Mark Robson

Mark Robson Email and Phone Number

Experienced FTSE Board Director and CFO | Building NED portfolio @ Morgan Sindall Group plc
london, greater london, united kingdom
Mark Robson's Location
London, England, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
About Mark Robson

Highly experienced international CFO and board director with an excellent reputation and a demonstrable record of bottom–line performance improvement. Known for his role in taking Howdens from the brink of insolvency to the FTSE 100. Key areas of experience include:Governance• Experienced FTSE Executive Board DirectorInternational Experience• 20 years of experience in two global groups managing businesses in Asia, Europe, Africa and USA (lived in USA and Belgium and spent significant time operating in countries including China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Africa, Poland, Germany, France, NL, Italy, Spain, Norway and Australia).Line Leadership• Highly experienced CFO/Deputy CEO • PLC Awards: Turnaround of the Year taking market capitalisation from £70m to £5bn involving multiple refinancing programmes.• Transformational acquisition and disposal program involving more than 30 transactions (50 % of asset base, innovative deals, Class Is, MBOs) which resulted in a consistently rising EPS and share price. • In depth experience across a breadth of sectors (Chemicals, Engineering, Retail, B2B, Business Services).Strategy and Execution• Experienced in setting strategy and plans for complex, vertically integrated business.• Has led major M&A projects, both acquisitions and divestments, and overseen all aspects of post-merger integration and/or disposition. Well used to leading teams and operations through periods of change in multiple geographies and cultures.Finance Leadership• Highly experienced CFO used to regular interaction with the external markets on matters relating to finance, including accounting, reporting, control, compliance, and regulatory oversight.• Leadership of internal finance function and accountability for all aspects of financial accounting and performance reporting.

Mark Robson's Current Company Details
Morgan Sindall Group plc

Morgan Sindall Group Plc

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Experienced FTSE Board Director and CFO | Building NED portfolio
london, greater london, united kingdom
Website:
morgansindall.com
Employees:
5978
Mark Robson Work Experience Details
  • Morgan Sindall Group Plc
    Non-Executive Director | Chair Of Responsible Business Committee
    Morgan Sindall Group Plc Sep 2024 - Present
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  • Grafton Group Plc
    Chair Of Audit And Risk Committee
    Grafton Group Plc Dec 2023 - Present
    An international distributor of building materials to trade customers and has leading regional or national positions in the distribution markets in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands. Grafton is also the market leader in the DIY retailing market in Ireland and is the largest manufacturer of dry mortar in the UK. Trading from circa 530 branches and has circa 11,000 colleagues. Its portfolio of brands includes Selco Builders Warehouse, Leyland SDM, MacBlair, MFP, CPI EuroMix, TG Lynes and StairBox in the UK; Chadwicks and Woodie's in Ireland, Isero and Polvo in the Netherlands and IKH in Finland.
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  • Howdens
    Group Cfo
    Howdens Apr 2005 - Dec 2021
    United Kingdom
    Group CFO of UK’s largest furniture group with international operations in USA, France and China. Turnover £2bn. Employees 12,000. FTSE 100.Particular achievements in this role include:• Established a reputation in the City for financial leadership, strategic restructuring, and steering the Group through a period of intense threat (FTSE’s most shorted stock, aggressive lenders/creditors and legal claims from MFI’s buyers larger than the Group’s value) which faced MFI from one month after I joined.• Fundamentally restructured the Group, involving a refinancing and re-addressing the interests of all financial stakeholders (banks, shareholders, suppliers, trade credit insurers and pension fund trustees)• Strategically refocused the group involving major M&A activity. Disposed of key overseas operations and major UK brands, culminating in the transaction for the MFI Retail stores in the UK. • Led the drive for international sourcing of product through overseas supply joint ventures including the closure of 5 UK factories.• Awarded “European Listed Company Turnaround of the Year 2009” (the 2008 winner was Morrisons) and “PLC Awards: Turnaround of the Year 2009”.• Energised and refocused taxation activities (rapid seizure of “low hanging fruit” and strategic opportunities).• Managed HQ effectiveness project resulting in a radical reduction in cost and a major improvement in cashflow via working capital performance.• Established and leveraged Finance function’s pivotal role as all round contributor.
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  • Delta Plc (Formerly Delta Metals Plc)
    Group Cfo
    Delta Plc (Formerly Delta Metals Plc) 1999 - 2004
    Global
    Group CFO of major (FTSE250, ex-FTSE100) Industrial Group with diverse ‘b2b’ activities and a very international (manufacturing and service operations on all five continents with major operations in USA and Asia) and complex structure. Turnover £1.2bn. Employees 12,000. Particular achievements, with directly traceable EPS enhancements, include:• Lead role in Group refocusing by a transforming acquisition and disposal program (50 % of asset base, innovative deals, Class Is, MBOs) which resulted in a consistently rising EPS and share price. More than 30 transactions successfully concluded. Disposals realised £300m while acquisitions were made in the USA, South Africa and across Asia. • Lead role in rebuilding City perceptions (managing expectations, balance sheet performance, EPS enhancements from financial activities, improved disclosure, crafted announcements).• Revitalised business performance (“beneath” EBIT, Fixed Costs, ABC costing, cash-focus, incentive programs). Achieved sector-leading ROCE at 21%.• Complete rebuild of funding and treasury activities (refinancing, hedging, simplification).• Dynamic management of £800m pension fund to maintain a surplus position.• Quickly established reputation for achievement and shrewdness with a particularly senior group of non-executives (Chairmen of Prudential, Railtrack, Wimpey and directors of Marks & Spencer and British Steel/Corus) and secured an exceptional group of relationships with bankers, investors, analysts and other professional advisors.
  • Ici Plc
    Cfo, Ici Performance Chemicals
    Ici Plc 1996 - 1998
    North Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom
    World’s leading chemical business (FTSE 20, Turnover 20bn, Global Group with 150,000 employees).Responsible for complete finance function of ICI’s worldwide Performance Chemicals businesses, reporting to the CEO. This was ICI’s leading business and represented the focus for changing the whole ICI portfolio from Bulk to Speciality Chemicals. Turnover £1.5bn. Employees 3,500. Particular achievements during the period include:• Building and establishing the finance function for a newly formed group of ICI businesses.• Transforming the performance of the business, in part by leading a major acquisition and divestment programme.• Integrating and merging the Speciality Chemical businesses of Unilever PLC.
  • Ici Plc
    Cfo, Ici Pvc
    Ici Plc 1993 - 1996
    Brussels, Brussels Region, Belgium
    Responsible for finance function of ICI’s worldwide PVC Polymers business, reporting to the Chief Executive. Turnover £1bn. Employees 3,000. Particular achievements during this period include:• Led the team which resulted in the independent flotation of the business at a market capitalisation of £800m. • Determined and initiated rapid implementation of business systems strategy.• Initiated and implemented innovative cost reporting process shifting focus from margin to profit responsibility throughout senior levels of the business.
  • Ici Plc
    Financial Controller, Ici Pharmaceuticals
    Ici Plc 1990 - 1993
    Cheshire
    Responsible for review and audit function of ICI’s international pharmaceuticals business, reporting to the Financial Director. Turnover £3 bn. Employees 20,000. [As part of ICI’s demerger process the pharmaceuticals business became an independently quoted company (Zeneca plc/AstraZeneca plc) and now ranks in the UK’s top 10 by capitalisation. Particular achievements during this period include:• Designing and implementing performance culture through detailed review cycle.• Against the background of demerging the business, I devised and implemented the Corporate Governance infrastructure for the business, establishing an Audit Committee and new risk-focused financial and internal control procedures.• Initiating and implementing new internal control and risk management system for the global business.
  • Ici Plc
    Controller Of Corporate Operations, Ici Hq
    Ici Plc 1987 - 1990
    London, England, United Kingdom
    Responsible for the ICI Group’s reporting function – management reporting and financial accounting (UK Annual Report, USA 20-F), reporting to the ICI Group Controller. Turnover £20 bn. Employees 120,000. Particular achievements during this period include:• Leading the HQ financial team in the successful acquisition of Stauffer Chemicals (USA) (purchase price $1,800m). Full time involvement for six months. Responsibilities included due diligence of companies to be acquired (and companies to be quickly sold on), financing, siting, synergy and transfer pricing issues.• Being a leading member of ICI’s Treasury Management Committee, which directs and monitors ICI Finance plc – the company responsible for funding, exchange risk management, short-term cash management and debt factoring for the ICI Group.• Initiating and effecting the non-disruptive re-organisation of the ICI group’s financial reporting function enabling it to contribute more effectively to its customers with reduced manpower.
  • Ici Plc
    Head Of Business Planning, Ici Agrochemicals
    Ici Plc 1985 - 1987
    Teeside
    Responsible for devising and evaluating strategic business plans for the Board of ICI’s Agrochemicals business and evaluating alternative commercial strategies (M&A, competitive attack, capital investments, collaborative ventures, licensing deals etc). Reporting to the Financial Director. Turnover £2 bn. Employees 10,000. Particular achievements during this period included designing and implementing a new forecasting system featuring sensitivity analysis and “What If” facilities.
  • Pwc
    Manager
    Pwc 1979 - 1984
    Trained within the firm’s audit department (including six months in tax dept). Left at Manager level. Every promotion achieved in minimum possible time equalling the PW record for achieving manager level. Experience of a wide range of clients in size and sector terms. Responsible for:• Managing audit work• Corporate Finance (acquisitions (incl. Class 1), management buy-outs, etc.)• Computer Consultancy (specialist training for installation and application reviews)
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Mark Robson Education Details

Frequently Asked Questions about Mark Robson

What company does Mark Robson work for?

Mark Robson works for Morgan Sindall Group Plc

What is Mark Robson's role at the current company?

Mark Robson's current role is Experienced FTSE Board Director and CFO | Building NED portfolio.

What schools did Mark Robson attend?

Mark Robson attended Newcastle University.

Who are Mark Robson's colleagues?

Mark Robson's colleagues are Maya Thapa, 🤦‍♂️ Scott Whaley, Chris D., Michael Green, Ryan Smith, Tom Lane, Govinda Porter.

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