Yorkshire FD’s honoured at awards
R&R Ice Cream’s Andy Finneran took home the outstanding achievement award at the Yorkshire Finance Director of the Year Awards.
Finneran was one of the eight finance directors who were celebrated at the dinner last night, which took place at Aspire Leeds and was attended by more than 170 people.
He was praised on his role in transitioning R&R from PLC to private equity ownership and managing the integration of a significant number of acquisitions, in a business that is now global.
Sponsored by Barclays, EY, Sewell Recruitment Group and Squire Sanders, Rt Hon David Blunkett was guest speaker and the event was hosted by David Parkin, founder and director of TheBusinessDesk.com.
In addition to Finneran, the 2013 winners were:
Lifetime Achievement – Graham Lockwood, Abraham Moon & Sons Limited
Best Finance Director of a plc – Nigel Howes, Communisis plc
Best Finance Director of a Ltd Company (up to £35m) – Caroline Harrison, Aspire-i Ltd
Best Finance Director of a Ltd Company (£35m +) – Martin Gratton, Brenntag UK Group
Young Finance Director of the Year – Daniel Woodwards, Seabrook Crisps Limited
Best Finance Director of a Private Equity Company – Chris Lowton, eve
Best Finance Director of a Public Sector Organisation – Andrew Bertram, York Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
David Buckley, EY Yorkshire senior partner, said: “Such talented FD’s act as role models to the financial community. They have helped to steer the region’s flagship companies through turbulent times, dealing with a multitude of challenges in their respective sectors, showing exceptional leadership. Through the hard work of FD’s, businesses are in better shape than ever, ready for the uptick in the economy, which bodes well for the growth and success of our region.”
This year, the awards celebrated their 12th anniversary.
Chris Forrest, corporate director at Barclays Corporate said: “We are delighted to be a part of these prestigious awards, the quality and diversity of Finance Directors across Yorkshire was amazing this year and a true testament to the Yorkshire business community.”
Cliff Sewell, chief executive of Sewell Recruitment Group, said: “It is an honour to acknowledge the impressive work the region’s Finance Directors have undertaken in these ever changing times. Over the past five years it has been fantastic to see how the modern FD has had to take a leading role in ensuring businesses remain successful in a challenging economy.”
Mark Simpson, partner at Squire Sanders concluded: “Squire Sanders are delighted to give our full support once again to the Yorkshire Finance Director Awards, which recognises the strength of corporate financial management across our region. As in previous years, the high quality and range of backgrounds of the FDs who were nominated continue the tradition of exemplifying the best in regional enterprise, strategic vision and global ambition.”
