Originally established in 1980, Kent-based Wheelwright are the UK’s leading alloy and steel wheel distributors, offering a European-wide logistics. With over 40 years’ experience in the alloy wheel and tyre business, Wheelwright have a well-established reputation as the leading supplier in the UK.The MBO in March 2021 was led by David McMillan (Sales Director), Thierry Hooker (Operations Director) and incoming Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Thomson.

Responsibility for all Finance functions of the MNH Group of companies in the UK, Canada and Australia.

Key Achievement• Rectified significant stock valuation issues and put appropriate internal control measures in place to prevent future recurrence.

Key Achievements• Provisions of financial information and 5 year projections resulting in MBO.• Develop and met new reporting requirements for Private Equity investors• Implementation of Sage 200 ERP business solution• Improved and developed financial Board reports pack and developed internal weekly reporting• Improved internal controls and moved Finance department paperless to electronic data storage

Key Achievements• Due diligence of business acquisition including financing the project and substantial price reduction• Implementation of office 365 and all new hardware across the business one month after acquisition.• Project review resulting in Implementation of Sage ERP X3 across the business• Providing business case for rationalization of the logistics business• Preserved working capital by financing asset acquisitions• Negotiated and resolved HMRC tax issue going back to 2010• Creating and maintaining relationships with asset based lenders and private equity

Key Achievements• Heading up the Corporate Finance function.• Secured £1m Enterprise Finance Guarantee Funding, several million from a Retail Bond, £2m from private investor, increased overdraft facility by a factor of five.• Created strong partnering relationships with joint venture clients, including performing the Company Secretarial function and attendance at joint venture Board meetings as company representative, resulting in a 40% increase in billing rates.• Dealing with the bank and debt function of a £30m wind farm built on behalf of a client including capital drawdown and all the financial due diligence information requirements on realisation of their wind farm portfolio.• Established efficient and effective finance functions in UK and Overseas. This included appointments and mentoring of Financial Controllers in Canada, Ireland, France (also on strategic committee), South Africa and recruitment of Financial Controller in Australia.• Troubleshooting financial issues across the worldwide business and ensuring compliant accounting functions within the UK and prior to setting up Oversea accounting functions covering: Canada, USA, France, Ireland, South Africa, Hong Kong and Malta.• Consolidation of worldwide reporting including cash forecast whilst the Group continued their large international development program and consolidation of worldwide insurances to mitigate risk.• Preparing and presenting relevant financial information to audiences including the Board and over a hundred people at the annual staff conventions.• Representing the Group by attending and receiving awards including Sunday Times Fast Track 100, Sunday Times International Track 100 plus invited to Hong Kong as a delegate for the HSBC Business Thinking initiative. Also, took part in HSBC Business Recovery knowledge centre film on HSBC website.

Key Achievements• Performed detailed due diligence of companies transferred into Constructing Excellence including legal framework, Board reporting, statutory and governance compliance.• Key player in merger of 2 companies to form Constructing Excellence (Be and Rethinking Construction) in respect of:- job specifications, interviews and migration of accounting systems and working with the Board including Peter Rogers OBE (Stanhope Plc.) and Bob White (Mace Ltd).• Created strong management information reporting system for divisional performance measurement including developing KPI’s.• Generated good relationships and strong partnering arrangements with DTI including traffic light system reporting for deliverables and securing additional funding.