Region’s leading finance directors honoured
THE first North West Finance Director Awards last night honoured some of the most talented executives in the region at a prestigious awards ceremony.
Dean Moore, finance director of Manchester home shopping giant N Brown Group, was presented with the Outstanding Achievement award, while Barbara Richmond of housebuilder Redrow was named top finance director of a listed business.
The event, sponsored by Barclays Corporate, Ernst & Young, Sewell Recruitment Group and law firm Squire Sanders Hammonds, was attended by more than 200 people at the Hilton Hotel and hosted by David Parkin, founder of TheBusinessDesk.com.
The awards recognised the key contribution and exceptional performance of the region’s top Finance Directors and their ability to adapt to changing market conditions.
John Timpson, chairman of Manchester-based Timpson, the shoe repairs, dry cleaning and key cutting business, was the main speaker on the evening and presented the Outstanding Achievement award.
In recognising Dean Moore’s contribution to the business, judges praised his “excellent track record”.
The citation said: “He has developed skills and experience that are extremely commercial in nature and we unanimously agreed that he proved to be outstanding across all judging criteria and categories.”
Moore was also commended for being an excellent team player and reading the market correctly.
On winning the award Moore said: “I prefer to be working behind the scenes rather than in the spotlight, but I am delighted at this award, which is for my team. I don’t think I have ever won so much as a raffle prize before.”
Other 2011 winners were: Mark Walker of CVS the Trafford-based business rates specialist who won Best Finance Director of a private company with turnover under £50m;
Ian Sinderson of corporate travel specialist ATPI Group was the winner in the private company with turnover of more than £50m.
The Young Finance Director category – which was keenly contested – was taken by 36-year-old David Jones of entertainment and gaming products supplier Barcrest Group.
Steve Williams of Flintshire-based Warwick Chemicals, which is owned by Close Brothers Private Equity, was judged best FD of a Private Equity-backed company.
Tim Kowalski, who joined Tameside-based home shopping company Findel last year, won the Strategic Impact Award.
Andy Lees, corporate director at Barclays Corporate said: “What a fantastic evening and an incredible turnout. It was refreshing to be able to step away from the continuing economic challenges that we are facing on a daily basis to focus on something positive, it is heartening to hear so many success stories from our regional FDs”.
Alastair Nuttall, partner at Ernst & Young in the North West, added: “The FD Awards have been a great platform to recognize and celebrate some of the outstanding financial directors in the region.
“Our winners have demonstrated not only a depth of knowledge, enthusiasm and the strategic vision to help drive their company forward, but have also had a real impact on the success of their business in a tough climate.”
Cliff Sewell, chief executive of Sewell Recruitment Group added “The evening is a fabulous end to an enlightening process. I have been lucky to be involved in the whole process and in am excited about the future of UK plc especially the North West.
“In a time of 24/7 bad news stories I can assure people that there are some fantastic success stories out there at the moment and it is clear the companies’ FDs are at the leading edge of achieving this”.
Jane Haxby, partner at Squire Sanders Hammonds Manchester, concluded: “The difficult financial conditions of the past few of years have forced all finance directors to adapt the way they manage the financial resources of their businesses.
“I have been impressed by the strong case that all of the candidates made. It’s good to know that North West’s businesses can count on such dedicated and talented individuals.”
