Leading business advisory franchise, The Alternative Board (TAB) has announced two appointments as it strengthens its presence across the UK.
Franchisee Sandra Tinker joins the network to launch TAB Cheshire, while Maarten Jonckers has been appointed Senior Business Partner for growing franchise TAB Thames Valley. Both bring decades of leadership, transformation and commercial expertise and will support fast‑growing SME communities.
Sandra brings more than 25 years’ experience in change, transformation and executive leadership across major media brands including Bauer and The Guardian. Her career includes building high‑performing teams, guiding organisations through cultural and digital transformation and leading complex change initiatives. Sandra plans to establish several TAB peer boards, each including a charity member to ensure meaningful impact within the Cheshire region.
Speaking about her new venture, Sandra said, “I’ve spent my career building teams, navigating change and helping organisations move forward with clarity and confidence. Over time, I realised I wanted to bring that experience back to my local community, so local business owners don’t have to go it alone and can have support when decision-making. When I discovered TAB’s peer board model, I knew it was the perfect fit.”
TAB has also boosted its presence in the Thames Valley region with the appointment of Maarten Jonckers. Maarten brings together decades of corporate leadership, international retail experience and hands‑on entrepreneurial expertise including as Buying and Merchandising Director at Harrods. Maarten later founded and led an executive search firm within the retail sector, combining operational understanding with a service‑led approach. His international background, including early experience in the Netherlands and South Africa, has shaped a broad commercial perspective that resonates with growth‑stage SMEs.
A former business owner himself, Maarten joined a peer advisory board during the sale of his company, an experience that shaped his belief in the value of TAB’s model. He said: “During my exit, I was facing unfamiliar decisions and needed objective insight. My peer board helped me avoid costly mistakes and provided clarity when everything felt uncertain. You can cut through the jungle with a machete, but if there is a path, why not take that? That is exactly what TAB provides for business owners: the path.”
Maarten will focus on supporting existing TAB members, expanding the franchise’s regional reach and widening access to specialist expertise as Thames Valley businesses navigate the complexities of scaling, talent challenges and operational change.
Ed Reid, Co‑Owner and Managing Director of TAB UK, welcomed the appointments: “Sandra and Maarten each bring exceptional experience, commercial insight and a genuine passion for supporting business owners to our franchise. Their appointments strengthen TAB’s footprint in two important regions and reflect the growing demand for collaborative, confidential environments where business leaders can gain clarity, strategic focus and accountability.”
Demand for TAB’s services is increasing as more business owners turn to peer-led support to navigate challenges and accelerate growth. Its franchise model empowers entrepreneurial individuals to build successful businesses while making a meaningful impact in their local SME communities.
Opportunities are available across the UK for confident leaders with a strong business background. As TAB franchisees, they facilitate peer advisory boards, bringing together local business owners in a confidential, collaborative environment to exchange insights, solve problems and grow together. The franchisee guides these sessions, helping members achieve greater clarity, performance and direction.
