SOG Group's Carol Thomas wins Financial Director of the Year award

Runcorn: November 13, 2015: Carol Thomas, Financial Director of SOG Group, has been named 'Best Financial Director of the Year with an annual turnover of up to £10million' in the Financial Director of the Year Awards 2015.

More than 250 Financial Directors were nominated across nine categories at an awards ceremony held at Crown Plaza Hotel, Liverpool, yesterday. The awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and businesses within the Chester, Liverpool City, North Wales and Warrington regions.

Judges said of Carol, who is based at SOG’s Heath Business and Technical Park in Runcorn: “The winner of this award impressed the judges at interview with the role that they play within this well established and successful business which enables a diverse portfolio of companies to thrive and prosper. This individual has built and developed a highly skilled finance team creating a robust reporting process, growth strategy and commercially focused finance team.

“Career highlights include the successful re-finance of the business banking facilities, negotiation of a key insurance claim and most recently the delivery of a key acquisition doubling the total footprint under the organisation’s ownership. The site now employs approximately 1800 staff across the portfolio of companies who have taken site occupancy.”

After receiving her award from Barry Millar Area Director at HSBC, Carol said: “I am absolutely delighted to win this award as it not only recognises the achievement of myself and my Finance team but also the incredible journey The Heath has been on and now with the addition of our sister site londoneast-uk, another exciting chapter for the SOG group is just beginning.”

SOG Managing Director John Lewis said: “Carol thoroughly deserves this award in recognition of the immensely important role she plays within our business. It is also great to see women like Carol being recognised for the major contribution they are making in business and the world of finance.”

Carol has worked for SOG, owner and operator of The Heath Business and Technical Park in Runcorn, for 15 years and has been responsible for the introduction and implementation of key financial processes which have contributed to the success of the business. Last year she was instrumental in SOG’s purchase of specialist buildings and land in east London from pharmaceutical company Sanofi where SOG has created londoneast-uk Business and Technical Park, operating as a sister site to The Heath.

Prior to joining SOG Carol was a senior manager for Ernst and Young in both London and Manchester, dealing with a full range of clients from start-ups to listed companies specifically in services, technology and entertainment sectors.

PAUL SMITH ASSOCIATES
13th November 2015