Joined Ashdown Hurrey a leading firm of Chartered Accountants on the South Coast and formed CBS Corporate - a joint venture corporate finance division.


• Primary role was to lead the strategic business planning initiative and introduce corporate management policies

• Acquired an IT company for Ashdown Hurrey as part of the growth plan and was appointed interim FD to manage the integration.

• In 2002 acquired 100% ownership of CBS Corporate from Ashdown Hurrey and focused on lead advisory assignments targeting the SME sector and OMBs exit planning. (re-branded as Davison CBS during 2005)

Client-facing assignments undertaken include:

• Acting Group Finance Director for Cavendish Group, a £5m t/o telecoms business based in East Sussex from April 2004 to date.

Achievements include:
- Responsible for group strategic planning and head of finance and administration teams.
- Primary role to prepare a strategic business plan and deliver a corporate re-structure including £1m capital project and minority shareholder exit.
- Lead advisor to the Board on all aspects of financial management, corporate finance and banking and professional relationships.
- Achieved £450k shareholder value through minority exit and introduced tax planning initiatives saving the group £75k.
- Introduced strong financial controls, recruited key staff and delivered the capital project within cashflow and without the need for debt.
- Researched and commenced negotiations with a strategic target acquisition and obtained appropriate growth funding.


• Substantial European CRM software start-up - VC funding negotiations, EMI share scheme, R&D tax credit claim and Company Secretarial.

• National food distribution company – £0.5m financial restructure.

• Large independent estate agency - £1.0m structured finance.

• Large independent travel agents – Board advisor.

• European software start-up subsidiary of US holding company – advisor to the board and direct reporting to US.

• Lead advisor to vendor of a Healthcare business with plc venture partner. Business sold to VC backed group for £0.5m.

Overview of responsibilities:

• Joined as Chief accountant and appointed executive board member – Finance, in 1995, subsequently taking full control of strategic business planning and corporate finance. Recruited and managed a quality team including ACA and ACCA qualified staff.

• Primarily 'hands on' financial/project management role and management of the group's professional advisors network (leading accountancy and legal firms in the South East). Planned and managed substantial and complex transactions including the following projects:

• Lead MBO of the Abbott Group - transaction value £9.0m – backed by leading UK Venture Capitalist and Bank. (Lost out in MBO attempt to a trade buyer and left the company during March 2000)

• Start-up division achieved turnover in excess of £12m (net profit in excess of 15%) in 5 years.

• Project management – capital expenditure programme in excess of £4.0m.

• Group financial restructure – Company share buy-back and structured finance - £2.0m.

• Corporate tax structure and planning – transaction value £6.9m.

• Commercial litigation project (supplier negligence).

• Fraud investigations (lead role).

Overview of responsibilities:

• Trained and qualified with this four partner firm in Eastbourne. Post qualification period spent in General Practice management (SME Audit and Accounts with responsibility for one plc client).


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