Central South: Top performing FD's named

Finance directors (FDs) from some of the region’s key mid-sized companies have been named as top performers in their field by accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP and specialist recruitment consultancy CMA Recruitment Group.

Nominated by their managing directors, colleagues and the professional community, they will now be interviewed by way of an in-depth discussion on their individual achievements in the past 18 months before the Central South Mid Market FD of the Year is announced in January.

The top performing FDs are listed below (alphabetically by surname):

• Craig Barlow, chief financial officer – Appello
• Graham Barnetson, chief financial officer – Red Funnel Group
• Tom Barrett, chief financial officer – Just Develop It
• Becky Harris, finance director – MSP Capital
• Michael Lashmar, director of finance – RB Sports & Leisure Holdings
• Hannah McCarthy, finance director – Boatfolk
• Alan Meldrum, finance director – Harvest Fine Foods
• Adrian Sargent, chief financial officer – The Goodwood Estate Company

Due to the impact of Covid-19, the deadline for nominations was extended this year to capture the significant contribution finance directors have made in leading their companies through the crisis and into a new business environment.

Malcolm Thixton, lead partner at BDO in Southampton explained: “We were really keen to recognise the role being played by chief financial officers and finance directors both pre lockdown and as they manage business priorities to ensure resilience in the coming months. However, we will be looking for overall exceptional performance in leadership and management skills, contribution to the performance of the business and while commercially astute, an appropriate approach to risk and governance.”

Richard Dibden, commercial director at CMA Recruitment Group added: “We will not only look at each nominee’s achievements through 2019 and into 2020 in terms of strategic contribution, leadership and commerciality but also how they have tackled short and long-term business stability and maintained confidence as they planned ahead for continued uncertainty.”

This is the third year that BDO is partnering with CMA Recruitment Group to identify the most talented and high-achieving individuals in privately owned companies based in the Central South.