CAKE People Development Welcomes Michael Casanova as Director

CAKE People Development is delighted to announce the appointment of Michael Casanova as Director, strengthening our leadership team as we continue to support organisations in developing their people, leaders and learning capability.

As CAKE PD celebrates its 10th year, this marks an exciting step forward that is building on a strong foundation and looking ahead to the next phase of growth.

Introducing Michael

Michael Casanova has worked in a range of HR and people development roles before moving into consultancy. He is passionate about supporting leaders to develop the confidence, capability and mindset required to lead effectively.

Holding a CIPD Level 7 qualification in Human Resources, Michael works with organisations to design and deliver development strategies and programmes that support organisational growth and performance.

Through his facilitation, Michael creates environments where individuals and teams can reflect, challenge assumptions and build practical, real-world capability - whether that’s in leadership, coaching or broader professional development.

What Michael Will Be Working On

Michael is already working closely with clients and the CAKE PD team across a range of areas, including:

• Leadership and management development across Levels 3, 5 and 7.

• Coaching and mentoring programmes, supporting both individuals and organisations to build internal capability.

• Development of learning and development strategies and functions.

• Expanding and evolving CAKE Connect as a modern, blended learning experience.

• Designing new programmes and services to meet emerging business needs.

This reflects CAKE PD’s broader approach by combining leadership development, coaching and mentoring, and learning strategy to create meaningful and lasting impact.

Our programmes are designed not just to build knowledge but to embed learning through practice, reflection and real organisational application, supported by our digital platform CAKE Connect.

A Strong Alignment with CAKE PD

From the outset, there has been a clear alignment between Michael’s approach and CAKE PD’s values.

At CAKE PD, we believe that developing people should be the essential ingredient at the heart of every organisation.

Michael shares that belief by bringing a practical, people-focused approach that balances challenge and support, helping individuals grow in confidence and capability.

He has already begun leading programmes, working with clients and contributing to the evolution of CAKE PD. The feedback so far has been incredibly positive, with clients valuing his ability to connect, challenge and support in equal measure.

“Michael brings a natural energy and clarity to development. What stood out immediately was his ability to connect with people and translate complex challenges into something practical and meaningful.

He understands the breadth of what we do at CAKE PD - from leadership through to coaching and mentoring - and shares our belief that development should make a real difference. We’re delighted to welcome him and excited about what we will build together.”

Margaret Burnside - Director

Looking Ahead

Michael’s appointment marks an important step in CAKE PD’s continued evolution.

Alongside our established programmes and client partnerships, we are continuing to grow and develop new products and services to support organisations in a changing landscape.

There is more to come.