Shortlist for Northern FD Awards unveiled
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.
You can find this year’s shortlist here.
Spanning 14 categories, the awards sponsored by international business advisers Grant Thornton UK LLP, global law firm Squire Patton Boggs 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.
The tumultuous nature of the past year makes these awards more significant, with many finance directors managing supply chain issues, talent shortages, rising inflation and navigating a post-pandemic world.
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 with the new ESG Champion Award.
The Northern Finance Team of the Year award has also been added to the programme this year, recognising and celebrating the important contribution made by the full finance team in their business.
Finalists for each category are as follows:
Best Northern Finance Director of a Limited Company up to £25m
Ben Priestley – Mansfield Pollard & Co Limited
David Watson – Ainscough Group Limited
David Webster – Horizon Platforms Ltd
Emma Bristow – Leisure Resorts Ltd
James Thornhill – Wireless CCTV Ltd
Mark Dobson – Estio Training Limited
Tracy Virgo – The Protector Group Limited
Best Northern Finance Director of a Limited Company of £25m – £100m
Amman Boughan – Lights4fun Limited
Ben Bridger – Eville & Jones
Beverley Shepherd – Econ Engineering Ltd
Jeroen van Os – ERS Medical
Jon Archer – JT Dove Limited
Best Northern Finance Director of a Limited Company over £100m
Henry Breese – Symington’s
James Downey – London North Eastern Railway Limited
Mark Fleetwood – END. endclothing.com
Mike Craig – De Vere Hotels
Pria Khot – Aston Barclay Limited
Best Northern Finance Director of a Listed Company
Danielle Davies – Revolution Bars Group Plc
David Brind – Kitwave Plc
Isabelle Maddock – James Cropper plc
Tim Kowalski – NCC Group
Best Northern Finance Director of a Private Equity-backed Company
Andrew Collis – Moneypenny
Mat Hanson – Travel Counsellors
Mike Sprot – IDHL
Peter Mummery – Roxy Leisure Holdings Limited
Steven Allen – Progeny Holdings Limited
Best Northern Finance Director of a Global Company (HQ in the North (Subsidiary))
Craig Gorvin – Sambro International Limited
David Ward – GB Group plc
Mal Hartland – Cooper Turner Beck
Martyn Hawkins – City Football Group
Tim Kowalski – NCC Group
Northern Finance Director of the Year 2022 – Growth/Scale Up
Jon Archer – JT Dove Limited
Mal Hartland – Cooper Turner Beck
Mark Fleetwood – END. endclothing.com
Mike Sprot – IDHL
Steven Allen – Progeny Holdings Limited
Northern Finance Director of the Year 2022 – Innovation
Amman Boughan – Lights4fun Limited
Ben Priestley – Mansfield Pollard & Co Limited
Mark Dobson – Estio Training Limited
Oliver Worrall – Watkin Jones
Northern Finance Director of the Year 2022 – Leadership
Beverley Shepherd – Econ Engineering Ltd
David Brind – Kitwave Plc
Mark Fleetwood – END. endclothing.com
Steve Hammell – Sheffield Forgemasters
Tracy Virgo – The Protector Group Limited
Northern Finance Director of the Year 2022 – One to Watch
Adam Gardiner – Drax Group plc
Adam Prickett – AppLearn
Claire Elcock – SmartSearch
Craig Roberts – Mattressonline.co.uk Ltd
Oliver Worrall – Watkin Jones
Stephanie Potts – TXM Plant Ltd
Northern Finance Director of the Year 2022 – Turnaround
Craig Gorvin – Sambro International Limited
Jeroen van Os – ERS Medical
Nick Scott – Baird Group
Northern Finance Director of the Year 2022 – Deal of the Year
Ciara Allan – Coopland & Sons Limited
David Brind – Kitwave Plc
Mark Dobson – Estio Training Limited
Steve Hammell – Sheffield Forgemasters
Steven Allen – Progeny Holdings Limited
Northern Finance Team of the Year 2022
ATG Access Ltd
Drax Group plc
END. endclothing.com
London North Eastern Railway Limited
Mansfield Pollard & Co Limited
SYNETIQ Ltd
The Lomond Group
Celebrating Excellence – ESG Champion 2022
Ben Priestley – Mansfield Pollard & Co Limited
Isabelle Maddock – James Cropper plc
Jeroen van Os – ERS Medical
John Halstead – Consilium Academies
Dave Hillan, partner at Grant Thornton in the North West said: “Our independent panel of judges have delivered an outstanding shortlist of talented CFOs and FDs.
“Given the events of the last couple of years, many of the finance directors on the shortlist have gone above and beyond the call of duty to play an integral role in enabling their businesses to pivot, innovate, find new markets, raise finance and acquire.
“In many cases they have made sacrifices to protect their colleagues’ positions.
“The role of finance directors in value creation is so much more challenging, diverse and rewarding than it has ever been.
“Through these awards we can showcase the truly inspirational stories and all-round excellence of the financial directors and chief financial officers in Northern businesses over the past 12 months.”
Giles Chesher, corporate partner, North West at Squire Patton Boggs said: “Finance directors continue to steer their respective businesses through challenging landscapes, demonstrating commerciality, innovation, and tenacity in achieving success.
“The role of finance directors in value creation has evolved from the traditional role that we once knew, with many turning their hand to IT and technology and implementing ESG initiatives, in turn creating a highly complex role.
“This year’s shortlist comprises an array of finance leaders who embody the exceptional skill that is required to be a successful finance director, who go above and beyond to compete in their respective markets and obtain the big wins for their businesses.
“All of our finalists are more than deserving of their place on this year’s shortlist, and we look forward to celebrating with you all later in the year.”
John Halton, partner, Page Executive added: “As ever, these shortlists highlight just how talented a group of finance leaders we have across the North of England.
“This is our second year of involvement with the awards and the judging process was as enjoyable, insightful and challenging as ever with some remarkable success stories that show just how resilient, capable and adaptable the nominees have had to be in what are unique economic times.
“Page Group has been recruiting accountants in the region for almost 40 years and I have been doing so for over 14 years myself.
“So we have just a little bit of experience in interviewing and assessing the finance leadership of businesses and throughout this process myself and my colleagues have been impressed with everyone we have met; we know we have been talking to a very select group of high performing individuals.
“It was last year, and is again this year, a source of great pride for us to be able to play a part in recognising the efforts and achievements of all the nominees.
“Good luck to everyone and we look forward to seeing you at the awards dinner later in the year.”
