Yorkshire Finance Leaders Awards 2024 winners unveiled
Card Factory, John Cotton Group and Ebuyer are celebrating after triumphing at the prestigious Yorkshire Finance Leaders Awards 2024, which took place at The Queens Hotel in Leeds.
Compered by British sports journalist and former BBC Look North television presenter, Tanya Arnold, the awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievement and contribution of Yorkshire’s most talented finance stars to the region’s economic growth.
An audience of 250 saw Furrukh Sheikh from Cox Automotive take home the Outstanding Yorkshire Finance Leader of the Year Award, Amy Grey of Sheffield Forgemasters awarded the Significant Impact Award, and the Yorkshire Finance Team of the Year Award going to Liberty Global and UK Infrastructure Bank.
Global professional services firm Aon, accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP, and financial recruitment specialist Marks Sattin, sponsored the evening, with Leeds-born Rachel Woolford, the winner of this year’s The Apprentice, entertaining the guests with an inspirational keynote speech.
Furrukh Sheikh from Cox Automotive said: “Given the strength and depth of talent in the region, I am both humbled and honoured to have won this award. Thank you to my employer, Cox Automotive, for providing me with so many learning opportunities over the years and thanks to my brilliant colleagues for always bringing out the best of me. Lastly, a huge thank you to our finance team that are a joy and a privilege to lead. Whilst this is a proud personal achievement, it really is testament to our incredibly talented team.”
Steve Wilson, head of Aon Accelerate said: “What an incredible night celebrating Yorkshire’s top finance professionals. Congratulations to all the winners and to those shortlisted too. The calibre of finance talent in our region is outstanding, and each and every one of these individuals deserves to be recognised for their instrumental role in successfully navigating businesses through economic challenges.”
Gareth Singleton, regional managing partner at BDO in Yorkshire and the North East, added: “We’ve supported the Yorkshire Finance Leaders Awards for almost a decade and each year it just keeps getting better and better.
“The region is brimming with rich talent and these awards are testament to the hard work and dedication they show in helping to drive some of the most exciting and dynamic businesses in Yorkshire. Congratulations to all the winners and to everyone involved.”
Joshua Watson, principal consultant at Mark Sattin, said: “Marks Sattin were delighted to sponsor the Yorkshire Finance Leaders Awards once again, and thoroughly enjoyed this year’s ceremony celebrating the exceptional talent within our region. The standard of both the winners and those shortlisted was incredible, and we recognised the remarkable achievements of not only the individuals but also the teams that support them. Our congratulations go out to all those involved in the 2024 YFL.”
Full list of winners
- Outstanding Yorkshire Finance Leader of the Year – Furrukh Sheikh, Cox Automotive
- Yorkshire Finance Leader in a Private Equity Backed Company (sub £60m Turnover) – Jodie Roebuck, Fera Science
- Yorkshire Finance Leader in a Private Equity Backed Company (above £60m Turnover) – Mal Hartland, The Cooper Turner Beck Group
- Yorkshire Finance Leader in a Privately-Owned Business (sub £200m Turnover) – Alison Rose, Ebuyer
- Yorkshire Finance Leader in a Privately-Owned Business (above £200m Turnover) – Mark Stitson, John Cotton Group
- Yorkshire Finance Leader in an International Group – Burberry
- Yorkshire Finance Leader in a Public Quoted Company – Matthias Seegar, Card Factory
- High Growth – David Harrop, Reward Finance Group
- Significant Impact – Amy Grey, Sheffield Forgemasters
- Business Transformation – Alicia Fazackerley-Brown, James Clay and Sons
- Yorkshire Finance Team of the Year – Liberty Global & UK Infrastructure Bank
- Yorkshire ESG Finance Leader – Ben Priestley, Mansfield Pollard
- Future Yorkshire Finance Leader – James Heseltine, Avacta
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