Helped finance and set up MapStand, a start-up that is developing a smart ‘Software as a Service’ IT platform for the natural resource’s community.

Converting vision into shareholder value:• Set strategic plans, budgets, targets and objectives for nearly two decades, a period where profits increased from £4.5m to £35m in turn allowing 19 consecutive years of dividend increases.Managing the investor community: • Worked with JP Morgan, Panmure Gordon and MHP in managing the investment community, successfully achieving 19 years of meeting or exceeding analyst expectations.• Defended the business from the Guinness Peat… Show more Converting vision into shareholder value:• Set strategic plans, budgets, targets and objectives for nearly two decades, a period where profits increased from £4.5m to £35m in turn allowing 19 consecutive years of dividend increases.Managing the investor community: • Worked with JP Morgan, Panmure Gordon and MHP in managing the investment community, successfully achieving 19 years of meeting or exceeding analyst expectations.• Defended the business from the Guinness Peat Group, a long-term predatory shareholder, which controlled 25% of Young’s equity and subsequently placed Guinness Peat’s shares with a number of large institutions.• Prepared preliminary announcements, city presentations and hosted analyst and investor meetings. Driving change and delivering complex projects:• Played dual role in the sale of the Wandsworth brewery site in 2006, closing the brewing operations and merging Young’s and Charles Wells’ brewing interests.• Transformed the capital structure of the business, including consolidating Young’s A and B Shares, introducing them to AIM, redeeming two classes of preference shares and redeeming two debentures.• Investigated and managed the acquisition, due diligence, financing and integration of Geronimo, a 26 strong pub chain for £60m in 2010.Monitoring risk, implementing controls and modernising the finance function:• Introduced capital controls, ensuring resources were allocated to the highest returning projects• Implemented a system designed to minimise business and financial risks, being subject to scrutiny by internal audit and relied upon heavily by the external auditors in reaching their audit opinion.• City presentations completed and annual report signed off by Ernst Young within eight weeks of year end.• Led, appraised and developed finance team, including mentoring successor.• Controlled all aspects of treasury, pensions and tax, including negotiating facilities, developing banking relationships and raising capital. Show less

• Joined as Financial Accountant and gained promotion to Group Financial Controller.• Modernised and computerised the Finance Department, including introduction of a new team, new systems and regular reporting.• Controlled all aspects of the financial management, budgeting and accounting of the business.

Made, appraised and monitored investments in the old steel towns, including Glasgow, Consett, Cardiff and Sheffield, enabling job and wealth creation.