28 years.

Warwickshire;West Midlands;Berkshire;Buckinghamshire;Oxfordshire;Gloucestershire;Wiltshire.

Professional services, Scientific & Technical services;Business Support Services;Human Health & Social care services;Education & training services;Arts, Entertainment & Recreation;Manufacturing;Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing;Real Estate services

James operates as a Virtual Finance Director, providing part-time FD services to ambitious SME owner-managers. James has enjoyed being part of over 30 successful deals and has helped clients raise over £30m of funding. Of the deals James has been involved in 25 were trade sales or purchases (acting for acquisitive companies and exiting business owners), with 7 of the most recent deals being business sales to MBOs or Employee Trusts. James has been involved in the Employee Ownership sector since just after the main reforms in 2014, having attended numerous EOA conferences and seminars, and working with several EO specialist advisers while helping project manage and complete 6 busines sales into EOTs.

19 years.

Hertfordshire;Greater London;Berkshire;Buckinghamshire;East/West Sussex;Oxfordshire;Surrey.

Construction & Engineering;Professional services, Scientific & Technical services;Business Support Services;Information & Communication;Education & training services;Manufacturing;Accommodation & Food services;Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing;Financial & Insurance services.

Matteo would be an effective independent EOT Trustee because he brings strong strategic judgement grounded in over 30 years of senior finance, CFO and Board-level experience across businesses at different stages of growth, transition and ownership change. He is accustomed to balancing competing financial priorities from multiple stakeholders, including shareholders, management teams, lenders and employees, and to making clear, well-reasoned decisions in complex situations. Matteo’s background includes building and reviewing detailed financial models, phased budgets and long-term funding plans to support sustainable value creation rather than short-term outcomes. He has served in a number of Board and governance roles, where independence, stewardship and long-term alignment were critical, and he is comfortable operating as a trusted, impartial voice focused on protecting the interests of beneficiaries while supporting the company’s strategic and financial resilience.

25 years.

Greater London;Berkshire;Buckinghamshire;Hampshire & IoW;Surrey;Oxfordshire;Wiltshire.

Professional services, Scientific & Technical services;Retail & Wholesale Trade and repairs;Business Support Services;Human Health & Social care services;Information & Communication;Education & training services;Arts, Entertainment & Recreation;Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing.

Throughout my career I have always kept “doing what is best for the company” front of mind. This has helped me to maintain independence and bring focussed strategic oversight to decisions that are in the best interests of all stakeholders. I am good at seeing sensitivities in forecasts and modelling their potential effects both upside and, crucially, downside risks. I have significant equity and debt fundraising experience, as well as M&A from both sides of the deal. I have been trained in all aspects of Employee Ownership Trusts by way of the VFDNet EOT Trustee Masterclass and other continuing professional development I have undertaken recently.

10 years.

Greater London;Berkshire;Buckinghamshire;Hertfordshire;Essex;Kent;Oxfordshire;Surrey.

Construction & Engineering;Professional services, Scientific & Technical services;Retail & Wholesale Trade and repairs;Manufacturing;Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing;Real Estate services;Transportation & Storage;Information & Communication

David has 35 years qualified experience which includes financial forecasts/ modelling, valuations, budgeting and deal experience (fundraising, M&A and investments). He has extensive board level (including Investment Committees) experience as a CFO & COO which includes implementing governance processes. He has had experience of managing various stakeholder relationships. He has also challenged and facilitated key decisions. He attended the VFDNET EOT Trustee Masterclass. This will ensure David’s success as a EOT Trustee.

25 years.

Lancashire;Greater Manchester;North Yorkshire;South Yorkshire;Lincolnshire;Derbyshire;West Yorkshire;Leicestershire;Nottinghamshire.

Construction & Engineering;Retail & Wholesale Trade and repairs;Arts, Entertainment & Recreation;Financial & Insurance services

In my various roles as Finance Director I have developed a rolled up sleeves leadership style that balances support and challenge, with a strong emphasis on clarity accountability and collaboration. I have recently worked with a founder to transfer his business into an EOT and have then facilitated and start the transformation. I am able to use my skills to facilitate effective relationships between Trustees and Company Directors, and ensured decisions are taken with a clear understanding of fiduciary duties and long-term impact. My experience in supporting organisational change through good governance, effective engagement mechanisms, and practical decision-making that aligns values with commercial reality to ensure the EOT becomes the new culture in any business.

12 years.

Surrey;Greater London;East/West Sussex;Hampshire & IoW.

Professional services, Scientific & Technical services;Information & Communication.

As well as being an experienced fractional finance director, Seth is a church treasurer where strong financial stewardship, integrity, and community-focused governance is important. This experience translates well to EOT governance, where responsible oversight, ethical decision-making, and long-term thinking are essential. Seth is skilled at balancing financial prudence with the values of service and trust, contributing to effective board discussions and helping ensure the organisation operates sustainably for the benefit of its employees and wider community.

25 years.

Greater London;Surrey;East/West Sussex.

Construction & Engineering;Professional services, Scientific & Technical services;Manufacturing;Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing;Transportation & Storage

Nick has over 25 years of board level experience in UK and International businesses with between £3m and £40m turnover. His commercially focused financial background allows him to objectively assess the deliverability of budgets and strategic plans, both in financial terms (profits and cash), and “softer” aspects such as management team and organisation capabilities. He has extensive experience of business acquisitions/disposals, and in particular, implementing post-deal changes including bank/debtor financing. With 16 years as a fractional finance director, Nick is very used to providing constructive challenge to Executive Directors and holding them to account for business performance. As well as a good understanding of EO models and the role of an independent EOT Trustee, he has previous experience as a Pension Trustee. He combines an strong analytical mind with a practical approach and gets the best out of people. His calm, even-handed approach, enables effective meetings and consensus decision making.

20 years.

Surrey;Hampshire & IoW;East/West Sussex;Berkshire;Greater London.

Construction & Engineering;Professional services, Scientific & Technical services;Information & Communication;Retail & Wholesale Trade and repairs;Manufacturing.

Martyn has significant experience across many business sectors whilst working as a FD for both US owned and privately owned businesses. This has resulted in conflicting requests from directors and he has managed the process in providing information whilst managing personal challenges across board members. In establishing a small business Martyn self crowd funded the initial investment and has raised nearly £1 million in subsequent crowd funding exercises. Martyn has held various roles including CFO of an AIM Listed mining company, Chair of Governors at a local school and Senior Trustee of a Christian based charity supporting deposed school children and their parents.

28 years.

Bristol area;Gloucestershire;Somerset;Essex;Greater London;Hertfordshire.

Construction & Engineering;Professional services, Scientific & Technical services;Business Support Services;Information & Communication;Transportation & Storage.

Andy would be an excellent choice for an independent EOT Trustee because he combines commercial judgement with the independence needed to balance the interests of different stakeholders in situations that require careful, objective decision-making. He is an experienced CFO and founder-director of Pareto Financial Direction Ltd, with more than 25 years’ senior finance experience, including board-level roles, financial modelling, phased budgeting, valuations, fundraising, and sales and acquisition work across owner-managed and listed businesses. Andy brings relevant governance credibility through school governance, ACCA panel involvement and earlier pension trustee experience. He also has specific knowledge of employee ownership through EOT trustee training and current hands-on involvement in advising a client that is moving to employee ownership in 2026. He is well suited to constructive challenge: he is financially rigorous, balanced in weighing competing requests, and comfortable holding executive directors to account while keeping decisions aligned with the long-term interests of the owners and the business as a whole.

5 years

Herefordshire;Warwickshire;Worcestershire;West Midlands;Bristol area;Gloucestershire;

Construction & Engineering;Professional services, Scientific & Technical services;Retail & Wholesale Trade and repairs;Business Support Services;Personal Services;Information & Communication;Transportation & Storage;Education & training services;Manufacturing;Accommodation & Food services;Real Estate services;Financial & Insurance services.

Paul would be an excellent choice for an independent EOT Trustee due to his strong strategic judgement and proven ability to remain objective when balancing competing financial priorities across diverse stakeholder groups. He brings extensive experience in financial modelling, phased budgeting, valuations and deal execution, alongside a solid track record in fundraising. Paul has held notable board‑level and governance positions, including serving as a PCC member—a role equivalent to a charity trustee—demonstrating his commitment to effective oversight and fiduciary responsibility. He also has a working knowledge of employee‑ownership structures, strengthened through participation in the EOT Trustee Masterclass. Known for providing constructive challenge and holding executive leaders to account, Paul consistently brings rigour, independence and high‑quality strategic insight to every governance environment he supports.

15 years.

Berkshire;Buckinghamshire;Greater London;Hampshire & IoW;Oxfordshire;Warwickshire.

Professional services, Scientific & Technical services;Business Support Services;Manufacturing;Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing;Financial & Insurance services.

Conrad brings a blend of financial rigour, governance maturity, and people‑centred leadership, and is known for being meticulous, fair, and transparent in his decision‑making. He has a proven ability to balance technical accuracy with empathy and clear communication, ensuring that complex issues are handled with both precision and humanity.

25 years.

Bedfordshire;Hertfordshire;Buckinghamshire;Greater London;Cambridgeshire;Northamptonshire.

Manufacturing;Transportation & Storage;Information & Communication;Professional services, Scientific & Technical services;Construction & Engineering.

Excellent sounding board providing objective and balanced judgement calls after considering different stakeholder requests and requirements. Extensive deal and valuation experience including debt and equity fundraises incorporating strategic planning, financial modelling, longer term forecasts and budgets. Knowledge of employee ownership models and attended EOT Trustee masterclass. Held Board level finance positions for over 25 years including roles on Audit, Remuneration and ESG sub-committees.