Tom Jack wins Turnaround Professional of the Year

THE second North West St Nicks awards took place in Manchester last and saw Tom Jack of Ernst & Young take the title of Turnaround Professional of the Year.

Mr Jack, who won after a public vote from the 275 people who attended the event at the Museum of Science and Industry.

Organised by investment firm Endless, the St Nicks awards celebrate the achievement of the restructuring community in the region and also raises money for charity.

Mr Jack told TheBusinessDesk.com : “I am surprised to win, but obviously delighted as I was up against a really strong field.. As a team E&Y have had a great year working on some really interesting and high profile restructurings, such as Total Fitness,,TJ Hughes and most recently Focus DIY.”

Endless partner Warwick Ley – who used to share a house with Jack a decade ago – joked: “When we lived in the same house he couldn’t turn the washing-up around in a week, and now he’s won this award.” 

KPMG took the Big accountancy firm of the year, RSM Tenon the Mid-Tier title and Leonard Curtis the award for boutique firm.

KPMG’s Paul Flint, pictured, was named accountant of the year – a title taken last year by Deloitte’s Bill Dawson. 

There was double success for DLA Piper, which was named Large Law firm and of the Year and corporate recovery partner Martin Keates was judged Lawyer of the year. Relative newcomer to Manchester Shoosmiths was voted Mid Tier law firm of the Year.

The Co-operative Bank was also a double winner as it was named Most Supportive Bank of the Year and senior credit risk manager Paul Hart scooped the prestigious title of Banker of the Year.

Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance retained its crown of Most Supportive Asset Based Lender, while Darren Winterbottom of  Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance won the individual ABL of the year.

Karen Smith from Lloyds was named PA/Secretary of the Year, for her outstanding committment to her role in supporting the Commercial Finance Team. 

Edward Symons was voted as the top valuation agency firm while Marsh polled most votes in the insurance firm category.

In three categories, Rising Star, PA/Secretary and Company Director, winners were chosen by an independent panel of judges comprising Endless partner Warwick Ley,  retired corporate lawyer Egan Brooks, former banker Ron Atkinson and TheBusinessDesk.com’s North West editor Chris Barry.

David Hewitt from Thor was judged Director of the Year, and described as: “an impressive operator who leads from the front and finds solutions.”

PwC’s Lawrence Edwards, who is currently on secondment at Royal Bank of Scotland, saw off competition from 13 other bright young professionals to take the coveted Rising Star award.

The event raised around £5,000 for Manchester children’s charity the Wood Street Mission and Endless’ recently created Turnaround charity.