Who We Are

Brian Watson, FCA - UK
Principal

Brian was Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of a well-known consumer products company before forming Brian Watson & Associates (BW&A) in 1996.
A Chartered Accountant from the UK, Brian has over 30 years of experience in Canada in senior positions within a wide range of businesses including Manufacturing, Retail and Distribution. His experience with both major multi-national companies and much smaller businesses, and his familiarity with doing business in the US and UK, gives him an unusually broad perspective on today’s increasingly complex business world. He is creative, has a strong operations orientation and very effective analytical skills, and is an accomplished problem-solver.
With his extensive industry experience and the knowledge gained from his recent years as a consultant, Brian understands the many challenges faced by small and mid-sized companies. That understanding, combined with his hands-on approach to every assignment, ensures BW&A’s total commitment to delivering real value and practical solutions to our clients.

John Kroeker, CIM
Associate - Manufacturing Solutions

John brings a wealth of expertise and experience in manufacturing to BW&A, having held senior management positions in a number of small and mid-sized companies.
Very much a pragmatist, John has a hands-on style and a belief that almost any problem can be resolved if you think it through properly, apply a realistic approach and remember that the people involved are always the decisive factor. John is a strong proponent of the benefits of information technology systems in the manufacturing environment, and has been responsible for implementing a number of very successful IT projects, including ERP and purchasing systems, each of which had a major positive impact on business operations.
His extensive skill sets include production management, process improvement, quality control, scheduling, ERP/MRP systems, bills of materials, purchasing and materials management.

Rob Turner
Associate – Manufacturing Solutions and Business Planning & Development

Rob has held senior executive positions in manufacturing and was owner/manager of an advanced composite products manufacturing company. For BW&A, he provides a unique combination of sales, marketing, engineering and business development skills, with experience in working with both small and mid-sized businesses.
With his experience running his own small manufacturing operation, Rob understands the multiple issues that running a business can present on a day-to-day basis, and the benefits that technology and innovation can bring, even to smaller companies with limited resources.
Rob’s unique background enables him to offer our clients a special perspective on business planning and strategic marketing initiatives, as well as insights into the importance of managing customer relationships.

Murray White, B.E.Sc., Mechanical Engineer
Associate – Manufacturing Solutions

Murray has worked with manufacturers in both Canada and USA, and has a wealth of experience in production management, engineering and design, project management and contract administration. He brings to BW&A a strong understanding of the importance of coordinating all of these activities within engineer-to-order/project-based manufacturing companies.
Very strong technically, Murray can also apply a very hands-on approach in dealing with problem-solving situations. He is skilled in designing and documenting production and engineering activities, addressing process issues and formulating production plans. And he understands the importance of having effective production scheduling systems and efficient estimating processes at the core of any ETO/project-based manufacturing business.

Rob Watson
European Associate – Marine Industry Manufacturing Solutions

BW&A draws on other experienced and skilled associates as required for each assignment