Agenda at a glance

08:30 | Arrival & Registration

09:05 | Opening Keynote

09:20 | Panel: Shoring up the Balance Sheet

09:55 | Keynote

10:20 | Fireside Chat: Females in Finance

10:35 | Making the leap from FD - what skills are needed to move across the board

10:55 | Tea/coffee & networking

11:15 | The CFO-CEO Dynamic

11:45 | Cybercrime Surge: How Finance Leaders Can Strengthen Their Organisation’s Resilience

12:00 | The Reality of Finance in AI

13:10 | Lunch

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Speakers

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The Finance Seat Podcast

The Finance Seat podcast brings together CFOs and FDs from across the UK for candid, practical conversations.Hosted by James Roach, Managing Director of Headstar, a specialist finance recruitment consultancy, this interview series shares real-world lessons from finance leaders who’ve been there and done it.You can find The Finance Seat podcast on Spotify or you can also watch video episodes on YouTube.

How to Build a World-Class Finance Team Guide

This free ‘How to Build a World-Class Finance Team’ guide from Headstar offers a step-by-step process to help you design, hire, and develop a high-performing finance function.Whether you’re a CFO, FD or business leader planning for growth, this guide covers everything from assessing your current team structure to positioning your business as a magnet for top finance talent.

Content Hub

Our primary sponsor, Headstar hosts a comprehensive Content Hub where finance professionals can access freely available resources.This includes:• Webinars: With industry experts speaking on themes such as changes to UK GAAP, unlocking private equity, choosing debt funding and recruiting on character.• Informative videos: Covering a wide range of topics, from defining what a good FD looks like to the best EDI practices.• Practical guides: For example, Your First 100 Days: The New Finance Director and CFO Checklist

Ben Priestley, CFO, Mansfield Pollard

CFO at Mansfield Pollard, Ben specialises in business transformation for owner managed & PE-backed organisations to deliver both growth & turnaround scenarios, with particular experience in Manufacturing.Commercially & strategically focused with extensive board level experience, Ben’s overall influence extends well beyond the traditional finance boundaries. With special interests in areas such as ESG, Ben acts as both catalyst & sounding-board for business leadership & has played a key role in Mansfield Pollard’s rapid growth since its 2020 management buy-out.

Lou Ellis-Frankland, Chief Executive Officer, Mansfield Pollard & Co

Lou joined Mansfield Pollard as Sales Director in 2017 and ascended to the role of managing director in 2019. Lou orchestrated a Management Buyout (MBO) just three weeks before the onset of the first lockdown in February 2020. Through this move, she not only assumed the role of CEO but also became sole shareholder of Mansfield Pollard & Co.Under Lou's guidance, Mansfield Pollard & Co has solidified its position as a leader in the field, delivering top-tier products that set industry standards. Lou's commitment to excellence and pushing the boundaries of what's possible has resulted in a portfolio of innovative solutions, driving the company toward its ambitious goal of reaching £75m within 5 years. Currently, under her strategic leadership, the company has achieved almost £30m in its prior financial year, with expansion into the Middle East on the horizon.With a profound passion for manufacturing and over two decades of experience in the industry, Lou has dedicated herself to shaping its landscape. Her steadfast belief in manufacturing as one of the most rewarding sectors to work in has been a driving force throughout her career.

Karen Pitchforth, Associate Director - Senior Interim and Transformation, Headstar

With 25 years of experience in recruitment, Karen specialises in the Senior Interim Qualified Finance Market. Over the last 19 years, she has developed a deep understanding of the finance sector, successfully matching top-tier interim finance professionals with leading organisations.Karen is an expert in recruiting interim senior roles, including CFOs, FDs and FCs, across a wide range of industries. A strong network built over nearly two decades has allowed her to build long-term relationships with both clients and candidates, consistently delivering outstanding results for businesses seeking interim leadership during times of change, transformation or critical project delivery.Outside of work, Karen enjoys walking and cycling. She is also a ‘mum taxi’ for two fast-growing children and enjoys supporting their education as a school Governor at the junior school.

Ian Fullen, CFO, Unity Advisory

Ian Fullen is the Chief Financial Officer of Unity Advisory, a Warburg Pincus–backed professional services firm delivering technology-enabled advisory solutions to mid-market CFOs. He leads the finance function with a focus on financial operations, controls and commercial and operational excellence. Ian drives disciplined cost management and scalable financial infrastructure to ensure Unity grows efficiently and sustainably.Before joining Unity, Ian spent 7 years at HSBC, culminating as CFO of Zing, a FinTech start-up and subsidiary of. Prior to HSBC, he spent 14 years with General Electric across multiple international finance and leadership positions. He brings a pragmatic and analytical approach to aligning financial rigor with Unity’s ambition to redefine how CFOs deliver value through technology and innovation.

John Newton, Finance Director, Volkswagen Group UK

John is the Finance Director of Volkswagen Group UK, the country’s largest importer of vehicles, representing Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, SEAT and Cupra Brands. His responsibilities cover finance, controlling, procurement, legal, compliance, quality, governance and risk.Prior to his current role John gained international experience serving as FD in Volkswagen Group Australia. John started his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers where he gained his ICAEW qualification whilst serving corporate tax clients and also spent time with Royal Bank of Scotland including the financial crisis of 2008/9.John is a dedicated dad to 2 teenagers and to increase his suffering also follows Leeds United.

Ciara Allan, Chief Financial Officer , Arc Inspirations

Ciara is a ‘Big 4’ trained CFO with over 15 years’ experience in privately owned and PE backed businesses across a multitude of sectors. Before joining Arc Inspirations, she successfully led the sale of Cooplands Bakery to the EG Group and more recently has been supporting shareholders on the asset sale of the Woven Group.During her tenure as CFO, Ciara has been responsible for statutory and legal reporting, overhead reviews, treasury, credit control and cash flow forecasting. Ciara has also overseen IT, HR and Commercial functions throughout her career.In 2014, Ciara was interim Finance Director at UK Coal Surface Mines Ltd, where she helped prepare one of the UK’s most historic industries for insolvency.In her spare time, Ciara enjoys going on long country walks with her husband and their two dogs, as well can being a ‘caravaner’ and spending weekends away to explore new places. Ciara likes to relax over a nice glass of wine and her favourite film is the classic rom-com Sliding Doors.

James Roach, Managing Director, Headstar

James initially joined FDYL in 2013 as a portfolio FD, joining the business on a full-time basis in 2014 to help launch the recruitment division. James led the MBO into Headstar in 2020 and combines his FD consultancy work with ongoing recruitment assignments. In his spare time, he enjoys things like cycling down the Death Road in Bolivia.

Mandy Ridyard, Financial Director, Produmax

With a background in chemistry and manufacturing Mandy moved to West Yorkshire in 1994. Having worked for CarnaudMetalbox, Mars Inc and Rank Hovis McDougall she jointly led a buyout of Produmax in 1997 Produmax are aerospace engineers and are global experts in flight assemblies exporting 70% of turnover worldwide to prestigious clients including Boeing.Her leadership has seen Produmax achieve world class employee engagement, win two prestigious national aerospace awards and the MAKE:UK SME of the year 2021.Joining the board of the Leeds City Region LEP in 2019 she now chairs its successor, the West Yorkshire Business Board. She was appointed as Business Advisor to Mayor Tracy Brabin in 2023 Mandy is passionate about Business, Innovation, Skills and Inclusivity. As Chair of Space Hub Yorkshire, she has led the development of a regional strategy for space and is now leading its deployment. She is also Chair of the West Yorkshire Innovation Network, was a future ready Skills Commissioner and is an advocate for our region, innovation, manufacturing, productivity, women in engineering and skills.

Ben Priestley, CFO, Mansfield Pollard

Ben Priestley is Chief Financial Officer of leading Bradford-based manufacturer Mansfield Pollard. With an extensive background in leading strategic direction and transformation for owner-managed and private equity-backed mid-market businesses, Ben has played a key role in Mansfield Pollard’s rapid growth since its 2020 management buy-out.Ben’s influence extends well beyond the traditional boundaries of finance with his work acting as a strategic catalyst for transformative change, impacting areas including sustainability and the implementation of machine technology and AI solutions.

Ben Priestley, CFO, Mansfield Pollard

Ben Priestley is Chief Financial Officer of leading Bradford-based manufacturer Mansfield Pollard. With an extensive background in leading strategic direction and transformation for owner-managed and private equity-backed mid-market businesses, Ben has played a key role in Mansfield Pollard’s rapid growth since its 2020 management buy-out.Ben’s influence extends well beyond the traditional boundaries of finance with his work acting as a strategic catalyst for transformative change, impacting areas including sustainability and the implementation of machine technology and AI solutions.

Linda Nguyenova, Investor, BGF

Leeds-based Investor at BGF and currently a board observer at Arc Inspirations. Prior to joining BGF, Linda qualified as a chartered accountant at PwC, following which she spent nearly four years in the investment team at Endless, a leading transformational private equity house.BGF is a non-controlling investor, supporting entrepreneurs throughout the growth journey, taking a truly patient approach to investing. BGF invested over £4bn across 600+ businesses in the UK and has strong links to local and global business communities.

Andrew McPhillips, Chief Economist, Northern Powerhouse Partnership

Andrew is the Chief Economist at the Northern Powerhouse Partnership (NPP) where he is responsible for the organisation’s research and analysis. This has included research on differences in educational attainment across the country, the potential for fiscal devolution in England and understanding the differences in productivity both between and within regions.Prior to joining NPP, Andrew worked as an economist at Yorkshire Building Society where he provided economic advice to the Board and senior management team. He has also worked in the public sector in the Departments for Education, Work and Pensions, and Transport. Andrew is also a Senior Independent Director at the West Riding County FA and the former President of Leeds Credit Union.

Brendan McManus, CEO, PIB Group

After a 30 year career in larger corporate insurance organisations, Brendan has taken PIB Group from a start up in 2015 to one of Europe’s fastest growing insurance distributors. Now established in 10 countries across Europe , with over 3800 colleagues , PIB has completed over 100 acquisitions since start up, and has revenues in excess of £0.5bn.

Simon Hartley, CEO & Founder, Be World Class

Simon is an elite sport psychology consultant and world class performance coach. For almost 30 years, he has helped athletes win medals and teams win trophies – most recently with teams such as Fiji rugby 7s and FC Bayern Munich. He applies the same approaches within business and has published 12 books, including Hire Great People.

Mark Goldstone, Policy Manager - UK Competitiveness, CBI

Mark leads the CBI’s policy team covering UK Competitiveness, focusing on the levers that can unlock economic growth across English regions including planning reform, infrastructure delivery,
industrial strategy and devolution. Mark has over 18 years’ experience working on economic policy.

Sarah Ashby, CFO, Mamas and Papas

Sarah is currently the CFO of Mamas and Papas, the leading nursery brand in the UK, with her role covering finance, operations, procurement, property and legal.Sarah is ICAEW qualified but unusually studied and trained “in industry” during her first role out of university at P&G. Sarah has spent much of her career in global consumer goods businesses in a variety of finance roles (P&G, Heinz and Pladis).Latterly, she spent 4 years at Asda as a senior finance director for George Clothing and non food, plus a role leading M&A and cash management for the business. Sarah also is a charity trustee and a passionate mentor of women in business.