Northern FD Awards launched to recognise North East’s outstanding finance leaders

NOMINATIONS are now open for the Northern Finance Director Awards, recognising the important, and often unheralded contribution finance leaders play in the North East business community.

As a result of the unprecedented peacetime social and economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and more recently Brexit uncertainty, the awards, across 14 categories, will recognise 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.

Those FDs, who helped steer their businesses through the turbulent waters of the pandemic with particular skill will be recognised with the COVID-19 Pandemic Response Excellence award, while a Diversity and Inclusion Award has been added to the programme this year, reflecting the need to encourage and champion diversity in boardrooms. Nominations are now open and can be submitted via http://www.northernfdawards.co.uk

Reflecting government social distancing guidance, this year’s awards will comprise of a Northern FD Power List to be announced in early July, followed by regional roundtables in the North West, the North East and Yorkshire later in the year announcing the winners, subject to restrictions being lifted.

The awards are open to finance directors in all industries, whether working for a fast-growing SME or an innovative PLC, as well as for the benefit of the wide region.

The categories are:

Best Northern Finance Director of a Limited Company up to £25 million
Best Northern Finance Director of a Limited Company of £25 million – £100 million
Best Northern Finance Director of a Limited Company over £100 million
Best Northern Finance Director of a Listed Company
Best Northern Finance Director of a Private Equity-backed Company
Best Northern Finance Director of a Global Company (HQ in the North (Subsidiary)

Outstanding Achievement Awards

Northern Finance Director of the Year 2021 – Growth/Scale Up
Northern Finance Director of the Year 2021 – Innovation
Northern Finance Director of the Year 2021 – Leadership
Northern Finance Director of the Year 2021 – One to Watch
Northern Finance Director of the Year 2021 – Turn Around
Northern Finance Director of the Year 2021 – Deal of the Year

Celebrating Excellence

Diversity and Inclusion Excellence
COVID-19 Pandemic Response Excellence

Finalists will be invited to attend Zoom/ Microsoft Teams interviews, with the winners then selected by an independent panel of judges. The awards are being sponsored by business advisers Grant Thornton UK LLP, global law firm Squire Patton Boggs and leading recruitment firm Michael Page.

Chris Petts, Partner at Grant Thornton in the North East said:

“After a year of incredible change, challenge and uncertainty, it’s really important to celebrate the fantastic, and often unsung contribution to the North East business community of finance directors and chief financial officers.

“We’re increasingly seeing more complex demands and expectations being placed on FDs and CFOs as businesses look to grow with new products and services, enter new markets or look at strategic acquisitions. The role is so much more diverse and rewarding than it has ever been and we are delighted to be involved in these awards.

Hannah Kendrick, Corporate Partner, Leeds at law firm Squire Patton Boggs said:

“We are delighted to once again be a headline sponsor of the Northern Finance Director Awards, which showcase the incredible talent across the region.

“This has been a staple campaign in the finance community for many years now, and we are excited to deliver the awards in this new Power List format, which allows more FDs to be rightfully recognised for their successes.

“It has been a particularly challenging year for Finance Directors, and will continue to be so as we navigate our way back to a prosperous economy. There has never been a more appropriate or deserved time to celebrate the finance leaders of the North.”

John Halton – Associate Partner – Page Executive said:

“This year in particular finance leaders in businesses both large and small have been relied upon more than normal as these difficult times have presented challenges for everyone. It is a privilege therefore to be involved in these awards and to recognise some of the exceptional FD and CFO talent across the region - who will have been directly involved in helping, and continuing to help, their companies navigate through COVID-19.

“We look forward to sharing some success stories and highlighting the ever impressive capability of the finance leadership across the North.”

https://www.northernfdawards.co.uk