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Outstanding finance leaders on shortlist for Northern FD Awards

The shortlist for the Northern Finance Director Awards, which recognise the outstanding contribution of finance leaders to the Northern Powerhouse’s estimated £412bn economy, has been announced.

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 the financial directors and chief financial officers 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 furlough, strained investor relationships and restricted cash flow.

Those FDs, who helped steer their businesses through the turbulent waters of the pandemic with particular skill will be recognised with the new COVID-19 Pandemic Response Excellence award, while a Diversity and Inclusion Award has also been added to the programme this year, reflecting the need to encourage and champion diversity in Northern boardrooms.

The finalists for each category are as follows:

Best Northern Finance Director of a Limited Company up to £25 million, category sponsored by The FD Centre

Jonathan Blythe, Bawtry Carbon Ltd

Martin Elliott, Linley & Simpson (The Lomond Group)

Anders Liljendahl, RAM Tracking

Gareth Lloyd, Moda Furnishings Ltd

David Thornton, Tracsis plc

Best Northern Finance Director of a Limited Company of £25 million – £100 million

Sadie Alton, Infinity Works Consulting Ltd

Robert Atkin, PFF Packaging Group Ltd

Martin Hargreaves, Victoria Plum Ltd

Andrew Lightowler, thebigword Group Ltd

David Sadler, Global Autocare Ltd

Clair Scott, Richard Wellock and Sons Ltd

Best Northern Finance Director of a Limited Company over £100 million

Paul Cogan, Bettys and Taylors Group

Andrew Gale, EVO Business Supplies Ltd

Ross Faith, E.H. Booth & Co Ltd

Mark Pownall, CF Booth Ltd

Craig Tomkinson, 2 Sisters Food Group

• Best Northern Finance Director of a Listed Company

Jayne Cottam, Assura PLC

Claire Dickinson, AES Engineering Ltd

Mike Iddon, Pets at Home PLC

Septima Maguire, Benchmark Holdings PLC

Best Northern Finance Director of a Private Equity-backed Company

Jonathan Blythe, Bawtry Carbon Ltd

Martin Elliott, Linley & Simpson (The Lomond Group)

Paul Gibson, Zyro Fisher

Iain Jamieson, Fairstone Group Ltd

Jocelyn Morgan, Clubhouse Golf

Simon Owers, International Leisure Group

Rich Winsland, Tactus Group

Best Northern Finance Director of a Global Company (HQ in the North (Subsidiary))

Claire Dickinson, AES Engineering Ltd

Mark Horsey, TransUnion

Septima Maguire, Benchmark Holdings PLC

Ria Murphy, Fanatics (International) Ltd

Northern Finance Director of the Year 2021 – Growth/Scale Up

**Colin Boyle, 2M Group Ltd

Martin Elliott, Linley & Simpson (The Lomond Group)

David Goulden, APS Group

Leigh Manton, SYNETIQ Ltd

Jocelyn Morgan, Clubhouse Golf

Rich Winsland, Tactus Group

Northern Finance Director of the Year 2021 – Innovation

Susan Allan, Willerby Group Ltd

Robert Atkin, PFF Packaging Group Ltd

Tim Knockton, Arc Inspirations Ltd

Gareth Lloyd, Moda Furnishings Ltd

Clair Scott, Richard Wellock and Sons Ltd

Northern Finance Director of the Year 2021 – Leadership

Paul Cogan, Bettys and Taylors Group

Jayne Cottam, Assura PLC

Ross Faith, E.H. Booth & Co Ltd

David Goulden, APS Group

Craig Tomkinson, 2 Sisters Food Group

Northern Finance Director of the Year 2021 – One to Watch

Jonathan Blythe, Bawtry Carbon Ltd

Christina Geary, BJSS

Marc Jones, Clifton Trade Bathrooms Ltd

Matthew Jowett, Sigmat Ltd

Clair Scott, Richard Wellock and Sons Ltd

Tom Shanks, Blueline Group

Northern Finance Director of the Year 2021 – Turnaround

Jonathan Blythe, Bawtry Carbon Ltd

James Downey, LNER (London North Eastern Railway) Ltd

Martin Hargreaves, Victoria Plum Ltd

Septima Maguire, Benchmark Holdings PLC

Ben Mitchell, Yodel

Northern Finance Director of the Year 2021 – Deal of the Year

Joanne Cowl, ABI (UK) Ltd

Martin Elliott, Linley & Simpson (The Lomond Group)

Iain Jamieson, Fairstone Group Ltd

Zoe Kirby, InXpress Global Ltd

Anders Liljendahl, RAM Tracking

Jocelyn Morgan, Clubhouse Golf

David Sadler, Global Autocare Ltd

Darren Woods, Freedom Fibre Ltd

The winners of the 2021 Celebrating Excellence Awards for Diversity and Inclusion and COVID-19 Pandemic Response will be announced at our Northern FD Awards dinner on October 7.

Chris Petts, Partner at Grant Thornton in the North East said: “Our independent panel of judges have delivered an outstanding shortlist of talented CFOs and FDs.

“Given the events of the last year, many of the finance directors on our 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, which is why these awards are so important to acknowledge the enterprise, leadership, resilience, social impact and all-round excellence of the financial directors and chief financial officers in North East businesses over the past 12 months. They will also showcase some truly inspirational stories of agility, compassion, innovation and, of course, that most natural quality, Northern grit!”

Hannah Kendrick, Corporate Partner, Leeds at Squire Patton Boggs said: “Finance directors have battled through an incredibly difficult and unforeseeable year, demonstrating commendable leadership and stewardship in steering their respective businesses to safety, and in many cases securing unprecedented growth.

“This year’s shortlist endorses finance directors across a diverse array of sectors that are bolstering the Northern economy and contributing to the post-pandemic recovery.

“Needless to say, there has never been a more appropriate or deserved time to celebrate the finance leaders of the North.

“We are in awe of the talented line-up of nominees this year, and there is no doubt that each and every finalist is truly deserving of their place on the Power List. We wish a heartfelt congratulations to all of the winners when we announce them in the autumn.”

John Halton – Associate Partner – Page Executive added: “To have had the privilege to hear the experiences and stories of the finance directors across the region has been fascinating and, in reality, confirmed what we already knew – that there is some exceptional finance talent in the North of England helping to deliver some great results and performances for the businesses and people they work with.

“Page Group has been recruiting accountants in the region for almost 40 years, so it seems overdue,but also a proud moment for us to be able to play a part in recognising the efforts and achievements of some of the region’s finest finance leaders.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Grant Thornton UK LLP .