Shortlist revealed for North West Leadership Awards

The hotly-anticipated shortlist for our North West Leadership Awards 2025 can now be revealed.

This year’s event, set to be held at the Midland Hotel in Manchester on March 27, will see winners crowned in 21 categories in front of the cream of the North West business community. Click here to book your tickets.

The judging panel for this year’s awards were Elise Wilson, Janine Smith, Oli Randell, Catherine Brown, Elizabeth Cameron and the session was hosted by Alliance Manchester Business School.

The awards are supported by First Event, Freeths and Northstone.

TheBusinessDesk.com’s North West editor Michael Taylor, who chaired the panel, said: “We had a record number of entries to the Leadership Awards this year, and the standard of this year’s nominations was higher than ever, displaying the depth and breadth of the leadership talent in the North West.

“I’d like to thank our judging panel for their time and expertise and wish all the shortlisted individuals all the best for our awards evening in March.”

Janine Smith, a judge in the process said: “What a privilege it has been to judge the TheBusinessDesk.com North West Leadership Awards. The calibre of applications has been immense and it’s really heart warming to see the talent, drive, passion and inclusivity we have across the region. These leaders are making a significant impact on their businesses, their teams and their communities/society alike.

“I’m looking forward to the awards in March where the winners will be announced.”

THE SHORTLIST

Young Leader
Nile Henry, The Blair Project

Lawrence Perret-Hall, CYFOR Group

Sara Auty, Saz Media

Ollie Plastow, Consensus Workplace

Scot Rothwell, DASCO construction

Kate Winstanley, Morson Group

Public and Third Sector Leader

John Herring, NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care

Jo Henney, Nugent

Amer Gaffar, Manchester Metropolitan University

Yvonne Sampson, GM Business Growth Hub – Enterprise & Growth

Revd David Ireland, Francis House Children’s Hospice

Mentor

Victoria Price, Alvarez and Marsal

Renata Bochenek-Gasiorkiewicz, SGI Consulting Engineers 

Nick Leech, Chase de Vere

Karen Turton, Purple Story

Brian Moran, Jigsaw Homes Group

Louise Stephenson, Drax]

Emerging Entrepreneur

Nile Henry, The Blair Project

Scott McNicol, Harper

Mitchell Walsh, Integras

Sid Sethi, Specscart

Mark Kearsley and Laura Leslie, DSG Accountants

Nick Owens, Magnify PR

 

Diversity and Inclusion Leader

Nile Henry, The Blair Project

Claire Ebrey, The Level Consultancy

Sam Days, THG

Kate Winstanley, Morson Group

Louise Stephenson, Drax

Kate Cowan, Hope Capital

 

Professional Services Leader

Karen Garrattley, Complete Office Support Bookkeeping

Victoria Price, Alvarez and Marsal

David Kendrick, Cooper Parry

Caroline Grant, Slalom

John McCaffery, Alexander & Co

Josh Chinn, Wealth Recovery Solicitors

 

Transformational Leader

Ebrahim Sidat, AMS

Nigel Oddy, American Golf

Phil Wedgwood, Engage

Rachel Fletcher, Slater Heelis

Greg Johnson, Warwick North West

Josh Chinn, Wealth Recovery Solicitors

 

Green Leader

Dr William Beer, Tunley Environmental

Amer Gaffar, Manchester Metropolitan University

Suzy Jones, Urban Splash

Asif Ghafoor, Be.EV

Celia Gaze, The Wellbeing Farm

Tom Bloor, evec

 

HR Leader

Marc O’Hagan, p3od

Sam Wilkinson, AMS Group

Nicola Ryan, One+All

Elaine Wrigley, American Golf

Katie Winstanley, Morson Group

Claire McLean, Realise HR

Natasha Clarke, Aptus Utilities

 

Hospitality Leader

Viki Tahmasebi, THG

Celia Gaze, The Wellbeing Farm

James Bates & Thomas White, QVO Hospitality

William Lees-Jones, JW Lees Brewery

David Fox, Tampopo

Marcello Distefano, San Carlo Restaurant Group

 

Manufacturing Leader

Steve Mulcahy, Contact Originators Group

Greg Johnson, Warwick North West

Donna Edwards, Made Smarter North West

 

Education Leader

Mark Parello, Daintree Wealth Management & Daintree Wealth Tomorrow

Amer Gaffar, Manchester Metropolitan University

Chris Hill, Northcoders Group

 

Sales Leader

Scott McNicol, Harper

Ian Bold, Aqueous Digital

 

Marketing Leader

Constance Smith, Evolve B G

Marie-France van Heel, Be.EV

Scott Taylor, American Golf

Nick Owens, Magnify PR

Kristen Drummond, Slater Heelis

Anna Heyes, Active Profile / Tech Climbers

 

Technology Leader

Lawrence Perret-Hall, CYFOR Group

Antony Seddon, Evolve

Nikolaos Charalampous, CredAbility

Jon Dunning, Nomical

Phil Wedgwood, Engage

Anna Heyes, Active Profile / Tech Climbers

 

Finance Leader

Tanzeel Rehman, TR Forensic Accountants

Mark Lyons, Puma Growth Partners

Craig Cornick. I Quote

Scott Marshall, Roma Finance

Nick Leech, Chase de Vere

Lucy Williams, JS

 

Property Leader

Stephanie Cox, E3P

Ollie Plastow, Consensus Workspace

Lynn Haime, Baltic Creative CIC

Mitchell Walsh, Integritas Property Group

Sean Keyes, Sutcliffe

 

Company Leader (up to 50 employees)
Ben Craven, Safeseal Roofing

Dr William Beer, Tunley Environmental

Ollie Plastow, Consensus Workspace

Karen Turton, Purple Story

Sid Sethi, Specscart

Michelle Laithwaite, FuelHub

 

Company Leader (51-100 employees)
Chris Bliss and Chris Renshaw, The Momentum Group

Jonathan Murphy, Assura

Andrew Wood, ESP Play

Lucy Williams, JS

Steve Mulcahy, Contact Originators

Stephen Johnson, For Everyone

 

Company Leader (101+ employees)
Ryan Stephenson-Brown, Evolve B G

Nick Cooper, Adept Corporate Service

Jo Henney, Nugent

Matthew Moulding, THG

Scott Rothwell, DASCO Construction

Rachel Fletcher, Slater Heelis

 

Leader of the Year
To be announced on the night

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