Chris Wood graduated from Oxford with an honours degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, and started his career as a graduate trainee at Ogilvy (Benson) and Mather.

In 1976 he joined Craton Lodge and Knight, the specialist innovation and brand development consultancy. He became a director in 1982 and Managing Director in 1984. Meanwhile the company had floated on AIM, and subsequently became part of the Princedale Goup.

In 1997 Chris engineered a successful management buy-out of both CLK and Michael Peters Limited with the backing of 3i, and became the Chief Executive of the new company. Synthesising the UK's original branding consultancy with one of the great names in design created a company that genuinely embodied both strategic rigour and creative excellence. Following significant organic growth and various acquisitions, the new company re-branded as Corporate Edge in 2001. In August 2004 a new CEO (Simon Lake) was appointed from within and Chris became Chairman.

His role is now split between consultancy and business development. In terms of the former he works across the spectrum of branding, innovation and communications assignments, with clients including Cadbury Schweppes, Freeplay, Pfizer, Travelodge and Williams F1. He also speaks on the various topics above.

His wider business development role embraces both the acquisition of new clients and the forward development of Corporate Edge, currently the UK's leading independent branding consultancy.