Phillip Ullmann's Story
Phillip Ullmann is a social business entrepreneur with a track record of building disruptive business models that deliver value – measured as much by people, communities, and nature as by financial assets.
He believes in creating environments where talented leaders who share a passion for innovation are given the opportunity to succeed, changing their lives and the tea
ms they allow to self-manage. This philosophy is reflected in his ability to recruit some of the most successful executives who have grown and developed the Cordant Group, with revenues of £250m and a combined workforce of over 10,000.
Sharing success also means giving back to society and its important causes. In 2017, Phillip evolved the value system at Cordant further, defining it as a social business and introducing a set of measures to reflect that – capping executive pay and its dividend.
In 2019, Phillip and his senior team co-authored Cordant’s Social Impact Report, mapping a five-point strategy aimed at improving worker opportunities with a focus on purpose, not profits and well-being not just wealth. These categories included good jobs, maximizing potential, building resilience, giving forward (charities, etc), and reviving business – all underpinned by the social model. A campaign was also launched to promote and implement the Real Living Wage.
In 2020, Cordant Group was sold to Twenty20 Investors with a view to sustain its social business agenda. Whilst continuing his existing role as Chief Energiser, Phillip set up Covenant Advisory – an independent consultancy mandated to guide and advise businesses, its leaders, and state enterprises on their journey to social purpose, whilst aligning shareholders with other stakeholders.
