spoke of them often. It was clear that these were the most important people in his life. His pride in his family was palpable and those of us that worked for him got to know the family through John's many adoring stories about them.

  I so admired John's abilities to spend time with his family while still managing an amazingly successful career. And perhaps even more important, his "family first" mantra is something he stressed and preached to all those around him. And it became contagious. If you did not put family first when you started working with John, you did by the end of your tenure with him. What an amazing gift he gave to us all.

  John's business savvy was also remarkable. He was bar none, the most diplomatic, culturally sensitive person I have ever encountered in the business world. His ability to hear everyone's opinion, make all feel included, and direct a discussion to a successful collaborative conclusion was nothing short of amazing. He equally was an absolute master at guiding a group to a decision that he personally thought was best without anyone ever knowing that he was doing this! I saw John the artist do this countless times.

  And of course, John was so easy going. He was just a pleasure to work for. This is not to say he did not challenge those that worked for him. He did this indeed! He just did it in such a nice manner... People wanted to go the extra mile for him. He motivated people simply by his wonderful disposition. This wonderful style is another marvelous gift that John shared and people adopted.

  I could go on and on about my friend John Kelly. That is the depth of his affect on me. I will miss him terribly but I will never forget him. And I will work hard to live the values that John taught me. And for this, I will be forever indebted to him.

  Julie Scanlon, Bridge Consulting

• I worked with John Kelly for over 15 years and in many different roles, at Ernst & Young where he was the head of the UK consulting practice, as member of the organization that served Ernst & Young's global clients and as a member of the management committee of the global consulting practice. At Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, I was fortunate to work with John in Paris where he led portions of the merger integration between Cap Gemini and Ernst & Young's consulting practice. Most recently, John and I were partners at Bridge Consulting International where John was the managing partner. Throughout our relationship, I have found John's integrity, empathy and trust distinguished his leadership style and set the example for his colleagues and clients.

  What I remember most about John was his thoughtfulness and his considered approach to advising clients, making decisions and mentoring colleagues. His careful consideration was an anathema to the prevailing business culture which values speed and fast action. His approach yielded solutions that had enduring value with sustainable positive results. John's style combined rigorous analytical insight with emotional intelligence and a laser focus on building the capability of organizations. Because of John's broad experience in professional service firms, he was particularly astute at working with the leadership of large professional service firms. He knew how to manage, motivate and care for the careers of hundreds, even thousands of people. Knowing how to lead a large practice of professionals, all of whom are smart and demanding, is unique skill set and John flourished in this kind of environment. John realized that management was about people, about giving people the skills, the emotional intelligence, the knowledge to perform well in their jobs and to contribute their full potential to their firms.

  John gave direction in a unique and at times in a maddeningly frustrating way. He was rarely directive; he trusted you to figure out problems, and in his quiet way, he demanded excellence. I was never unprepared for a meeting with John, because I knew the coaching and feedback I would receive would be valuable. As his partner, my colleagues and I worked tirelessly to bring John's visions to fruition, whether his focus was on providing advice to a client or building our own firm.

  It is hard to encapsulate the characteristics of an effective leader. John Kelly led by putting people first, trusting and empowering everyone around him. John's most enduring legacy is his profound positive influence on the lives of the people he touched, we are all better as a result.

  Ralph Poole, Bridge Consulting

• Over the last 5 years, John has been my boss, mentor, and close personal friend. He was one of the kindest, most understanding, and deeply insightful people I have ever known, and I cannot express how much I will miss him.

  John was unquestionably a great, and visionary leader - I have often marveled at his intellect, experience and rare ability to see through complexity right to the heart of an issue. He has taught me more than I can begin to say. But beyond all of his professional strengths, it is his extraordinary kindness, patience, and integrity that make John Kelly a man for whom I have the deepest, and most enduring respect.

  I believe that John possessed inherently many of the personal strengths most of us spend lifetimes trying to develop. In my years of working with him, I have seen John consistently serve as a true model of sincerity, strength and compassion, even in toughest of times. I can honestly say that I have never heard him speak disparagingly or in anger about a soul.

  The impact that John has had on my life impossible to quantify - His influence in shaping the way I view my work and the aspirations I have for the future is unparalleled. As a mentor, he was unconditionally supportive - creating an environment where any idea or question was received with unwavering patience, encouragement and without judgment. The time we have spent working together and the personal interest he has taken in my development mean the world to me, and I will always be deeply grateful.

  I cannot fully express how honored I am to have worked with John Kelly and how thankful I am for the role he has played in my life - I will miss him terribly. All of my thoughts are with his family and friends who all loved him dearly.

  Adam Billing, Bridge Consulting

• John always exhibited a great sense of insight, good-humour, serenity and above all humility and warmth

  Roger Ayers, Actors in Industry

• John was my manager after the Cap Gemini-Ernst & Young merger, in fact I occupied the office next to his so we saw quite a lot of one another in one way and another. He really was a very nice person to work for, always showing a genuine interest in what I was doing, very human and very understanding, even though he was looking after a diverse group of very proactive and quite senior people who I'm sure needed quite a bit of managing. Making people feel that what they do is worthwhile is something that for me he excelled in, probably one of the rarest management skills, but John certainly had it. I certainly missed him when he left to go back to the UK. Since that time I hadn't had any contact with John, but I had some news from colleagues at Capgemini and visited the Bridge web site from time to time where I was very pleased to see photos of old colleagues, including of course John. And then came the sad news yesterday. Thanks John, it was great to have worked with you.

  Russ Hudson

• John was a breath of fresh air in the Capgemini Paris office. His management style was firm but friendly. He created an atmosphere of comraderie and innovation, which is easy to say but difficult to do. In my career, I have had very few managers who could manage both business and people. John definitely belongs in that group. The news of his sudden death saddens me and reminds me how very lucky I was to known him.

  Mary Adams, Cap Gemini

• I worked for him indirectly at Ernst & Young, seeing his calmness and authority manifest through the actions and attitudes of those around him - there really was a 'Kelly' feel to Ernst & Young during his time in charge. It sounds corny, and the phrase 'inspirational leader' is overused, but John certainly was, and he remains the only one I've ever met.

  I was later one of the founding partners at Bridge, and saw him as something of a mentor (not a role he was expecting, I think). While I did not agree with his decision to ally the firm so closely with the University of Cambridge and decided that our ways should part, I recognised his strengths in creating that alliance and the one with A&O through the strength of his intellect, and in drawing such a talented group of people around him.

  Martin Farncombe, Theopraxis

• I was blessed to know John Kelly. My heart aches but soul smiles for having known him. Love and blessings to his family, friends and colleagues. He touched many lives.

  Dr. Gary Bradt

• This is devastating news. I am so sorry. Time spent with John was always enjoyable. He was supremely intelligent and yet one of the most humble men I have met. He had such a friendly an engaging nature. We've lost a remarkable person.

  Professor Simon Bell, University of Melbourne

• Life is very strange but it was only about 4 months ago that I met with John for coffee in Weybridge. We talked about how good it would be to do business in Asia. I had quite recently returned from 2 years in HK. About 2 weeks ago before leaving for Singapore I thought about John and planned to call to tell him of my travels.

  John helped me develop a great career at EY - even hired me back after I left for KPMG. I can honestly say he was the most genuine and open person I think I have ever met. He also had the amazing ability to be so calming - especially to someone like me who can overheat at times! I miss him dearly and the impact is quite profound. I am also not surprised at the similar reaction I have had from other EY alumni.

  We will all meet our fate at some stage - but so sad so young for John, Gill and the family.

  Anthony Lucas, Alvarez and Marsal

• John in his managing partner role was the sponsor for the UK and then EMEA KM team when I joined EY in 1998. He was a very fine leader and helped us individually and as a team with wise advice and coaching and of course by role modelling behaviours that supported our work. Greg Moore and I also worked with him during the early Capgemini days, when he took on the global role. He was a very good guy and will, I am sure, be missed by his colleagues, friends and family.

  Dave Tullett, Heidrick & Struggles

• John and Gill's arrival in Brockenhurst in the 1990's brought a host of good things. Their easy way with people, their natural gregariousness and generosity ensured a rapid and full involvement in village life. Our third daughter became a close friend with Sinead as they entered the sixth form at Brockenhurst College, where I was Principal until retirement in 2006. Lucy and Sinead have continued this friendship, shared with another Lucy and a Rachel and they see each other often - a true band of sisters. When I first met John as a parent, it quickly dawned on me that he would be an ideal governor for the college. Despite his many responsibilities and busy schedule at Ernst & Young, he gladly obliged and added unique value to our effort. He invited me to a private 'strategic workshop' with his consultant colleagues in Southampton and introduced me into a whole new way of working and thinking as leader. I have a book he gave me - 'Out of Control' - which takes a fundamentally naturalistic approach to technology and systems. It's written by a scientist but tells us in the end that it is people collectively who make things work, not machines or structures. John was a lovely man, a 'people man'. He knew the economic theories and the practice and he worked in the midst of complex systems and structures. But he also knew how relatively insignificant these were in making sense of business and organisations. Understanding people and how they tick were central to his work, explaining precisely his approach to life; especially his relationships with those nearest and dearest to him. His early and sudden death is a terrible sadness for his lovely family and those many people who knew him. As with all the places and people he touched, he left his distinctive contribution, his insights and intelligence, his mark of humility at Brockenhurst College. For this I give thanks and celebrate a life that made a real difference. John knew how to distribute being to all around him. I am glad I knew and learned from him.

  Mike Snell - Former Principal, Brockenhurst College - Hampshire

• You always hope that somewhere in your career, you will meet a person who is able to offer the leadership, guidance and support, which brings out the best in you. John was that person and will always be remembered for having that impact on people's lives. A very special person.

  Norma James, ex colleague at E&Y MCS and Cap Gemini

• John was at colleague at Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust for just 3 months. In the short time he was with us he demonstrated high levels of engagement and integrity. He was a member of the team from our first contact with him, and it was clear from the start that he had the potential to make a significant contribution to the work of the Trust. John had a quiet low key style but was capable of getting to the heart of complex issues asking just the right questions. John spent his last working day with us, making a range of contributions in a number of meetings. In the breaks he was charming and companionable, sharing with us his excitement about his daughter Yvonne's forthcoming wedding. Like everyone else, we were all shocked to receive the news the following morning of his heart attack. Reading the many tributes to John has underscored the huge gap he has left, to his family and colleagues and to this Trust.

  Aileen McLeish Chairman, on behalf of the Board of Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust

• John was mentoring me through my Masters Degree in Coaching and Development. Over the last three years he has been an invaluable source of ideas, contacts, support, challenge and encouragement. My learning has been enriched through sharing this journey with him and I loved the discussions we had about my papers and how the learning could be applied. As my dissertation research comes to an end I miss not sharing my findings with John, and the final submission will be poorer without his input. I will try to do justice to all I have learnt from him, and dedicate my submission to John.

  Ruth Simpson

• Although sad that I will not see him again, I will always be glad to have met John and to have experienced his kindness and goodness. I will continue to have a thought for John because he is one of the 'few' - decent, human, and responsible business leaders that I have met during my career. Indeed, it was only John that I could truly trust to sort out a particularly bad situation that had arisen. John made time to listen, he was thorough about getting to the truth of what was really going on, he very much cared about "doing the right thing", and he was firm and fair in the resolution. I, and many others, will always respect John for his effective and ethical leadership, and he will always be remembered because of his human touch whilst navigating through complex issues.

  It was because of John and the 'few' like him that I was inspired to go on my own leadership journey. Knowing of John's passion for strategic leadership development, I had hoped to involve John when the International Leadership Association comes to London for its global leadership conference in 2011, which I am sure he would have enjoyed. Regardless, and at the appropriate time, I and many others will find a suitable way to celebrate his leadership and humanity.

  Kuldip Reyatt, Strategic Visioning Partners

• It's hard to describe what the loss of John means to me, as is obviously the case with many of us. Amongst his many talents, assets and qualities, he was first and foremost the most caring and compassionate person I have ever met. How he managed to combine these qualities with his business leadership skills is so difficult to imagine, but John did it. I recall so many situations in business where most of us were finding it difficult to balance all the different pressures and issues - and then John would somehow calm everyone down and guide us in the right direction. He was a truly remarkable leader and how he managed to align his strategic thinking and creativity with his unequalled people coaching and development skills, is impossible for most of us to understand. He was an outstanding person in every way.

  I was a colleague of John's at E&Y, Cap Gemini and Bridge and every time John asked me to work with him I had no hesitation. Why? because I knew he would always want to do the right thing and inevitably he would be enriching the lives and experiences of everyone around him. My wife Moira and I had the pleasure of meeting John and Gill for a meal in London just a few months ago. We will treasure that very enjoyable evening for ever.

  Sam and Moira Dunnachie

• John embodied that rare quality of inspired vision and aspiration for authentic quest.

  Lisa Piazza, MG Taylor Corporation

• On behalf of The Value Web, I would like to offer our deepest condolences. The news has come a a real shock to us all - we are very sad we did not have more time together. John having been my first 'boss' as a young graduate in old MCS, I personally have very fond memories of him as a colleague and a trusted voice - and in getting me confidently on a path in my life of my chosing. If you are able, please pass on our sympathies to his family.

  David Christie, Innovationarts

• John Kelly was for me always a straight forward guy to work with. His quiet humour and his decency were welcome traits even in difficult times. You always felt better after a conversation with John unlike some other leaders who would leave you feel wanting.

  Steve Myles, ex E&Y MCS and Cap Gemini

• At EY, John was a few layers above me in the hierarchy, but as so many of these testimonials show, highly approachable. I remember spending a year trying to find time for a meeting with him and finally ending up at Café Rouge in Weybridge. When with him, you knew you were the only person in his world, yet at the same time his mind was processing countless scenarios and possibilities. I was delighted 2 years later to be in partnership with him as a co-founder of Bridge.

  Over the last few years, despite living within a mile of each other, we saw each other seldom - a chance train ride here or meeting up while he walked the dog. However, on the 12th of July, we had a drink together at the tennis club and put the world to rights - talking about the challenges to our respective consulting firms, changes in the NHS, and a range of topics, of course including an update on our families. With John there were always many exciting possibilities no matter what the challenges. I didn't realize it at the time, but that was good-bye. Now, it seems remarkable to have had that opportunity at that time. I'm so glad that we were able to take that moment together.

  My (and my wife Terri's) prayers are for Gill, Sinead, Yvonne and Fiona who, with John, set an example for mutual love and caring which we could all profit from.

  Doug Sheperdigian, Atlantic Customer Solutions

• John, we will miss you. Your departure is too early, the void you leave, too large. Yet, sad as we are, you made an indelible impression on every one of us who now carry on your memory. You were the consummate colleague and professional - intelligent, insightful, and thorough. Even more important, you were the complete person - well-balanced, even-tempered, warm and wise. You showed us strength in being gentle, power in being kind, and impact in being fair. You continue to inspire us. Your legacy lives on. Safe travels from your admiring American friend and colleague.

  Tom Manning, Hong Kong

• John Kelly...'The Best'

  John Kelly was quite simply, one of the nicest people I have ever met. When I left an encounter with John I liked myself better...He genuinely cared. His authenticity and 'velvet fist' manner was unique, and special. He seemed to have achieved the perfect balance between life's responsibilities, and life's pleasures. I will forever be proud to be associated with John, and his company, Bridge Consulting.

  John McMunn, McMunn Enterprises

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