John Hardman Email & Phone Number

Supporting the owners in the repurchase of some business elements from NasdaqOMX Group Inc previously sold in the trade sale of Glide Technologies in 2011. Raising of seed capital and finance.Management accounts production, cashflow forecasting and business modelling. Second stage financing and assessment of acquisition targets and market analysis.

Supporting this highly entrepreneurial Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 medical consulting and recruitment company to supplement the incumbent Head of Finance during a sustained period of new contract proposals and refinancing required to fund continuing growth.Raised funds through both peer to peer lending and debt financing, introduced stringent forward cashflow forecasting together with improved management information. Strengthened and improved financial personnel, systems and processes.

Appointed by VC's to oversee the day to day financial operations of a £25M turnover independent travel network providing a range of membership propositions, products and services that enable travel businesses to operate within this dynamic yet highly regulated sector.Key achievements include steering the company through a major restructuring exercise, the appointment of new auditors, the formalisation and settlement of reward plan preference share payments to members plus two successful rounds of the refinancing of bank debt.

Appointed by VCs/owners to oversee financial aspects of the sale of Glide, ultimately acquired by NasdaqOMX in October 2011. Responsibilities included the preparation and presentation of all financial information to buyers, stewardship of all other day to day financial and legal requirements including client and supplier contract negotiation and backdated R&D tax relief claims. Sellers representative in all post-acquisition price adjustment negotiations.Retained by Nasdaq to oversee smooth transition of finance, tax and legal operations to central US office.

Directed the financial operations of a £50M turnover tour operator with significant commercial input into contract renegotiations, pricing decisions and a planned 30% reduction in overall capacity following the general economic downturn. Managed 10 staff with 3 direct reports. Re-engineered previously informal/weak systems and procedures enabling significant staff headcount reductions yet providing both more timely and accurate financial and operational information as a platform for informed decision making.

i) Interim Group Financial Controller, Scarborough Minerals PLC - April 2007 to December 2007Preparation of interim report following 3 way merger/reverse takeover. Achieved stability in period leading up to transfer of head office activities overseas.ii) Interim Group Financial Controller, Fiberweb PLC - March 2006 to April 200712 month project to lead the establishment of a PLC finance infrastructure, ie people, systems and processes for a £620M turnover PLC demerged in Nov 2006. Projected managed the specification, selection and implementation of a Hyperion accounting system.Prepared presentations to brokers/investors and oversaw management and financial accounting routines. Recruited permanent successor.iii) Interim Consultant Healthcare Locums PLC - September 2004 – January 2006Involved in the successful acquisition and integration process for a number of agencies purchased by a highly acquisitive, £50M turnover recruitment group during the ‘buy and build’ phase prior to a successful AIM listing.iv) Finance Director Quality Locum Services Limited - October 2002 – July 2004Interim contract to ensure continued stability and integration of the financial operations of an £85M turnover, medical recruitment agency acquired by the VC backed Match Group PLC. Implemented common group financial systems, strengthened accounting processes and generated working capital improvements.

Directed the financial management of a multi-site, £75M turnover, 220 employee, IT recruitment consultancy.Led the implementation of a front and back office Agresso accounting system.Negotiated the sale and leaseback of assets, strengthened invoicing procedures and initiated a stringent debtor collection process generating a combined cash inflow of £600K.Significant participation in the eventual trade sale to TMP Worldwide including drafting/reviewing Heads of Agreement.

Served as finance lead on a 6 member senior management/partner team for a rapidly expanding £28M turnover business advisory practice employing 250 staff.Author of overall business plan and involved in administering and assessing the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ program.Initiated client profitability reviews, cost controls and working capital improvements resulting in a 23 day improvement in combined billing/collection period with an associated 2% uplift in gross margins.

Co-ordinated worldwide reporting requirements and financial policy across 50+ countries encompassing 20 business units and 35 licensees with a combined turnover of £380M. Managed 24 staff with 3 direct reports.Oversaw development of MIS including leading the implementation of a bespoke Paradox reporting system.

Managed a portfolio of 14 advertising agencies, notably France, Germany and Eastern Europe with combined revenues of £75M and 260 employees. Analysed budgets and monthly accounts and developed overall strategy prior to onward reporting to PLC.Involved in the acquisition and integration of companies throughout Europe plus other ‘ad-hoc’ projects eg office openings, disposals, changes in key staff and premises. Led project to identify premises and open offices in Budapest and Moscow.Designed and negotiated the introduction of a common pan-European incentive scheme leading to more equitable, better targeted financial rewards at a reduced overall cost.

Managed profitability of assignments leading a team up to 20 staff achieving all promotions at the earliest possible opportunity.Clients were largely international groups, both UK and US owned, in the financial, manufacturing and service sectors including M&A activity.

Bsc (Hons), Pure Mathematics / Statistics

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