What is your role within RG?
I am a Corporate Finance partner advising private companies, entrepreneurs and investors on all types of corporate transactions (sales, acquisitions, MBOs, fundraising) covering all stages of the business lifecycle.
Tell me about your career to date…
I graduated from Leeds University with a First in Chemical Engineering and started work at Touché Ross in Leeds. After qualifying as a chartered accountant (ACA), I joined the Corporate Finance team for Deloitte and Touché (as it then was) and worked all over the UK and overseas (Europe, US and Africa) on transactions ranging from small MBOs in Yorkshire to multi-billion $ M&A.
I became a partner at Deloitte and led a significant part of the UK Corporate Finance business covering the Midlands. I then set up a boutique advisory business, Atticus, focused on providing hands on support and transactional advice to a small portfolio of clients. Atticus was sold to Mazars and I joined them as a partner, helping them to develop their Corporate Finance business in the UK and overseas.
I joined RG on 1 November 2018, attracted by the great people and the exciting opportunity to build on the tremendously strong business that already exists.
What does your current role involve?
So many different things. In many ways one must be a jack of all trades and hopefully a master of at least some. That’s why I enjoy it: no day is remotely like the previous one.
Being a Corporate Finance partner involves developing business, winning work and delivering great results once appointed as well as developing and managing people.
There are lots of technical aspects to the role, but it also requires high levels of people, psychology, project management, marketing and presentation skills.
What makes RG different?
There are many things that I like about RG not least the great people and the positive entrepreneurial culture.
As to what makes us different: I think it is the combination of a fierce determination to always deliver the best possible outcome for our clients, our drive and ambition to the best firm that we can possibly be and the commercial nous to run a proper business – not that common in professional services!
My three most notable achievements to date would be…
I think that’s probably for others to judge. I am just happy to be enjoying a rewarding career, working with great colleagues and clients, whilst having excellent support at home from my family.
Tell us about your day so far…
Busy, varied and stimulating.
Lots of phone calls with colleagues and clients on deals, addressing problems and ensuring progress is being made on projects.
I have held a meeting with an exciting prospect looking to raise £3m, have started to think about preparation for some important meetings next week and need to give thought to how to get the most out of a black tie do later this evening.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
Spending time with my wife, family and our dogs in the main.
We live in Harrogate and everywhere is within walking distance, so a real highlight of the weekend is walking the dogs with my wife on Saturday and Sunday morning through the woods.
And finally, leave us with one interesting fact about yourself…
A tricky one – I am not sure how interesting it is, but I have managed to achieve several centuries at snooker.
I played a fair bit when I was younger but never managed to get beyond 80. Then a few years ago I started again and with all the help available on the internet I managed to improve to the point where the magic 100 became achievable.