Director of the Year Awards LONDON AND SOUTH EAST

Celebrating directors at the forefront of leadership excellence

Wednesday 17 May 116 Pall Mall, London 6.30-10.30pm

On Twitter? Follow the Director of the Year Awards today @The_IoD #DotYA Director of the Year Awards LONDON AND SOUTH EAST

Celebrating directors at the forefront of leadership excellence

Wednesday 17 May 116 Pall Mall, London 6.30-10.30pm

On Twitter? Follow the Director of the Year Awards today @The_IoD #DotYA Director of the Year Awards London & South East

Foreword

Stephen Martin Director General, Institute of Directors

“ It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the Director of the Year Awards for London and the South East.

Our awards seek to shine a light on directors who have enhanced and driven their businesses forward. The contenders come from different organisations, but all share similarities in leadership, expertise and personal dedication.

During this critical period of political change, we will need to see ingenuity and tenacity displayed by professional leaders. The vibrancy and diversity of the businesses here gives me cause to be hopeful of the strength of British industries. Over the coming years the IoD will continue to provide the necessary support and guidance to members, while seeking to put the business perspective to government as Brexit negotiations take place.

It is incredibly important to recognise and celebrate the individuals who are truly ‘inspiring business’ behind the scenes and making a significant impact in their industry. I personally know how incredibly heartening it is to be recognised for your work as a director, having myself been commended twice by the IoD Director of the Year Awards in my previous role as Chief Executive of the Clugston Group. We do not go into business for the accolades or awards but these evenings are an important opportunity to acknowledge the achievements and significant personal challenges that leaders have to overcome.

In my relatively new role as Director General, I am continually surprised and impressed by the businesses I encounter, and tonight is no exception. The qualities that these individuals possess are attributes that I seek to champion. The finalists you will hear about tonight will I hope further motivate and inspire you, as well as raising the bar of business leadership for the next generation to aspire to.

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Welcome

David Seall C.Eng Chairman IoD South

“ In such turbulent and uncertain times across the globe, the IoD, more than ever, continues to be the voice supporting business leaders.

Whether it’s representing their views to Ministers and policy makers, promoting responsible governance, advocating excellence in leadership, and guiding and assisting our members to be better leaders, the IoD provides focused and relevant support to provide the essential services to enable businesses to excel. Recently, for example, we have also tackled “difficult” subjects such as mental health in the workplace and cyber security, helping members find their way through the “maze”.

Following the EU referendum our policy team have been engaging with members across the country, listening to their views and concerns and representing those views to the politicians that wish to represent us. As members of the IoD now face a situation which was not what the majority of members wanted, it’s even more important that the developing framework of business regulation that will be the result of our negotiations, continues to be one that enables us to trade effectively, efficiently and productively with our largest trading partner. The agenda of wealth creators and the business community must be paramount

Those competing for our business awards this evening are the business leaders that will drive the economic performance of the new United Kingdom forward. London and the South East continues to be the most successful and competitive and thriving business environment in the UK. Consequently, I’m sure you will join me in recognizing their significant achievement in being finalists and being here this evening. They have shown tenacity, enthusiasm and drive to achieve what they have to date and we wish all of them every success in the future.

We also thank them for having the courage and bravery to allow themselves to be judged by their peers.

I’d like to thank our judges, the IoD team and all of those who have made this evening possible.

Finally, as I complete my term as your Regional Chairman I would like to thank colleagues at IoD Pall Mall, branch Chairs and committee members who give up their valuable time for us all and of course the members I have met across the region. I have had the good fortune to have been met with enthusiasm, a spirit of friendship and unwavering collegiate support that will I will always remember with great fondness and gratitude. Thanks everyone! It promises to be an enjoyable evening and a chance to learn from the best. Thank you for joining us in this celebration.

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The Awards Ceremony

Programme Menu

6.30pm Reception Cured beetroot, horseradish salmon (c)

7.15pm Welcome from the IoD Date, chicory and pistachio salad with orange 7.25pm Dinner and feta dressing (v) (c)

9.00pm Awards ceremony begins

n n n 10.30pm Event ends

Breast of free-range chicken, sautéed potatoes, caramelised onion, butternut purée with cider and pickled mushrooms

Asparagus, goat’s cheese and shallot tart (v)

n n n

Vanilla cheesecake with berries

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Your host for this afternoon

Declan Curry Television presenter

Declan Curry was most recently the presenter of On the Money, a weekly business and workplace programme on BBC Radio 5 Live, and occasionally the presenter of 5 Live’s afternoon news show Drive, where he was also business presenter. He presented the business debate programme Show Me the Money on the BBC News Channel.

Prior to this, he co-presented the BBC’s Working Lunch business show with Naga Munchetty. He also presented Breakfast business news on BBC One and BBC News 24, reporting each morning from the studios of the London Stock Exchange, covering business, the economy, the workplace and personal finance. He interviewed chief executives, trade union leaders, stock market watchers and economists, along with individual workers and investors. He also broadcast his own personalised reports on the stock market and investing.

Declan has also appeared coast-to-coast across the United States with a live business and news report for the US network ABC, as well as writing a regular diary column for ABC’s news website, ABCNews.com.

He was a business presenter with BBC News 24 since the channel’s launch in 1997. Before that, he presented 5 Live’s early-morning business programme Wake up to Money, and produced and reported for a range of programmes, including Radio 4’s Moneybox, 5 Live’s Financial World Tonight, and World Business Report on the BBC World Service.

He has also worked for the production company Mentorn on programmes including BBC Two’s Pound for Pound and Channel 4’s Consequences.

He has written for the Independent and the Guardian, Shares and Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazines, and Irish titles Business & Finance andThe Irish Examiner.

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Judging criteria Vision What is their vision for the future of their company over the next three to five years and how do they intend to drive their business forward?

Romana Abdin Steve Coburn Challenges CEO, Simplyhealth Managing director, What do they feel are the greatest Project Five Ltd challenges they face as a director and how do they face up to them?

Corporate social responsibility How does their organisation interact with the society in which they operate and how seriously do they consider corporate social responsibility issues?

Industry and community involvement What is the individual director doing on a personal basis to help shape the industry? Are they involved in their local community, charities etc? Surinder Arora Ian Dewar Founder and chairman, Managing director, Culture The Arora Group Ergonomic Solutions How do they work with the people in their organisation and what is their approach to company culture, staff training, welfare etc?

Corporate governance The use of non-executive directors and compliance with best practice will be considered, together with the individual director’s view of the contribution of NEDs.

Personal achievements Kevin Byrne What do the individual directors Peter Digby CEO, Checkatrade Chairman, Xtrac Ltd consider to be their greatest achievement over the last two years and why?

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Dina Henry Jane Ollis Howard Wilder Chief operating officer, Director of sales and marketing, Principal, The Wilder CAF Bank Ltd Quvium UK Consultancy

Tim Jones Helen Ryan Ross Williams Chairman, CH & Co Group Director, HR Insight CEO, Venntro Media Group Ltd

Robert May David Seall Managing Director, Ramsac Director, Ovedo Ltd

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Young Director of the Year Finalists

Martin Bamford Julianne Ponan Managing director, Informed Choice Ltd Owner and CEO, Creative Nature Martin Bamford is managing director of Julianne Ponan is the young entrepreneur Informed Choice, an award-winning firm behind high-growth superfood brand of chartered financial planners in Cranleigh, Creative Nature. After taking over the Surrey. He is a chartered financial planner, company when she was 22 and it was chartered wealth manager and CFP operating at a £56,000 loss, she pulled professional, specialising in later life advice the firm into profit and launched it into as an accredited later life adviser. Martin is the UK’s major supermarkets, pharmacies, the author of several bestselling personal gyms, retailers and health food stores. finance books and produced his first feature- Julianne is a motivational speaker and length documentary in 2014, about the post- mentor for Virgin Startups, and is taking war baby boomer generation in retirement. Creative Nature to new territories such as Scandinavia and the UAE. In 2016 she was named the Guardian’s Leader of the Year.

James Morris Tevin Tobun Managing director, CEO, GV Group (Gate Ventures) Trafalgar & JF Marquees Tevin Tobun is the CEO of GV Group James set up JF Marquees in 2007, initially (Gate Ventures), a multi-sector business as a sideline to his university studies. It that specialises in food logistics and soon became obvious that it was a fantastic distribution which he founded in 2001. business opportunity. Since partnering Its food logistics division focuses on food with operations director Stephen Shiner, transportation within the education, social the pair have seen Trafalgar & JF Marquees services, healthcare, retail and business grow substantially over the last six years. sectors and currently delivers over seven James handles the day-to-day running of million food and food-related items a the business and looks after the company’s year throughout the UK. Tevin is one of corporate clients. the JP Morgan Black Powerlist’s 100 most influential black people in the UK.

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Ben Towers Mark Wright CEO, Zest the Agency Founder and director, Climb Online Ben Towers has been named by Richard Mark Wright is an entrepreneur and self- Branson as “one of the UK’s most exciting taught digital marketing specialist, known entrepreneurs” and at only 18 years old he for winning the 2014 season of the BBC runs a successful marketing agency, Towers show The Apprentice. Mark then went on Design, working with leading brands all over to find and develop one of the UK’s fastest the world to engage them with the next growing digital marketing agencies, Climb generation via social media and effective Online, in partnership with Lord Sugar. campaigns. Ben was named by the Times Climb Online has three UK office locations at the top of their 2015 Super Teen Power and a second-year turnover in excess of List in the world and is an experienced £4m. Mark now plans to transform Climb public speaker who regularly appears on Online into a global business, with South TV promoting young people in business. Africa, Australia and Dubai in sight.

Genevieve Wells Founder and owner, Lewis Visuals Ltd Genevieve Wells graduated in interior architecture at the Farnham University of Creative Arts in 2005 and started out in interior design specialising in the office, retail and leisure sector. Her focus changed to residential architecture and she established a reputation as an architectural technician. Today she is a chartered architectural technologist and worked for Michael Conoley Associates and Redrow Homes before setting up her own business Lewis Visuals in 2009.

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Chairman’s Award for Leadership in Corporate Responsibility Director of the Year Finalists

Jamie Gray Nicholas Andrew Mercer Founder, Buddy Burst Commercial director, Jamie Gray has worked in marketing and Eurostar International Ltd advertising for the last 10 years. In 2015 Nick Mercer is the commercial director he started his own social enterprise called for Eurostar, with teams based in France, Buddy Burst, which offers eco-friendly Belgium and the UK. He is also a governor of promotional products and whose goal Bedes, a public school in Sussex, and sits on is to help brands grow and increase their the board of a business partnership focusing economic value. In a short space of time, on helping young people in the King’s Cross Buddy Burst has worked with a range of area of London. As commercial director, clients from Premier League football clubs Nick has responsibility for sales, pricing to high street banks and charities. The and revenue management, marketing and latter included presenting a donation to distribution, including Eurostar.com and the the Prince of Wales at Clarence House. Eurostar Contact Centre. He has 30 years’ experience, having held sales and marketing director positions at Air Miles (now Avios), First Direct and Sky. James Lloyd Director, School Space James is a co-director of School Space, a social enterprise he jointly founded in 2011 while at school. With an aim of helping schools generate additional income by letting their facilities, School Space have invested over £120,000 into local education in the past 18 months. James’ work focuses on creating genuine social impact. He also sits on the board of the Oxfordshire branch of youth charity Young Enterprise, inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs.

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Public/Third Sector Director of the Year Finalists

Ben Beadle Aileen McLeish Managing director, Chairman, Ashford and St Peter’s TDS Northern Ireland Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Ben Beadle is the managing director Aileen McLeish has been chairman of of the not-for-profit Tenancy Deposit Ashford & St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Scheme in Northern Ireland. Responsible Foundation Trust since 2008, having for safeguarding tenants’ deposit money, previously been non-executive director Ben has overseen a period of sustained since 2005. She is chairman of The Lightbox growth and made the organisation in Woking, treasurer of The Mount School renowned for its outstanding service in York and preside≠nt of the North West and expertise. The scheme runs a free Surrey branch of the NHS Retirement alternative dispute resolution mechanism Fellowship. Prior to this, Aileen’s career has as an alternative to going to court, and is taken her from Unilever to HJ Heinz, followed widely regarded in the housing industry. by director roles at Historic Royal Palaces and WWF-UK.

Tom Beardmore-Gray Gavin Stride Finance director, Chief executive, Farnham Maltings Girls’ Day School Trust Gavin Stride has spent a lifetime championing Tom Beardmore-Gray is finance director the ways culture can contribute to the of the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST). The creation of vibrant, happy and safe GDST is the UK’s 12th largest charity and communities. He is passionate about finding is responsible for the education of almost simple solutions and encouraging generosity. 20,000 girls in 24 independent schools Most recently he has established Farnham and two academies across England and Maltings as a local and regional provider Wales. Prior to joining GDST in 2010, Tom that manages a network of 220 venues worked for PwC, Pepsi and De Beers. in communities across the south east of He holds a number of non-executive England, leads a museum service, and runs positions, including chairman of the audit an export programme for contemporary committee at Reading University and English theatre with the British Council trustee of the Institute of Business Ethics. and Arts Council.

Claire Horton Chief executive, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home Claire joined Battersea in 2010, increasing income, awareness and profile, and taking the charity to tenth place in the UK charity rankings. She was previously CEO of the Variety Club of Great Britain. Claire is a specialist in building cross-sector partnerships, brand marketing, income generation and organisational growth. She has an honorary doctorate from the University of Roehampton and is a fellow of the RSA and the Institute of Directors.

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Public/Third Sector International Director of the Year Finalists Director of the Year Finalists

John Bullivant Paul Lindley Managing director, Founder and chairman, Ella’s Kitchen PSM Instrumentation Ltd Paul Lindley is an award-winning British John Bullivant is managing director of entrepreneur. In 2006 he founded PSM Instrumentation Ltd and is based innovative organic baby food brand Ella’s in Haywards Heath, West Sussex. He has Kitchen, now the largest in the UK with an MBA from the University of Reading sales of over £80m across 40 countries. and is a chartered director. John has Paul also founded Paddy’s Bathroom more than 20 years general management in 2014, a brand of natural toiletries and business leadership experience with for children, as well as The Key is E, various companies. He is a fellow of both an initiative supporting African social the Institute of Directors and the Royal impact entrepreneurs. In April 2017 he Society of Arts. John lives in Sussex and published his first book,Little Wins: The is married with two children. huge power of thinking like a toddler.

Tom Cole Julianne Ponan CEO, ITL Owner and CEO, Creative Nature Tom Cole is the owner and CEO of the Julianne Ponan is the young entrepreneur ITL Group, an award-winning design behind high-growth superfood brand and manufacturing partner for leading Creative Nature. After taking over the lifesaving medical devices. He joined company when she was 22 and it was ITL in May 1992, bringing many years of operating at a £56,000 loss, she pulled experience in operational management the firm into profit and launched it into and a successful track record of managing the UK’s major supermarkets, pharmacies, diagnostic instrumentation companies. gyms, retailers and health food stores. Initially starting in their production team, Julianne is a motivational speaker and Tom progressed within the business until mentor for Virgin Startups, and is taking he was appointed CEO in 2004 and has Creative Nature to new territories such as since become an owner of the group Scandinavia and the UAE. In 2016 she was following a management buyout in 2013. named the Guardian’s Leader of the Year.

John Michael Barry Gibson Chairman, HomeServe plc John Michael Barry Gibson is a seasoned non-executive who has served as chairman at seven FTSE companies, four private equity-backed ventures, chaired a major charity and served on the board of an NHS trust. He joined the board of HomeServe in 2004 and was appointed chairman in 2010. He believes passionately that NEDs have to set the tone in how organisations balance the needs of customers, shareholders, employees and society.

22 Visit iod.com/events The business landscape has Power your become more intense post- recession and directors need performance to be agile enough to respond to changes in the marketplace and disruptive technologies, in 2017 continued professional development is not just about The IoD’s professional development learning, it’s about becoming services can help you and your a better professional. organisation to achieve success now and in the future. Louise Gulliver, Director of Professional • Open programmes Development, IoD • Short skills and role-based courses • Director qualifications • CPD tasters • Peer-to peer networking • Executive coaching • Bespoke in-company training

For more information visit www.iod.com/training or call us today on 020 7766 2601 Director of the Year Awards London & South East

Director of the Year (Small Company) – Turnover up to £9.99M

James Dempster Pam Loch Managing director, Cobb Digital Managing director, With more than 15 years’ experience in Loch Employment Law marketing and PR, James is the co-founder Pam Loch is the managing director and managing director of Cobb Digital, of Loch Associates Group, which a multi-award-winning communications incorporates four distinct specialisms: agency based in Brighton. Leading a Loch Employment Law, HR Advise Me, team of 15, James’ skills lie in creating and Loch Health and Loch Mediation. She implementing digital marketing strategies is a dual-qualified English and Scottish for a variety of businesses, such as South lawyer with extensive experience in Downs National Park, Winkworth Estate employment law and HR, having worked Agents and Worthing Borough Council. with global and regional law firms. She is ranked in Chambers UK 2017 as a leading individual in employment law.

Sarah Gobran Nigel Parsons Co-founder and producer, Director, Answers Investigation Guildford Shakespeare Company Nigel Parsons is a private investigator and Sarah co-founded Guildford Shakespeare the director of the award-winning firm Company (GSC) in 2006, following a career Answers Investigation. Nigel works as a as an actor. To date she has produced 32 commercial detective in corporate and shows for GSC in venues ranging from legal Investigation, specialising in company castles, museums, churches, galleries, parks fraud, though he handles personal cases and gardens, which have been seen by over and has reunited many adoptees with their 85,000 people. Sarah set up the education birth parents. Answers Investigation won department at GSC, which currently provides the Enterprising Business award at the nine weekly clubs for children and adults as 2015 FSB Surrey Business Awards and has well as regular workshops in schools. also been featured on BBC news shows.

Andrew Hookway Adrian Powell Managing director, Extech Managing director, Andrew Hookway is the founder and Active Facilities Management Ltd managing director of Extech, an award- Adrian is a commercial relocation and winning IT-managed service provider based office interiors specialist. He started his in the company’s headquarters in Haywards career with Pickford removals, where he Heath, West Sussex. Andrew has over 30 was promoted to branch manager at the years’ experience in the technology sector, age of 22. Various senior management gained at an executive level within various roles followed and at 35 he became large brands including Fidelity International a director of one of Europe’s largest and Colt Telecom. Andrew has a passion for commercial furniture dealers. Adrian joined humanising IT and making it more accessible, Active as owner and director in 2007 and placing high importance on mentoring the has built a world-class team delivering younger generation on the science and brilliant customer service to many of technology aspects within his industry. the UK’s leading blue chip companies.

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Director of the Year (Small Company) – Turnover up to £9.99M

Luke Quilter Paul Wetherfield CEO, Sleeping Giant Media Director, Global Associates Co-founder and CEO of Sleeping Giant Paul Wetherfield is the chief executive of Media and Giant Campus, Luke Quilter has Global Associates. He started his career in found his calling – namely search engine building energy management systems in optimisation, pay-per-click advertising, 2001, working as an office manager. Paul social media and business start-ups. With was made a director of the same business more than 15 years’ experience, he runs in 2007. In 2010 that business was three businesses and regularly lectures, acquired and after three years as regional coaches and teaches in his expertise. director he joined Global Associates. Paul Luke was recently recognised for his has more than doubled the workforce and achievements as the UK’s Digital Leader the turnover and has a real passion for his of the Year at the Wirehive 100 awards. apprenticeship training academy.

Derek Rodgers Managing partner, Gardner Leader LLP Derek joined Gardner Leader in 2005 as a corporate lawyer and became a managing partner in 2011. Management of the firm is now his sole focus. The firm grew from a £3.3m turnover and around 60 people in 2012 to nearly 120 people and a projected 2017 turnover of £7m. It has successfully integrated acquisitions in Newbury and Maidenhead and won national awards for employee engagement and business development and was crowned the LawNet Law Firm of the Year in 2016.

Terry Roffey Director, Brook Security Having worked in the security industry for 45 years, Terry has experience at every level, from an apprentice engineer to MD of a utility subsidiary. Having purchased a controlling interest in a Kent-based security company, across 19 years he has quadrupled its turnover and grown the customer base seven-fold across the south east. He was recruited as assistant regional chairman of the National Security Inspectorate 12 years ago and recently became its chairman, representing 100 companies in the south east.

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Director of the Year (Medium Company) – Turnover £10M - £99.99M

Tom Cole Wayne Hodgson CEO, ITL Managing director, Red Eagle Ltd Tom Cole is the owner and CEO of the Wayne Hodgson is the managing director ITL Group, an award-winning design of Folkestone-based recruitment firm Red and manufacturing partner for leading Eagle. Wayne’s story began 13 years ago lifesaving medical devices. He joined when he started Red Eagle with his wife ITL in May 1992, bringing many years of Jo. The business has grown annually and experience in operational management now has four branches with a turnover of and a successful track record of managing £16m in 2016. He is also managing director diagnostic instrumentation companies. for other companies in The Red Eagle Initially starting in their production team, Group, which has a projected turnover Tom progressed within the business until of £29m for 2017. he was appointed CEO in 2004 and has since become an owner of the group following a management buyout in 2013.

Paul Davis Paul Lindley Managing director, Founder and chairman, Ella’s Kitchen Aerial Business Communications Paul Lindley is an award-winning British Based in Portsmouth, Paul Davis started entrepreneur. In 2006 he founded Aerial Business Communications in 1986 after innovative organic baby food brand Ella’s working as a sales executive for a carphone Kitchen, now the largest in the UK with company. Aerial has since developed into sales of over £80m across 40 countries. a fully unified comms company providing Paul also founded Paddy’s Bathroom mobiles, phone systems, IT and internet in 2014, a brand of natural toiletries connectivity services to businesses for children, as well as The Key is E, throughout Hampshire and the UK. The an initiative supporting African social company won the Nine Customer Service impact entrepreneurs. In April 2017 he Award at the Comms National Awards in published his first book,Little Wins: The October 2014. huge power of thinking like a toddler.

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Director of the Year (Medium Company) – Turnover £10M - £99.99M

Marc Reddy Managing director, First Hampshire & Dorset Ltd and First Beeline Buses Ltd Marc Reddy is managing director of First Hampshire, Dorset & Berkshire, a subsidiary of FirstGroup plc, which provides local bus and coach services throughout the three counties. Marc has worked in the bus industry all his career and is passionate about sustainable transport solutions coupled with taking advantage of technology. In his spare time he is also deputy station officer for HM Coastguard.

Stephen Rogers Managing director, Swanstaff Recruitment Stephen Rogers, CEO and founder of Swanstaff Recruitment, began his entrepreneur journey in 1997 from his dining room. Stephen has since grown his business to 23 sites and an £18.5m turnover. He plans to continue expansion to achieve 100 branches by 2023. Stephen has previously been recognised as entrepreneur and leader of the year from several awards programmes and has spoken at local IoD events to share his knowledge and inspire other leaders.

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Director of the Year (Large Company) – Turnover £100M - £499M

Tom Beardmore-Gray Aileen McLeish Finance director, Chairman, Ashford and St Peter’s Girls’ Day School Trust Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Tom Beardmore-Gray is finance director Aileen McLeish has been chairman of of the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST). The Ashford & St Peter’s Hospitals NHS GDST is the UK’s 12th largest charity and Foundation Trust since 2008, having is responsible for the education of almost previously been non-executive director 20,000 girls in 24 independent schools since 2005. She is chairman of The Lightbox and two academies across England and in Woking, treasurer of The Mount School in Wales. Prior to joining GDST in 2010, Tom York and president of the North West Surrey worked for PwC, Pepsi and De Beers. He branch of the NHS Retirement Fellowship. holds a number of non-executive positions, Prior to this, Aileen’s career has taken including chairman of the audit committee her from Unilever to HJ Heinz, followed at Reading University and trustee of the by director roles at Historic Royal Palaces Institute of Business Ethics. and WWF-UK.

Russell Trenter Matthew Pack Managing director, Alliance Medical Ltd CEO, Holiday Extras Russell is regional managing director of Matthew became a director of Holiday Alliance Medical. His previous roles include Extras in 2005 and was part of the team being on the boards of Oasis Healthcare that led the management buyout of the and Laurel Group. Russell was part of the company that year. He stepped into the sale of Alliance Medical to Life Healthcare role of Holiday Extras’ CEO in 2009 and for £800m in 2016. He has completed over CEO of the Holiday Extras Group in 2015. 100 M+A deals and worked internationally Matthew has liberated the team with with Kimberly-Clark and formerly with technology and flexible working practices. Safeway Stores PLC. He holds a degree Holiday Extras is regularly included in from the University of Southampton and the Sunday Times’ Top 100 Companies is a fellow of the Institute of Directors. to Work For list.

Alec Steven Ransom Director, Turner & Townsend Alecs Ransom is the director within Turner & Townsend’s Heathrow airport commercial and controls commission. He is responsible as estimating lead for the estimating and cost planning teams preparing estimates, cost plans and providing cost advice. He specialises in civil engineering, building, M&E and baggage works for Heathrow’s £2.8bn five-year capital works programme. Alec is a key member of the commission commercial lead management team and is a member of the health and safety committee.

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Director of the Year (Large Company) – Turnover £100M - £499M

Paul Stoddart Ian McLaren Deputy CEO, VocaLink Ltd Finance and contracts director, In his 20 year career in financial London & Birmingham Railway Ltd services, Paul has enjoyed a variety of Ian joined London Midland in July 2014 senior roles prior to VocaLink, most as finance and contracts director. He is recently at Barclays Bank where he was also the business sponsor for innovation, responsible for M&A and asset disposals launching London Midland Labs, which for Barclaycard. Paul joined the board of has 10 start-ups working alongside the VocaLink in 2012 as a managing director business to develop innovative solutions and in January 2017 he became deputy in support of making travel more simple. CEO, a role which will see him play an even Prior to London Midland, Ian held a stronger part in ensuring that innovation number of financial and commercial continues to thrive at VocaLink and across director positions at plcs including Serco, the wider payments ecosystem. Detica and Digital Barriers.

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Director of the Year (Large Company) – Turnover £500M and over

John Michael Barry Gibson Nicholas Mercer Chairman, HomeServe plc Commercial director, Eurostar International Ltd John Michael Barry Gibson is a seasoned non-executive who has served as chairman Nick Mercer is the commercial director at seven FTSE companies, four private for Eurostar, with teams based in France, equity-backed ventures, chaired a major Belgium and the UK. He is also a governor charity and served on the board of an NHS of Bedes, a public school in Sussex, and trust. He joined the board of HomeServe sits on the board of a business partnership in 2004 and was appointed chairman focusing on helping young people in the in 2010 following a year as senior NED. King’s Cross area of London. As commercial Recognising that executive teams have director, Nick has responsibility for the key role in driving business strategy sales, pricing and revenue management, and performance, he believes passionately marketing and distribution, including that NEDs have to set the tone in how Eurostar.com and the Eurostar Contact organisations balance the needs of Centre. He has 30 years’ experience, having customers, shareholders, employees held marketing director positions at Air and wider society. Miles (now Avios), First Direct and Sky.

Matthew Harris John Morea Group strategy and risk director, CEO, SGN Ltd Costain Group plc John Morea has over 30 years’ experience Matthew Harris is the group strategy within the utility sector and is a member and risk director for Costain. He is a fellow of the Institute of Engineering and of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Technology and a companion of the in England and Wales, achieved a BSc Institute of Gas Engineers and Managers. at the University of Warwick and qualified John has taken SGN to the forefront as a chartered accountant with PwC. of innovation in the electricity and gas Matthew gained finance and management sectors, with robotics and gas-quality experience with BMW, Thames Water, projects leading the way. He has also American Water and Hanson. He joined been the force behind SGN becoming the Costain in 2012 as divisional finance leading producer of biomethane in the UK, director and has led a number of committing the company to connecting Group-wide projects since then. 250,000 homes on green gas by 2021.

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Director of the Year (Large Company) – Turnover £500M and over

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Early Stage Business Director of the Year Finalists

Thomas Duncan Bell Jamie Gray Managing director, Team Tops Ltd Founder, Buddy Burst Thomas Duncan Bell is a manufacturing Nick has worked in marketing and and textiles specialist. He runs two advertising for the last 10 years. In 2015 successful companies, manufacturing he started his own social enterprise called clothing in one business and dog products Buddy Burst, which offers eco-friendly in another, and overseeing five separate promotional products and whose goal brands. With more than 250,000 people is to help brands grow and increase their hearing Thomas’ message in 2016 through economic value. In a short space of time, thebipolarbusinessmanblog.wordpress. Buddy Burst has worked with a range of com and in articles he’s written for the clients from Premier League football clubs likes of Red Letter Days, Standard Life, to high street banks and charities. The and the Building Societies Association, latter included presenting a donation to Thomas is a proud campaigner for mental the Prince of Wales at Clarence House. health in business.

Katie Ellis Amy McManus Director, The Able Label Managing director, AM Marketing Katie Ellis founded The Able Label Amy McManus is the MD and founder of clothing company having seen first-hand AM Marketing, an award-winning Google the challenges her grandmother faced Partner agency based in Canterbury. In dressing while suffering from Parkinson’s. 2015 they were named Kent Marketing The Able Label provides beautiful clothes and PR Agency of the Year at the Kent designed to make dressing easier. The Independent Traders Awards. Amy brand encourages independence and specialises in enhancing businesses online. self-confidence, helping enable women to From micro-businesses to multinationals, live life to its fullest in comfort and style. she has worked on projects with Harrods, Before founding The Able Label, Katie Amazon and Holland & Barrett and has graduated from Manchester University, worked on rebranding ferries in Poland. going on to work as a fashion buyer at high street retailer White Stuff.

Thom Gibbons Sue Nelson Managing director, Tatanka Future Ltd CEO and founder, Thom has over 20 years of sales and Breakthrough Funding business development experience across Sue is CEO of Breakthrough Funding and a number of sectors. He is currently also presents the radio shows FoodTalk leading a selection of start-up and and TechTalk which are syndicated small businesses in the technology and across the UK and US. She has worked telecommunication sectors, bringing in international plcs and been a non- director-level experience and advice to executive for several charities and a help position them for future growth. central government department. Sue Thom enjoys working with business writes extensively and has appeared on owners and entrepreneurs, challenging all the UK’s major radio and TV news the way they think and supporting them programmes. She is a fellow of the in their decision-making processes. Institute of Directors and head of the food tech group for Tech London Advocates.

20 Visit iod.com/events Director of the Year Awards London & South East

Leadership in Mental Health Awareness Award

James Thompson The IoD takes its responsibility to support its members Managing director, Spokes of Bagshot seriously, and it is with that in mind that we are for the first year presenting an award to recognise the leader of a small-to- James Thompson is managing director medium-size business who is showing the way forward when it of Spokes of Bagshot, an award- comes to addressing the mental health of their workforce. winning bicycle retailer in Surrey. He has been in the bike industry since As understanding of mental health increases, so too does the leaving school at 16 and won multiple understanding of how important good mental health is to sales awards at previous employers entrepreneurs, business leaders and the economy in general. before launching Spokes in 2014 at Many of the largest firms operating in the UK have been able the age of 30. With a background in to devote serious resource for many years toward ensuring the downhill mountain bike racing and Iron mental health of their staff. Some banks even have in-house Man triathlon, James is competitive psychologists. But it isn’t quite so easy for firms at the smaller end and driven. His aim is to disrupt the of the scale to identify ill mental health in their staff, much less industry with unparalleled service and deal with it. The pressure that comes from running businesses, an innovative sales platform. too, can lead to real stress for entrepreneurs. The phrase ‘start-up suicide’ is one that is heard too often in the business community. James York IoD members ‘get it,’ however: more than 95 per cent recognise Founder, Worry+Peace that good mental health across the workforce is imperative to James is the founder of business success. More than that, it’s also good for Britain. Worry+Peace which is on a mission What isn’t always so obvious to busy leaders of small businesses to improve insurance for buyers is what they can do about it. Directors of small firms are busy everywhere. He’s amassed over 32k people; ensuring they have the tools at their fingertips to help hours of industry experience and their staff and their business, as well as look after themselves, was one of the pioneers of the new must be a part of what the IoD does. In large part, our role is so-called “insurtech” movement to open up the conversation and make discussing the topic when he founded his startup. A easier. There remains a stigma around mental health that makes strong industry advocate, he also identifying and tackling it more challenging than we need it to be. sits on the Chartered Insurance Institute Broker Faculty board, Over the coming year and beyond, we’ll be celebrating those speaks regularly at conferences leaders who are demonstrating their commitment to the issues, and is active on insurtech steering hosting a series of events and meet-ups to open up mental health, committees. Worry+Peace has also and putting a healthy workplace and workforce at the heart of built an industry-leading platform our training and professional development programmes. This is all upon which customers can manage, designed not just to raise awareness of this vital issue, but to give find and buy their insurances. James’ our members the advice they need to ensure long-term mental ambition is for insurance to play a health across their businesses. much more confident, proactive, There may come a time when people are as comfortable talking constructive and positive role in the about their mental health as they are about going to the dentist UK and global economy. – but we’re not there yet. Huge progress has been made, but society still has a long way to go in increasing awareness and understanding of mental health issues. Businesses – and the IoD – have an enormous role to play in creating an environment where such issues can be discussed openly, effectively and safely.

Visit iod.com/events 21 Membership ad DOYA FINAL.indd 31 12/04/2017 16:21