Stars of North West Finance Hailed at FD Awards 2017
THE top finance directors from Liverpool, Cheshire, Warrington and North Wales have been celebrated at the Finance Director of the Year awards, during a ceremony held at the Hilton Hotel in Liverpool on 2 November.
Now in their seventh year, the prestigious awards are sponsored by Grant Thornton, Accountable Recruitment, Hill Dickinson and HSBC. They shine a light on the region’s brightest FDs across both public and private sectors.
Philip Didlick, from Liverpool-headquartered OBG Pharmaceuticals, received the top accolade: Overall Finance Director of the year.
Didlick also took home the award for Commercial Finance Director of the year, and was the only nominee to pick up two awards on the night. Under his guidance the privately-owned business, which supplies to the pharma, chemical and industrial additives industries, has enjoyed rapid growth. Earlier this year Didlick secured a £27.3m funding package from HSBC to facilitate an ambitious three-year growth plan, which started with the shrewd acquisition of Staffordshire-based mineral and chemical distributor, Richard Baker Harrison.
The award for FD of the Year 100m+ turnover was scooped by Michael Owen, FD at Warrington-based e-commerce and specialist distribution provider, The Delivery Group. Owen has overseen significant investment in disruptive technology and IT, helping the company to maintain its industry-leading position. Continued growth has also seen the group listed in the Sunday Times Top Track 250: the newspaper’s list of the UK’s leading midmarket companies, produced in association with Grant Thornton.
In previous years the highest turnover category was capped at £60m+, with judges noting that the increase to £100m+ was indicative of the growth and dynamism of the North West economy.
EMS Group’s David Legg was named Finance Director of the Year for Cheshire. Neil Smith from Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust picked up the same award for Liverpool City region, with David Meir of Eddie Stobart Logistics collecting the prize for Warrington, and James Prince of Rhino Products winning the North Wales category.
Rising star, Emma Pickering, of Chester-based ITC Travel Group, took home the award for Finance Director of the Year Under 40.
A Special Recognition award was presented to Damian McDonald, FD for the UK’s leading bulk supplier of dairy products Meadow Foods. McDonald has held the role for the past two decades, presiding over considerable turnover growth and two notable acquisitions.
Finance Director of the Year Non-Profit went to Linda McMullen, who received recognition for her achievements with Everton in the Community – the official charity of the football club.
Carl Williams, North West managing partner at Grant Thornton, said: “We’re blessed with some truly great companies with the potential for exponential growth in the North West. But for that potential to be realised, the FDS steering these businesses must display shrewd commercial acumen, bold ambition and an ability to make the tough decisions.
“All of the shortlisted candidates make vital contributions to not only the companies in which they work, but to the regional economy as a whole, and I’d like to congratulate them on behalf of Grant Thornton.”
Simon Massey, managing director at Accountable Recruitment, said: “A massive well done to all of the nominees and winners. With such an array of talent on each shortlist it has been a huge challenge to select just one winner, but it was great seeing everyone’s success celebrated on the night and we’d like to thank all involved for a fantastic evening.”
Tom Carter, Head of Corporate Banking at HSBC, said: “HSBC is lucky enough to have worked with some of the winners throughout the years; therefore we can say first-hand these Finance Directors play a crucial role in driving not only their organisations forward, but also the region. It’s definitely an exciting time to be working in the North West.”
Mike Jones, partner at Hill Dickinson, said: “Despite 2017 proving to be fairly turbulent, these businesses have so much to celebrate. The attention to detail and vigour shown by these finance professionals really does prove that they are the brightest and best finance directors around, and we’d like to commend then all on behalf of Hill Dickinson.”
Please see below for the full list of winners for the 2017 Finance Director of the Year Awards:
Finance Director of the Year up to 6million
Stuart Chandler, Sentric Music
Finance Director of the Year 6-20m
Mark Williams, Moneypenny
Finance Director of the Year 20-50m
Andrew Allen, Colloids Limited
Finance Director of the Year 50-100m
Rob Laird, Uren Food Group
Finance Director of the Year 100m+
Michael Owen The Delivery Group
Finance Director of the Year Non-Profit
Linda McMullen – Everton in the Community
Finance Director of the Year Commercial Excellence
Philip Didlick, OBG Pharmaceuticals
Finance Director of the Year Under 40
Emma Pickering, ITC Travel Group
Finance Director of the Year Liverpool City Region
Neil Smith, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
Finance Director of the Year Warrington
David Meir, Eddie Stobart Logistics
Finance Director of the Year North Wales
James Prince, Rhino Products
Finance Director of the Year Cheshire
David Legg, EMS Group
Overall Finance Director of the year
Philip Didlick, OBG Pharmaceuticals
Special Recognition Award
Damian McDonald, Meadow Foods
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Jonathan Daly or Ellie Riddy daly@thisisinfluential.com 0161 935 8474 / 07881 301 437
Notes to editors
Finance Director of the Year Awards
The prestigious Finance Director of the Year awards recognise and celebrate the most outstanding work done by the region’s tireless Financial Directors, rewarding the often underestimated jobs they do.
Centred around the Chester, Liverpool city, North Wales & Warrington regions, the awards also pay homage to all that is good about business in the regions, including the companies who have made a real difference to the economy and employment environment.
www.financedirectorawards.co.uk
Grant Thornton
Grant Thornton is one of the world’s leading organisations of independent assurance, tax and advisory firms. These firms help dynamic organisations unlock their potential for growth by providing meaningful, forward-thinking advice. Proactive teams, led by approachable partners in these firms, use insights, experience and instinct to understand complex issues for privately owned, publicly listed and public sector clients and help them to find solutions. More than 38,500 Grant Thornton people, across over 120 countries, are focused on making a difference to clients, colleagues and the communities in which we live and work. The UK Grant Thornton member firm provides services to over 40,000 privately held businesses, public interest entities and individuals. It is led by more than 185 partners and employs more than 4,200 of the profession’s brightest minds.
Find out more at www.grant-thornton.co.uk
