Mike Young (Royal Navy officer)

Before joining the Royal Navy, Mike studied Environmental Science at the University of Ulster and has since completed two Master's degrees with dissertations in leadership and a Doctor in Business Administration.[1] He was also the 2019/2020 Hudson Fellow at St Antony's College Oxford. [2] A Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and a Fellow of the Institute of Business Consulting Mike is also a Certified Management Consultant, Coach and Supervisor.[3]

Mike has enjoyed success in a wide range of leadership positions throughout his career in the Royal Navy. As Head of Recruiting he was responsible, through a team of 350, for recruiting 5000 people/year and developing the market leading ‘Made in the Royal Navy’ brand. Prior to that he was Head of Wellbeing devising the highly innovative ‘NavyFit’ programme which increased participation in physical activity, morale and retention at all levels across the Navy. Previously, as Dean of the Navy’s engineering college, Mike introduced an output-focussed strategy management system, and a coaching culture, which underpinned the first ever military OFSTED ‘Outstanding’ award achieved in the UK. [4] He also spent four years as the Royal Navy's Head of Leadership and Management Development, developing the model on which the Navy's leadership selection and training is still based.[5]

In parallel to his Navy career Mike runs a boutique consultancy 'helping change leaders' and is a research active academic and author of numerous Journal articles. [6] [7]

Young was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2005, in recognition for his contribution to leadership development in the Royal Navy.[8]