Shortlist for Northern Finance Director Awards announced

The shortlist for the Northern Finance Director Awards, which recognise and celebrate the exceptional talent of finance directors and their teams across the North of England, has been announced for 2023 today. 

Spanning 12 categories, the awards sponsored by international business advisers Grant Thornton UK LLP, global law firm Squire Patton Boggs, global bank Barclays, and leading recruitment firm Page Group, pay tribute to the enterprise, leadership, resilience, social impact and all-round excellence of financial leaders and their teams in Northern businesses over the past 12 months.

Those FDs who have demonstrated the need for their organisation to conduct themselves responsibly, making a positive contribution to the environment, society and their organisation, will be recognised again for the second year running with the recently added ESG Champion Award. The Northern Finance Team of the Year award was also added to the programme last year, recognising and celebrating the important contribution made by the full finance team in their business. 

Brand new to the 2023 awards is the Family-owned category, which recognises the best FDs working for one of the North’s many impressive family firms.    

Emma Davies, partner at Grant Thornton in Yorkshire, said, “The Northern FD Awards is a fantastic celebration of all the best qualities of talented CFOs and FDs in the region and it is testament to its ongoing relevance and success that we’re now in our sixth year running. 

“The impressive shortlist announced today is no exception to previous years and it’s great to see such a diverse mix of entrants celebrated across a range of categories. A big thanks must go to our special panel of independent judges for identifying the perfect candidates for each one.

“Given the ongoing issues many CFOs and FDs on the shortlist have faced over the last year, from rising inflation rates to talent shortages, all our nominees have gone above and beyond the call of duty to play a key role in enabling their businesses to innovate, raise finance and acquire.

“Through these awards we can showcase the inspirational stories and all-round excellence of the financial directors and chief financial officers in Northern businesses. A huge thanks to everyone who has played a role in the event so far.”

Hannah Kendrick, Corporate Partner, Yorkshire at Squire Patton Boggs, said, “It has been another fascinating and inspiring year to be part of the Northern Finance Director Awards.  We have seen how the role of finance directors in value creation continues to evolve from the traditional role that we once knew, with many turning their hand to IT and technology and implementing ESG initiatives.   

John Halton, Partner, Page Executive, added, “It has been an absolute pleasure once again to be involved in these awards and to get to hear some truly positive stories of well known, and some less well-known businesses from across the North.

The caliber of finance leaders we are seeing, and their involvement across the companies they are part of never seems to diminish – and yet again we have heard how the role of the FD/CFO is critical to the profitable and sustainable performance of the regions companies, and therefore its economy.

In unfamiliar and uncertain economic times, it is great to see there are still success stories out there with companies adapting to the challenges before them and thriving – in no small part thanks to the insight and advice of their finance leaders.

All those nominated this year can be proud of their achievements and we wish them all the best of luck and look forward to hearing the winners at the dinner in October.

Debbie Mullen, Head of Mid Corporate North, Barclays Corporate Banking says: It has been fascinating to hear how the top-quality shortlisted FDs from across the region have been able to add substantial value to their businesses during a period that has seen more volatility than anyone could have expected.  

The sponsor judges and independent judges all spent a lot of time deliberating throughout a rigorous process and all those that have been shortlisted should be really proud of their achievements. We hope all the applicants can join us to celebrate at the awards event which should be a great opportunity to showcase some of the fantastic businesses in The North.

The finalists for each category are below, with the winners being revealed at the awards dinner on the 19th of October, held at the Radisson Edwardian in Manchester:  

Best Northern Finance Director of a Limited Company up to £25 million 

• David Harrop – Reward Finance Group 
• Elizabeth Foster ACA – Holiferm Limited 
• Jo Allen – DEA – Specialised Airborne Operations 
• Jo Boardman – Alcedo care Group 
• Rebecca Shellard – Esselle Retail Limited t/a Arthouse 
• Ryan Stephenson-Brown – Evolve B G Limited 

 Best Northern Finance Director of a Limited Company of £25 million – £100 million 

• Eoghan Johnston – iamproperty 
• Gary Taylor – Express Engineering (Group) Limited 
• Lucy Bolton – Camira  
• Nick Duffield – Chapel House Motor Co Ltd 
• Rob Jobbins – 26 – an MSQ agency 
• Stephen Biddlestone – Aero Services Global Group Limited 

Best Northern Finance Director of a Limited Company over £100 million 

• Adrian Sullivan – Edge Worldwide Logistics Limited 
• Chris Stefani – DWF Group plc 
• Danielle Davies – Revolution Bars Group plc 
• Jenny Cotterill – Paynes Dairies Limited 
• Stefan Allanson – MJ Gleeson plc 

Best Northern Finance Director of a Private Equity-backed Company 

• Eoghan Johnston – iamproperty 
• Jon Furber – Mobica Holdings Limited 
• Michael Watts – Hippo Digital Limited 
• Rebecca Shellard – Esselle Retail Limited t/a Arthouse 
• Richard Godsland – Inprova Limited 
• Rob Jobbins – 26 – an MSQ agency  

Best Northern Finance Director of a Family-Owned Company 

• Adrian Sullivan – Edge Worldwide Logistics Limited 
• Jo Boardman – Alcedo care Group 
• Karl Lloyd – Club L London 
• Nick Duffield – Chapel House Motor Co Ltd 
• Victoria Webber – Trilanco Limited 

Northern Finance Director of the Year 2023 – Turnaround 

• Lousie Britnall – The Co-operative Bank Plc 
• Lucy Bolton – Camira  
• Rebecca Shellard – Esselle Retail Limited t/a Arthouse 

Northern Finance Director of the Year 2023 – Growth/Scale Up 

• Eoghan Johnston – iamproperty 
• Guy Bagshaw – Fruugo.com Ltd 
• Jon Furber – Mobica Holdings Limited 
• Karl Lloyd – Club L London 
• Paolo Benedetto – Formerly St Pierre Group Ltd 
• Ryan Stephenson-Brown – Evolve B G Limited 

Northern Finance Director of the Year 2023 – Leadership 

• Danielle Davies – Revolution Bars Group plc 
• Jenny Cotterill – Paynes Dairies Limited 
• Lucy Bolton – Camira  
• Rebecca Shellard – Esselle Retail Limited t/a Arthouse 
• Rob Blomfield – Burberry Group Plc 

Northern Finance Director of the Year 2023 – One to Watch 

• Alex Cook – Nexus Rental 
• Carl Derving – Three Oceans Fish Company Limited 
• Claire Elcock – SmartSearch 
• Matthew Gallacher – D A Languages Limited 
• Richard Godsland – Inprova Limited 
• Stephen Biddlestone – Aero Services Global Group Limited 

Northern Finance Director of the Year 2023 – Deal of the Year 

• Adam Wearing – Profile Financial Solutions Limited 
• Jon Furber – Mobica Holdings Limited 
• Paolo Benedetto – Formerly St Pierre Group Ltd 
• Rebecca Shellard – Esselle Retail Limited t/a Arthouse 
• Richard Godsland – Inprova Limited 
• Sarah Wilkinson – Crosslake 

Northern Finance Director of the Year 2023 – Team of the Year 2023 

• Burberry Group plc 
• Alcedo Care Group 
• The Co-operative Bank 
• Chapel House Motor Co Ltd 
• Trilanco Limited 

Celebrating Excellence – ESG Champion 2023 

• Chris Stefani – DWF Group plc 
• Danielle Davies – Revolution Bars Group plc 
• Gary Taylor – Express Engineering (Group) Limited