Member Article

Stars of North West Finance Hailed at FD Awards 2017

THE top finance directors from Liverpool, Cheshire, Warrington and North Wales have been celebrated at the Finance Director of the Year awards, during a ceremony held at the Hilton Hotel in Liverpool on 2 November.

Now in their seventh year, the prestigious awards are sponsored by Grant Thornton, Accountable Recruitment, Hill Dickinson and HSBC. They shine a light on the region’s brightest FDs across both public and private sectors.

Philip Didlick, from Liverpool-headquartered OBG Pharmaceuticals, received the top accolade: Overall Finance Director of the year.

Didlick also took home the award for Commercial Finance Director of the year, and was the only nominee to pick up two awards on the night. Under his guidance the privately-owned business, which supplies to the pharma, chemical and industrial additives industries, has enjoyed rapid growth. Earlier this year Didlick secured a £27.3m funding package from HSBC to facilitate an ambitious three-year growth plan, which started with the shrewd acquisition of Staffordshire-based mineral and chemical distributor, Richard Baker Harrison.

The award for FD of the Year 100m+ turnover was scooped by Michael Owen, FD at Warrington-based e-commerce and specialist distribution provider, The Delivery Group. Owen has overseen significant investment in disruptive technology and IT, helping the company to maintain its industry-leading position. Continued growth has also seen the group listed in the Sunday Times Top Track 250: the newspaper’s list of the UK’s leading midmarket companies, produced in association with Grant Thornton.

In previous years the highest turnover category was capped at £60m+, with judges noting that the increase to £100m+ was indicative of the growth and dynamism of the North West economy.

EMS Group’s David Legg was named Finance Director of the Year for Cheshire. Neil Smith from Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust picked up the same award for Liverpool City region, with David Meir of Eddie Stobart Logistics collecting the prize for Warrington, and James Prince of Rhino Products winning the North Wales category.

Rising star, Emma Pickering, of Chester-based ITC Travel Group, took home the award for Finance Director of the Year Under 40.

A Special Recognition award was presented to Damian McDonald, FD for the UK’s leading bulk supplier of dairy products Meadow Foods. McDonald has held the role for the past two decades, presiding over considerable turnover growth and two notable acquisitions.

Finance Director of the Year Non-Profit went to Linda McMullen, who received recognition for her achievements with Everton in the Community – the official charity of the football club.

Carl Williams, North West managing partner at Grant Thornton, said: “We’re blessed with some truly great companies with the potential for exponential growth in the North West. But for that potential to be realised, the FDS steering these businesses must display shrewd commercial acumen, bold ambition and an ability to make the tough decisions.

“All of the shortlisted candidates make vital contributions to not only the companies in which they work, but to the regional economy as a whole, and I’d like to congratulate them on behalf of Grant Thornton.”

Simon Massey, managing director at Accountable Recruitment, said: “A massive well done to all of the nominees and winners. With such an array of talent on each shortlist it has been a huge challenge to select just one winner, but it was great seeing everyone’s success celebrated on the night and we’d like to thank all involved for a fantastic evening.”

Tom Carter, Head of Corporate Banking at HSBC, said: “HSBC is lucky enough to have worked with some of the winners throughout the years; therefore we can say first-hand these Finance Directors play a crucial role in driving not only their organisations forward, but also the region. It’s definitely an exciting time to be working in the North West.”

Mike Jones, partner at Hill Dickinson, said: “Despite 2017 proving to be fairly turbulent, these businesses have so much to celebrate. The attention to detail and vigour shown by these finance professionals really does prove that they are the brightest and best finance directors around, and we’d like to commend then all on behalf of Hill Dickinson.”

Please see below for the full list of winners for the 2017 Finance Director of the Year Awards:

Finance Director of the Year up to 6million

Stuart Chandler, Sentric Music

Finance Director of the Year 6-20m

Mark Williams, Moneypenny

Finance Director of the Year 20-50m

Andrew Allen, Colloids Limited

Finance Director of the Year 50-100m

Rob Laird, Uren Food Group

Finance Director of the Year 100m+

Michael Owen The Delivery Group

Finance Director of the Year Non-Profit

Linda McMullen – Everton in the Community

Finance Director of the Year Commercial Excellence

Philip Didlick, OBG Pharmaceuticals

Finance Director of the Year Under 40

Emma Pickering, ITC Travel Group

Finance Director of the Year Liverpool City Region

Neil Smith, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Finance Director of the Year Warrington

David Meir, Eddie Stobart Logistics

Finance Director of the Year North Wales

James Prince, Rhino Products

Finance Director of the Year Cheshir

David Legg, EMS Group

Overall Finance Director of the year

Philip Didlick, OBG Pharmaceuticals

Special Recognition Award

Damian McDonald, Meadow Foods

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellie Watson .