Team Page Layout
The Secantor team are listed in a number of sections. To view other sections, scroll down the page. Click on the header bars to open the section. Part time finance directors are normally Senior Associates.
Our Team
Introduction
Secantor was established in 2001 by Gordon Waine after he felt that support for SME’s was lacking in the industry. Secantor was to thrive as a leader in innovative business support services that would inject business expertise into the heart of any organisation that wanted it.
With a well thought out regional structure that allowed Secantor to provide business support services across England, Wales and Scotland we have grown over the years to offer leading business support services.
With refining, restructuring, analysing and testing we have literally fine-tuned our services to offer you the leading service available. Working with Secantor gives you direct access to the shared knowledge and expertise of our team of proven business leaders. Through our Regional Directors, we will co-ordinate and deliver quality and continuity of support when you need it and on a basis that is tailored to work for you.
The service that Secantor offers is truly unique. We bring expertise of big business to smaller companies and help you to achieve the results and goals that you have probably never imagined.
We have helped many businesses that have been struggling and brought them back to profit and we help ambitious companies grow daily. Helping across your business we ensure that you become more recognised as a brand and offer better perceived value to your clients. Building your company's brand and value is exactly what we do.
If you would like to work with a team of dedicated individuals that are there to deliver contact us NOW on 01564 330 676 to find out more.
My colleagues and I look forward to talking with you about how we can help you achieve your goals.
Nigel Bacon, CEO
Our People Credentials and Secantor Values
Our Senior Associates and Associates are all financially qualified finance directors and have at least seven years commercial and /or industrial experience. Usually, much of this experience is with larger companies enabling them to understand the structures and systems that are required for company growth. All of our associates have passed our Recruitment Assessment and Accreditation (RAA) process. Not only does this ensure that they are technically competent, and exhibit the Secantor values, but also ensures that they endorse the new team working concept, that stands us apart. This enables our clients to benefit from the knowledge of all of our people. This is embodied in our “client care” program where our regional directors ensure that the clients’ priorities are being met.
The sucess of Secantor is attributed in no small part
to the values embedded by its founder Gordon Waine.
Integrity - Truth, openness and the absence of ‘spin’ are the foundations of mutual trust and respect. We apply these principles to the way we interact with our clients, with one another, and with all with whom we deal.
Relationships - Every client is different and each one is a special relationship. We respect the position of the owners and members of the client’s team. We aim to be a member of the team, seeking to add value in support of clearly identified and agreed objectives. The Secantor FD will be someone with whom members of the client’s management team can share thoughts and ideas and he or she will always be accessible.
Expertise - Each business requires different levels and types of expertise. The role of the Secantor FD is to assess just what level of input is appropriate to meet client objectives. He or she will personally deliver excellent professional input and have access to additional specialist expertise if required at any stage.
Community - Secantor is an association of like-minded individuals who are all highly experienced business people and who want to use their accumulated wisdom to benefit their local and regional business community. We care about the success of all our clients and their contribution to an increase in healthy economic activity at every level.
Reputation - Great work builds a great reputation. Ensuring that Secantor is well known for delivering excellence creates a virtuous circle where the best people want to join us and ambitious businesses want to grow with us.
Our Senior Management
An Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers. Malcolm spent 40 years with National Westminster Bank, starting his career in Belper in Derbyshire. After a short time in Branches, moved into Credit Control and subsequently moved to the City, to become a Group Credit Controller. In 1984 set up Natwest Bank Acquisition Finance Unit, providing debt financing for the MBO movement, which became market leader. Lectured In MBOs at Manchester Business School.
In 1994 after a very short spell as Regional Executive Director for the Thames Valley, Malcolm returned to the City to become Head of Corporate Banking and Managing Director of Structured and Specialised Finance. Areas of responsibility covering Property, Financial Engineering, Higher Education, Health Care, Airlines, Leisure, PFI, Project Finance, and Acquisition and Mezzanine Funding. Established two equity-based funds for Development Capital and an IT Fund. A Founder Member of the London Business School Foundation for Entrepreneurial Management. In 1998 was Sales Presenter of the Year (Services) National Sales Awards. Chartered Institute of Sales & Marketing.
After retiring in 1999, became Managing Director of company manufacturing equipment for Anaesthetists and set up a Building Company specialising in private housing in Scotland. Became Chairman of Secantor Limited in 2010.
A graduate of Aston University, Nigel qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG in Birmingham and spent two years in Melbourne, Australia. In 1993 he became a partner with Grant Thornton specialising in turnaround work. In the late ‘90s Nigel moved to Corporate Finance with Ernst & Young and carried out major re-organisations such as Railtrack, as well as acting on buy-side transactions. In 2002 he joined Pertemps, the UK’s largest independent recruitment group, becoming Group Finance Director. In 2007 Nigel was appointed finance director of Network Group (AIM) and subsequently led the sale of Pertemps People Development Group for £43m. He has been NED of Media Square plc (AIM) and has also served on the CBI Council. Nigel became CEO of Secantor Limited in late 2009. He is also NED of Europe's leading cruise website www.cruise.co.uk and NED of Fantastic Fireworks Limited www.fantasticfireworks.co.uk. Nigel’s particular areas of interest are; Partnering, JVs, Outsourcing, Recruitment, Travel, Entertainment and Media.
Contact: Mobile: 07887 826 824, DDI: 01564 330 677, nigel.bacon@secantor.com
Tim is a Business Studies graduate and an Associate of the Institute of Bankers. He worked for more than 20 years in the banking sector in a range of roles, initially with SMEs, but latterly in Investment Banking, working mainly with Private Equity and Venture Capital firms. Tim has always maintained a keen interest in the SME market and has been involved with Secantor from inception. He is a Director of Secantor, responsible for Business Development and also the Regional Director for London. Although he has a keen interest in sport, three active young children inhibit his active participation. He lives in North London.
Contact: Mobile: 07740 096 728, tim.waine@secantor.com
A widely experienced FD and adviser to SMEs, Trevor qualified as a Certified Accountant in 1972. He has held a number of financial management and FD roles, with companies including Brooke Bond Oxo, Bowater Scott and GEC Marconi. He was a Management Consultant with Grant Thornton in the mid- eighties and was MD of Milwards Shoes until 1994. Since then he has worked in a variety of Executive & Non-Executive roles in SMEs, as Chairman, MD, FD, company doctor, mentor and consultant, specialising in business strategy, restructuring, development funding and turnarounds. During the last 10 years he has worked with nearly 50 Secantor clients, mostly projects for fundraising for fast growth businesses or turnaround but also many on-going Finance Directorships of up to 8 years. Trevor’s particular Sectors of experience are; Retail, Engineering, Food, Design/Import/Distribution and especially Family Businesses. Trevor is the Finance Director of Secantor and lives in Henley-on-Thames.
Contact: Mobile: 07968 129 982, trevor.gibbins@secantor.com
Bob trained as a chartered accountant in Lincoln and then joined Deloittes in Nottingham. He spent two years with them in Zambia in consultancy and then left to join Rolls Royce in Derby. He completed an MBA at Aston Business School in 1989 and then joined Robson Rhodes in the Midlands where he became a partner in 1996 and where he specialised in automotive advisory work as well as running the East Midlands office. In the late ‘90s Bob left and established a motor retail group which he sold in 2002 before becoming the Group FD for an AIM listed R&D company.
Contact: Mobile: 07961 131 443, bob.tallentire@secantor.com
Having graduated in Business Studies, Mark qualified as a chartered accountant and subsequently as a corporate treasurer. In 1986 he joined Redland PLC as Assistant Treasurer and in 1988 was appointed Treasurer of First Mortgage Securities Ltd, a venture capital backed company in the fast growing and recently de-regulated mortgage business. In 1989 he joined Legal & General PLC where he worked for ten years, initially in corporate treasury and then as Finance Director of three businesses within the group. In 1999 he joined Norwich Union as Finance Director of its banking operations and in 2000 following the merger with CGU became Managing Director of Aviva’s personal finance business. As well as his experience in financial services, Mark has also had considerable experience working with SMEs across a number of sectors including healthcare, retail, manufacturing, construction and waste management.
Contact: Mobile: 07808 900 280, mark.kelly@secantor.com
John has 25 years of financial management experience. This has been gathered from small, medium and large businesses. These include major international blue chip companies Whitbread and Sony Music, where he held a variety of roles over a near ten year period, including European Finance Director. This was followed by CFO roles at two early stage technology businesses. His sector experience is equally broad. Having qualified whilst working in the steel industry, he has subsequently held finance roles in the media, software, leisure, technology, services and retail sectors to add to his manufacturing experience. John has supported businesses in start-up, growth, consolidation, turnaround and exit modes and brings sound financial management, solid corporate governance and clear-headed strategic thinking to his clients. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, is a fluent German speaker and lives in Wiltshire.
Contact: Mobile: 07779 649 215, john.dernie@secantor.com
Debra began her business career with Nat West Bank in 1984. Following a range of corporate banking roles she became Senior Corporate Manager at NW Structured Finance Group and later Director of RBS SFG after the acquisition. In 2001 she left banking to become Finance, Strategy and Business Development Director at the Laryngeal Mask Co Ltd (£40m turnover medical devices group). In 2005 she became Corporate Development Director at Triplex Components (Triplex and Ketlon combined turnover £130m) helping to return a multi-site loss-making manufacturer to profit. Debra is an Associate of the Institute of Bankers, has a BSc in Financial Services and an MBA from Henley Management College and is Secantor's Regional Director for our South Region.
Contact: Mobile: 07702 120 651, debra.barr@secantor.com
Rhys began his professional career with KPMG, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1981. He moved into industry in 1986, working in senior finance roles, including FD, and in commercial roles, in companies operating in computer stationery, furniture and advanced semi-conductor structures. In 1994 he began a long association with the international automotive supplier TRW Inc, ultimately as Director Finance Systems Europe - Automotive Finance. Since 2003 he has worked as director of a Cardiff based corporate and operational finance advisory business and as an independent consultant before joining Secantor in 2007. Rhys has considerable manufacturing experience across many industry types, has recently worked as Finance Director with a multi-store UK retailer and has operated on a Global basis in non-Finance roles. He lives in the Vale of Glamorgan is keen on sport and has run five marathons.
Contact: Mobile: 07767 224 453, rhys.arthur@secantor.com
Immediately upon qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, David joined a subsidiary of Wagon Industrial Holdings in1979 where rapid promotions led to his eventual position as Finance Director of the Engineering Division. In 1993 he was engaged by Rolls-Royce, playing a key role in the successful turnaround of an ailing business unit. Eighteen months later he was recruited as FD of Rearsby Automotive, an important first tier supplier to major OEMs, co-ordinating Corporate Finance activities that enabled the sale of this private Company for a substantial premium. In 1997 he became Finance Director of Steel & Alloy Holdings and took on the additional role of Chairman in 2006, contributing to the rapid expansion in turnover, profit and locations to create arguably the most significant privately-owned Company in the UK automotive supply chain. David was appointed Regional Director for the West Midlands at the commencement of 2013.
Contact: Mobile: 07771 990 785, david.johnson@secantor.com
Our Regional Partners
A graduate of Nottingham University, Andrew qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse in 1985. After leaving PW, in 1995, he spent nine years at board level in three quoted PLCs, two of which he took through, as FD, to successful flotation and subsequent sale. Andrew is a high calibre finance executive, qualified by his experience to advise on corporate strategy, planning, risk management, fund raising, flotation, acquisition and disposal, succession issues in family businesses and on operational structures. He has experience in many industry sectors including leisure, hospitality, retail, design, education, engineering and oil and gas. Since 2004, he has developed a successful portfolio career and is currently FD at Drayton Manor Theme Park www.draytonmanor.co.uk and a non-executive director with Green Room Retail www.greenroomretail.co.uk as well as a partner for Secantor within the West Midlands region. A keen cricketer, Andy once took a hat-trick at Edgbaston. He lives in Worcestershire.
Stephen began his career in professional practice with KPMG, subsequently working for Pannell Kerr Forster, in both London and Kenya. He qualified as a chartered accountant in 1976. His first FD role was with Curtain Dream plc. In 1989 he joined Tenhill Computer Systems, a software house, again as FD and was heavily involved in the successful sale of that company to Lynx Group plc. Further success was achieved as FD and Operations Director at b2b internet services company, XTML Ltd, sold to Telenor ASA of Norway for £35m. After a period in interim management, mainly with an engineering company, Stephen became FD of a contract cleaning, start- up, Intercity Group Ltd, helping to build it to £6m turnover in two years. He is currently a director of a £20 million turnover group of companies in West Yorkshire which extrudes recycled plastic into usable sheet for the formation of food trays for the major supermarkets. He lives near Leeds.
A graduate of Cardiff University, where he took a degree in Industrial Economics, Mark gained his CIMA qualification in 1986. He began his business career as Chief Accountant of a division of ASW plc in Cardiff. In 1991 he became Finance Director of A1 Paper plc and subsequently led an MBO to become Managing Director and co-owner of the Group, which had a turnover of £17 million and employs 150 people. In the past 6 years he has bought three more companies and profitably resold two. He has recently created a management structure, which gives him more time to share his knowledge and his very practical experience is now available to benefit Secantor clients. A keen sportsman, Mark is a former Wales B rugby player and is undoubtedly the only Secantor FD to have scored a try (for Llanelli RFC) against the All Blacks. He lives in Malvern.
After graduating from Oxford University, Tony qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen in 1966, becoming a partner in 1974. He was the firm’s Managing Partner for the Midlands from 1976-1989, leaving to establish his own consultancy, dedicated to supporting and advising SMEs. An FD with substantial experience and highly developed leadership, management and negotiation skills, Tony has specialist knowledge of restructuring, funding and re-financing. His current main role is as FD of a £30m turnover automotive parts manufacturer. Since 1989 he has held a wide variety of different roles, mostly in the service and distribution sectors, including non-executive director of a building society and FD of an electronic out-sourcing business. Tony was one of the founders of Secantor, carrying out a variety of management roles, and was a Board member until 2010. He lives in Birmingham, has run the Edgbaston Wine Syndicate for over 30 years and is a golf and narrow-boating enthusiast.
Our Senior Associates
A graduate from Aston University in Business and Managerial Studies, Helen trained as a chartered accountant with Ernst & Young. Helen specialised in Corporate Finance M&A transactions and gained extensive International experience. In 1998 Helen joined Doro Audioline, the UK subsidiary of Doro AB, a quoted Swedish Telecoms group as Finance Director. Helen was responsible for the reorganisation and relocation of the UK operations as well as setting up a new finance function and implementing standards of reporting and financial management to meet plc requirements. In 2000 Helen became the Managing Director of the UK business and joined the International Management team operating in 10 countries. Helen has lived in Spain and is fluent in Spanish. Helen successfully set up and runs a residential property portfolio and acts as an interim Finance director for a portfolio of UK businesses. Helen has specific expertise in the FMCGs, telecoms, and the automotive sectors.
Miles trained with Arthur Young (now Ernst & Young), qualifying in 1975 before moving into Management Consultancy handling defence and research contractors. After running his own practice for some years Miles moved as Finance Director to his largest client tasked with maximising share values and managing the sale process to completion in 2000. Miles then provided strategic planning and operational support to owner managed businesses in computer software, motor dealerships and insurance before taking the financial lead for a MBO for a School and Care Home in 2002. Preparing reliable, timely and appropriate management information, developing the skills of managers to interpret the information and use it to make positive changes to the business model. This process included investment appraisals and latterly restructuring both operational costs (including redundancies) and capital structures. Miles is now supporting leadership teams for Academy and Free Schools with their financial submissions to Government.
With a BSc and PhD in Chemistry from Birmingham University, John naturally began his career as a Development Chemist. However, he quickly developed a taste for business and finance and in 1980 qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant. His experience includes manufacturing, engineering, retail and transport with 20 years at FD level. Recently, as the MD and FD of an SME he transformed the company, which was then sold to a respected PLC. He has attended the prestigious Cranfield University Business Growth Programme and he specialises in improving company performance by operational and strategic control and by working with the management team. His experience includes acquisitions, disposals, cash management and all aspects of financial control. He was a NED of Birmingham University (2000-2008) and is currently a NED at Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust (2009-present). John lives in Sutton Coldfield.
A Liverpool University engineering graduate, John qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Peat Marwick Mitchell. After accounting roles with ICL Ltd, Evalco Ltd and British Smelter Constructions, he worked for the Balfour Beatty Group, latterly as Project Management Accountant, with postings in Dubai and Malaysia. In 1987 he joined George Wimpey in Spain as Financial Controller, later moving to Miletrian plc as Finance Director. In 2001 John became FD and company secretary of T Clarke plc, a £200m turnover, quoted, electrical contractor. John joined Secantor in 2007 and has made his services available to our SME clients working with clients in several sectors. John has particular expertise in the contracting and property sectors and has worked extensively in both manufacturing and IT services. John lives in Edenbridge in Kent.
A Glasgow University graduate, Jeremy qualified as a Chartered Accountant whilst working with Touche Ross in Edinburgh. He then joined 3i plc, latterly as Local Director for Liverpool. In 1986 he joined Rothschild Ventures in London, as Director and later MD, managing three independent VC funds. Following two years as Group FD of Redrow plc, he moved to Ernst & Young as Corporate Finance partner for Scotland. Since 1999 he formed his own business providing management services to growing enterprises and their shareholders - specialising in financial management (covering forecasting, cash flow and reporting), governance and raising funds for interesting projects. He also has considerable experience as a non executive director. Sector specialisation includes healthcare, new technologies, construction, retail and storage. Jeremy enjoys golf and sailing and lives in Oxfordshire.
A graduate of Lancaster University, Neal qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PwC. His early career took him through roles with Lucas, Halfords, KPMG Management Consultants, British Shoe Corporation and Argos plc. His first FD role came with Powerhouse Retail and he has also served as group FD of Specialist Computer Holdings plc, Swallow Group plc (formerly Vaux Group plc), Nelsons Solicitors and Education Development International plc. In the last few years, he has gained a wealth of experience with a number of SMEs in the retail, distribution, medical products, property and FMCG sectors. In 1998 he attended a Harvard Business School Programme for Global Leadership course. He lives in Leicestershire and is a motorsport enthusiast.
A senior finance executive with wide business experience, John was educated at Winchester College and St John's, Cambridge. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1969, with a firm that later became part of KPMG. Mainly working with the manufacturing and contracting sectors, including 15 years at PLC board level, John later left to operate independently as an FD, company doctor and non-executive director of private and VC financed, businesses.
Dick is a graduate of Edinburgh University. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst and Young he quickly made the move to industry. A Finance Director who has operated for over ten years at PLC main board level, leading two successful London Stock Exchange flotations, he has also had experience of the challenges of leading and managing SMEs. His experience has a strong international flavour and he has managed over forty acquisitions worldwide. He has strong expertise in a varied number of sectors including manufacture, retail, hospitality and catering, media and publishing, hobby games and training. Dick, who lives in rural Leicestershire, is passionate about good food and is keen on sport, especially rugby and cricket, and travel.
A Mathematics Graduate from the University of Manchester, Laura began her career with KPMG Manchester in 1998, qualifying in 2001 and quickly progressing to Audit Manager, where she achieved awards in recognition of the quality of her client work. Laura's client base ranged from FTSE listed clients to SMEs and, as well as audit work, she gained a wealth of other experiences through four secondments, including guiding an AIM-listed client through a Class 1 disposal. In March 2005 Laura joined one of her clients, Servisair, as Group Financial Controller, and in 2006 was promoted to Finance Director of Servisair UK. Since moving to Cardiff and joining Secantor Laura has worked with smaller organisations, her latest assignment supporting an Independent School in its expansion to Sixth Form.
Alastair trained with Ernst & Young in London and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1990. His early commercial experience was gained in Australia where he worked for top 50 listed companies including Pioneer International (later acquired by Hanson PLC). In 1997 he returned to the UK with Pioneer to join a worldwide ERP implementation programme and was responsible for designing and implementing a management information structure for the group. In 1998 he was appointed European Finance Manager. In 2000 Alastair was appointed FD for the UK Studio of Electronic Arts, the world’s leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. Since 2004 he has worked on a portfolio basis with a range of SME and AIM listed clients including advertising, software, film production and personal care products. His specialisms include financial planning and modelling, management information and systems, acquisitions, turnaround and tax R&D claims.
Nigel is an FCA, having qualifying with PricewaterhouseCoopers, with over 25 years of experience working in industry. His experience covers the whole business cycle; finance, growth strategies, turnaround, rescue and transformation. He was heavily involved with several high profile start-ups/acquisitions/turnarounds associated with Bridge House Capital, an Isle of Man private equity group. He has also worked with a range of other companies including; eDefined.com Ltd, Global Marine Systems Ltd, Shaylor PLC, Seafield Logistics Ltd, Atlantic Hotels, Poole Pottery Ltd. He has been responsible as MD/FD for several businesses. Remits included; refinancing following loss of confidence from existing funder, cost reduction programmes, several acquisitions from administration followed by expansion, development of a UK toolmaker into China. Nigel is highly commercial and merges practical experience and expertise with technical knowledge – enabling him to deliver real solutions and solve problems.
A graduate of the University of East Anglia, Dean started work with Peat Marwick Mitchell, qualifying with them as a Chartered Accountant in 1987. Following roles with Manns and Grand Met he joined Adams Childrenswear, serving successively as Retail Controller, Financial Controller and then FD. After a period as Commercial Director of Adams Childrenswear Group, he became Chief Executive of Myriad Childrenswear Group (largest in the UK), negotiating the successful sale of the Adamskids and Minimode brands to a trade buyer. He is NED of a VC backed enterprise formed to acquire the TV and Audio business of House of Fraser.
A Finance Director with both large and small corporate experience. After graduating in Economics at the University of Bristol, Sophie began her career with the accountants Ernst and Young in London qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1990. Following a transfer to Ernst & Young’s office in Sydney, she joined a major Australian oil company. On returning to the UK she worked with the BOC Group at its head office. In 2001 she joined a £15M turnover, fast growing, logistics company as Finance Director. Since 2005 Sophie has worked with Secantor clients in several industries including digital media, construction services, water engineering, financial services, software and plant breeding. Particular areas of expertise are financial planning, improving management information to support decision making and developing the finance team through training and ongoing mentoring. Sophie lives in SW London.
Julie is an experienced finance director of quoted and private companies. She graduated with an honours degree in Physics from Birmingham University and is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Director. She also holds tax and treasury qualifications. Julie was group finance director of Carter & Carter Group plc until October 2005 having joined in 2002 to help grow and float the business. She had previously been chief financial officer of Weston Medical Group plc and prior to this, Julie worked at East Midlands Electricity plc as director of corporate finance. Since 2005, Julie has followed a portfolio career, working as part time finance director of AIM listed companies, non executive director of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, as well as being a Secantor associate. She lives in Nottingham and enjoys large party catering.
Keith trained with Rolls Royce before joining ICI as Financial Controller of its Nylon Polymer Works on Teesside before transferring to Brussels to manage its Continental financial operations. He joined Borg Warner in Brussels as European Financial Analysis and Planning Manager before returning to the UK to lead the integration of the new financial reporting systems of British Telecom prior to its privatisation. After privatisation he became one of the UK’s first interim Finance Directors tasked with transforming and reinvigorating a number of companies and subsidiaries of well-known British establishments in the private and public sector. In recent years has directed his experience and energies to the smaller and medium sized company sector and has been associated with Secantor since its inception. A keen sportsman and believer in the establishment of coherent strategies and continual review of performance against plan as a means of achieving both personal and corporate goals.
After graduating from Nottingham University with a degree in medical sciences, Sonya qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Coopers & Lybrand Deloitte and spent time in their Cambridge and Reading offices. She left practice to join Mill House Inns Plc during a time of rapid expansion of its chain of pubs and hotels. In 1998 Sonya joined the Yattendon Group, a privately owned group operating in regional newspapers, local media, agriculture, property and marine leisure with businesses in the UK, Europe and Canada. She was promoted to Group Finance Director in 2006 and also served on the Boards of several subsidiaries. She is experienced at leading and managing the raising of bank finance, corporate acquisitions and restructurings, financial planning and forecasting, review of management information and finance functions, and pension schemes. Sonya joined Secantor in 2012 and lives near Newbury.
A graduate of Cambridge University, Rosemary qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in London in 1987, becoming a partner in 1997. At PwC she had considerable experience in working at Board level with the directors of companies, primarily within the financial services sector. Leaving PwC in 2001, to follow a portfolio career, Rosemary has successfully undertaken a number of part-time FD and advisory assignments with both start-ups and established SMEs, as well as holding non executive board positions at two housing associations. Her recent sector experience includes companies in specialist engineering, printing and publishing, software, treasury management, house building and pharmaceuticals. She is also a trustee of two charities and lives in Stratford upon Avon.
Marc is an Economics graduate from Hull University. His professional career was spent with Price Waterhouse and KMG Thomson McLintock. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1983. After four years as Business Development Manager with Lombard North Central and two years as Financial Controller at Credit Lyonnais Equipment Finance, he joined ING Lease (UK) Ltd as Finance Director, helping to grow the business from a start-up to 40,000 customers and £750m assets in a nine- year period. Since 1999 Marc has been European Finance Director and Partner in a leasing and asset finance consultancy practice. He has both broad financial and specialist skills available to meet the needs of growing and changing businesses. Specialities include equipment finance for SMEs and creating finance programs for their customers. Marc lives in Middlesex and admits to being a supporter of Watford FC.
Hereward read Laws at London University, qualified as a barrister and joined the London office of Price Waterhouse in 1977. After eleven years experience with the firm, to Senior Manager level, he operated as a full-time and interim FD in various industries, including engineering, high-technology materials, publishing, packaging and legal services, until 2003 when he joined Secantor. He now acts on a part-time basis for a number of our clients. A versatile and pragmatic FD, he is keen to focus on realistic and achievable financial goals supported by clear reporting and forecasting, and to assist owners and managers in recognising and facing the challenges of growth and change. He has substantial experience in helping owners to prepare their businesses for sale and in managing the sale process. A keen Rugby Union fan, sharing in a debenture at Twickenham, Hereward lives in Ashbourne, Derbyshire.
An Honours graduate of Wye College, University of London, Simon began his career as a production management trainee with Rank Hovis McDougall. He then moved into finance, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1971. After a spell with Deloitte’s, Simon moved into corporate finance with Barclays Merchant Bank, Antony Gibbs and Sons and Standard Chartered. He was Director and Chief Representative for Standard Chartered Asia in Japan and then Director in the Advisory Services Department at the merchant bank in London. Following a period as Director and shareholder at Kingfisher Diesels he set up his own consultancy practice, Alpha Advice, winning a number of high profile clients, including private equity investors, banks, The International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims and the Competition Commission. Simon, an accomplished business problem solver coupled with experience both inside and outside banks, lives in Kent.
Our Specialists
Jaunita specialises in compliance, risk management and best practice in the legal sector. She has extensive experience in the Legal Services Industry gained from practicing in South Africa and the United Kingdom. After leaving private practice, she worked within a UK Property Legal Services Company for 6 years heading up their Remortgage and Transactional Services department where she was responsible for areas including compliance, best practice, service reviews and the Auditing of over 350 law firms. In 2009 she set up her own compliance and risk management consultancy providing services and expertise to the legal sector. The areas Jaunita specialises in are Compliance, Best Practice, Risk Management Reviews, File Reviews and Audits. She can provide training in Anti Money Laundering, Equality and Diversity, Data Protection, Outcomes Focused Regulation and the Bribery Act 2010. She can also assist firms with obtaining Lexcel Accreditation and with the completion of the Conveyancing Quality Scheme documentation.
A Chartered Accountant and holder of the CF qualification, Phil has 25 years experience of Corporate Finance transactions including mergers and acquisitions, fund raising, buy outs, restructuring, company valuations and financial due diligence. He was formerly a partner with Grant Thornton where he was also National Head of the Food and Agriculture Sector. Phil has completed over 100 transactions across a wide range of sectors with a combined value in excess of £0.5 billion. Phil has deep sector knowledge of Food and Agriculture and has commentated widely in the media on topical issues and deal trends. In addition he has undertaken many transactions in the automotive manufacturing and automotive retail sectors involving acquisitions, sales and buy outs. Another sector with a strong deal portfolio is IT, telecoms and security where Phil has led several cross border deals involving Europe and the USA.
Chris has more than thirty years experience in marketing and advertising in consumer goods, business to business and the public sector. Until 2001, he was chairman of the marketing, advertising and PR company, Paradigm, which was winner of the National Advertising Agency of the Year award in 2000. Originally trained in advertising design, Chris has spent most of his career in marketing planning and research. He has planned European Brand Strategy and advertising for clients such as Mars, the Masonite Corporation and Dunlop Slazenger. Other major clients have included Marks and Spencer, Swarfega, and the accountancy firms Price Waterhouse and Ernst and Young. He currently divides his time between researching and writing books and providing business and marketing consultancy services. He is Director of Marketing at Secantor.
A science graduate of Queens’ College Cambridge, James was admitted as a solicitor in 1991. Throughout his career he has specialised in intellectual property (IP) law, with the firms Bristows, Eversheds and as a partner with Irwin Mitchell and later Pinsent Masons, where he served as their global head of IP. James has a diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice from Bristol University and is one of the few practitioners in this field with higher rights of audience in the civil courts. He has earned an impressive array of testimonials and awards and is consistently ranked highly in the legal directories. Following his outstanding professional career, James is now making his experience more widely available to a broader range of businesses, including Secantor’s SME clients. He gives advice on a broad range of intellectual property including patents, copyright, confidential information and designs. He conducts fixed fee trade mark filing.
A graduate from Nottingham University in civil engineering Alan began his business career in technical roles in the construction materials industry and in 1990 became Commercial Director for Central Region of Tarmac Roadstone. He made a successful career change when, in 1993, he became Head of Training and Development for Tarmac Group. Alan’s management education includes a DMS and MBA modules at Aston University and Ashridge. In 1996 he founded Pertemps Training and Consultancy, which later became Pertemps People Development Group and was eventually sold in 2008. He also established the HR department of a Network Group and later set up a consultancy business focussing health and safety and business development. His work with Secantor has focussed not only on health, safety and human resources but, by nature of past experience, Alan has successfully acted as a business coach and mentor to a major leisure company.
Ann is a qualified HR professional, with a diploma from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, who adopts a highly pragmatic and commercial approach to HR challenges. She has worked in this specialised area for more than twenty years with a number of organisations, including BET (now Rentokil Plc), as Regional HR Manager and in Panasonic Ltd and DoveBid UK Ltd, as European HR manager. In 2003 she established her own HR consultancy providing a full range of HR support services to SMEs.
David took a degree in Electrical Engineering at Imperial College and also studied Economics at the LSE. His special area of expertise is the selection of appropriate computer systems for SMEs, both in the area of accounting systems and general business support. David has worked as a Systems Analyst, Systems Development Manager with Thames Water and Information Systems Manager with Yellow Pages. Since 2004 he has been responsible for IT within Secantor and has carried out IT consultancy work for a number of Secantor Clients. This work has usually involved a complete review of their IT systems and support and the identification of future options. David is a member of the British Computer Society and lives near Reading in Berkshire.
Our Associates
John is a graduate of Oxford University and an Associate of the Institute of Bankers. He worked for 26 years for Barclays Bank, serving as Operations Director for Premier Banking, Regional Operations Director in East Midlands and East Anglia and in Corporate Banking relationship roles in Gloucestershire, the City and West End of London. He undertook secondments to industry and the public sector, including a period as Financial Adviser to the Committee on Finance for Industry at the National Economic Development Office, where he developed a continuing interest in the growth and financing of SMEs in all business sectors. He has worked as a business consultant specialising in strategic planning, change and project management, HR, executive mentoring, in thinking styles analysis for building more effective business management teams and as a volunteer in the charitable and not for profit sectors. He lives in Norfolk. His interests include Military History, classic cars and antique weapons.
A Cambridge Mathematics graduate, Zoe started her professional career with Coopers and Lybrand, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1995. After a period as a Systems Analyst with Fujifilm Electronic Imaging she joined Quadrant Healthcare plc, a quoted drug delivery R&D company, as Financial Controller and Company Secretary. Two FD roles followed, both in companies supplying fresh produce to major UK retailers – the organisations were quality led and fast-paced with strong controls. Zoe now holds part-time Finance Director roles with a number of organisations and has experience with entrepreneurial owner-managed and VC backed companies and partnerships. She lives near Newark and enjoys golf and gardening.
Our Administrative Staff
Jenny qualified as a Chartered Accountant with a Nottingham based accountancy practice before joining PwC Nottingham in 1984 as a tax specialist. In 1990 she joined European Leisure Plc to create an in-house tax function and went on to hold additional responsibilities for group and international accounting and treasury. Jenny now has the unenviable task of preparing management accounts and budgets for an organisation with a large number of strategic finance directors!