People: CEO change at Sheffield Forgemasters; Sir Rodney Walker named chair at Yorkshire Society; Partner promotions at PwC; and more
Graham Honeyman
Sheffield engineering specialist Forgemasters International has appointed a new CEO as long-standing boss, Dr Graham Honeyman, takes on a global business development role.
Dr Honeyman will continue with the company as consultant head of international business development working with the new CEO, David Bond, who takes up office in August. He remains the largest individual shareholder.
The company said its had been looking to make senior management changes for a number of months as it builds on its current senior team to increase market reach and insight.
Dr Honeyman said: “It has been my intention to step down from the role of CEO for some time now and to allow for a new management structure to take the business forwards, David Bond will be joining us from BAE Systems as CEO from 1 August.
“I’m pleased to welcome David, who has over 30 years of experience in the Defence sector and has managed manufacturing businesses in UK and Sweden, delivering Combat Vehicles to the British Army and international customers. Most recently David was COO for BAE Systems Australia with specific responsibilities for their Maritime, Land and Integrated Systems businesses.
“I should add that SFIL remains an independent company. David’s secondment has been structured to avoid BAE Systems gaining any control over the Company and no industry partners will be taking any shares in Sheffield Forgemasters.”
The CEO change is part of a wider raft of changes at Sheffield Forgemasters, which will also include forthcoming appointments of a new chief financial officer, a new chief operating officer and a company chairman.
Brendan Kendrick has recently been appointed as company sales director and the other senior positions are due to be assigned by September.
Dr Honeyman added: “My work at Sheffield Forgemasters will continue and I will work to help David with the transition as he looks to take the business into new markets.”
Dr Honeyman will still sit in on board meetings in an observational role and his extensive customer relations experience, gleaned from years of international trade, will take precedence as he works to secure new business.
Sheffield Forgemasters remains an entirely independent company with its shares owned by members of the management and workforce, an initiative spearheaded by Dr Honeyman after he engineered a management buyout in 2005, saving the company from liquidation after former US owners, Atchison Castings, collapsed.
During his tenure as CEO at Forgemasters, Dr Honeyman has pioneered a return to apprenticeships and pushed the business into high technology markets to allow it better to compete in an increasingly competitive global market for large-scale engineered products and solutions.
His role as an ambassador for the UK steel industry and his dedication to apprenticeships and lifelong learning for the company’s employees earned him a CBE in the Queen’s birthday honours list, 2014.
Dr Honeyman added: “I am delighted to have recruited major talent to work with the existing team and that I will be able to help to further the business by finding new opportunities.
“I remain as dedicated to this company as I was when we engineered the management buyout and its future, and the futures of all those who have helped me along this journey, are of paramount importance to me.”
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Sir Rodney Walker
The Yorkshire Society has named Sir Rodney Walker as its incoming chairman.
Established in 1980, The Yorkshire Society is a not-for-profit organisation that celebrates and promotes everything that is great about Yorkshire and aims to protect its character and characteristics.
Sir Rodney brings to the Society a vast amount of experience gained over a long and illustrious career in business, sport and community service, during which he has lead campaigns raising more than £40m for charities and good causes.
In 1996, Sir Rodney was awarded a Knight Bachelor for his services to sport.
Sir Rodney said: “Having been a vice-president and long-time supporter of the Society, the opportunity to assist the ambitious plans of the new committee is one I could not resist.
“It is right that at the outset I pay tribute to the outgoing chair, Keith Madeley MBE, who has worked to build the reputation of the Society over many years and I send him my best wishes for the future.
“The Society’s newly formed committee has a strong desire and determination to change its future direction and will be implementing new ideas designed to establish it as the champion of the County’s people and businesses, locally, nationally and even internationally.
“It is my earnest wish that the Society looks to work constructively and collaboratively with all other organisations promoting the values of Yorkshire and its people.”
Philip Bell, the Society’s new Chief Executive, added: “We are delighted to have Sir Rodney on board. His contacts and leadership will help us implement a host of pro-active plans for Yorkshire, whilst his established relationship with HRH the Duke of York, the Society’s Patron, makes Sir Rodney an ideal Chairperson. We are all looking forward to working closely with him.”
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PwC has the appointed two new partners to its Yorkshire & North East practice.
Tom Yeates, who is based in the firms Leeds office, has nearly 20 years of experience providing audit and assurance services to clients ranging from FTSE 100s to private equity portfolio companies to owner managed start-ups.
He has worked in London and Newcastle, before transferring to Yorkshire in 2012. As partner he will continue to focus on providing high quality services to local businesses.
Mark Jennings heads up the firm’s Pensions Advisory practice across the northern cluster regions, having been with PwC for 17 years. Jennings advises corporate clients and pension trustees on employer covenant and pensions restructuring, helping clients secure pension member benefits and protect schemes in corporate transactions and distressed situations. Mark previously worked in the firm’s Business Recovery practice.
In addition to the new partner admissions James Geldart, Andy Jones (Tax), Rachel Greveson (Assurance) and David Keenan (Deals – Corporate Finance North) have been promoted to director level with a further 20 senior promotions also taking place across the region.
Ian Morrison, PwC’s Yorkshire & North East regional leader said: “I’m delighted to welcome both Tom and Mark to the partnership. They bring a wide range of expertise to the Yorkshire & North East practice across very different specialisms. Responding to the diverse needs of our clients is vital and these appointments, as well as the wider promotions we have announced, reflect the importance we place on delivering the best service possible to our clients across the region”.
Nationally PwC has promoted 54 equity partners, with effect from 1 July 2018, an increase from 31 last year.
Kevin Ellis, chairman and senior partner at PwC, added: “In order to help our clients solve their biggest problems we need people with a broad range of skills, backgrounds and experiences. That’s exactly what our new partners represent. Our investment in new partners this year reflects the increasing demand from our clients for technology expertise, and for people with diverse thinking and industry experience.”
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Housebuilder Avant Homes has promoted the operations director of its Yorkshire business to the newly created head office role of group developments director.
Sheffield man Chris Coley now has responsibility for leading the implementation of actions and initiatives that will further enhance the control environment throughout the group.
He has been with Avant Homes’ Yorkshire operating company for 13 years, originally joining as a graduate surveyor before progressing to commercial director in 2012, then operations director earlier this year.
The housebuilder is privately-owned and, in addition to Yorkshire, also operates in Scotland, north east England and the Midlands. The business employs more than 700 people.
His appointment follows Avant Homes’ chief executive, Colin Lewis, stating in March this year that the company’s next strategic growth objective is to double output to 4,000 homes a year and become a £1bn turnover business by 2023.
Coley said: “Having been with the business since I started work, it is great feeling to have played my role in its transformation in recent years to become one of the UK’s fastest growing housebuilders.
“Our outstanding product, powerful brand and intelligent land buying strategy have underpinned our success. As group developments director, I’m looking forward to further expanding our business throughout the north of the UK by ensuring our control environment continually improves as we grow.”
CEO Colin Lewis added: “As we enter our next phase of growth, it is essential that we continue to evolve and enhance our business to maintain our positive momentum and upward trajectory.
“The role of group developments director will be crucial in ensuring that Avant Homes expands rapidly whilst maintaining the highest levels of design excellence, build quality and customer experience.
“Chris has been with the business since he was a trainee and his journey shows how talent, dedication and a great attitude provide a clear pathway to the top of our company. He has consistently proven himself to be a leader with an excellent commercial and operational mind. I have every confidence he will play a significant role in ensuring Avant Homes’ continued growth and success.”
