Double achievement for new Chartered Director Geraldine Gordon

Nov 062015

Congratulations to IoD Northern Ireland Committee member, Geraldine Gordon, who has achieved two significant career milestones. First she gained her Chartered Director qualification and then she was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Having spent many years in the construction sector, Geraldine is currently Managing Director at Gordon Business Consultancy.

Talking about the importance to her of continuing professional development, Geraldine explains that she initially attended an IoD accelerated training camp some five to six years ago. "I had no plans to sit any exams but simply wanted to develop my skills in leadership and to gain a better understanding of good corporate governance. I was so impressed with not only the array of subjects covered but the insight through peer interaction of relevant real-life business cases that I immediately signed up to sit the Certificate exam. I subsequently enrolled and completed the Diploma course and exam".

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the whole IoD team, in particular Peter Martin, Linda Brown and Colin Coffey for their continued support and for a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding experience".

"I look forward to many years ahead of continued development and training with the IoD, ensuring that I can continue to keep abreast of today's fast moving markets"

DEPFA Bank plc CEO and Chartered Director Fiona Flannery wins Image Businesswomen award

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Nov 052015

Chartered Director Fiona Flannery wins Management Professional Businesswoman of the Year at IMAGE Businesswoman Of The Year Awards

The winners of the IMAGE Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2015, in association with Samsung, Electric Ireland, No7, AIB, Kuehne + Nagel, Versatile Bathrooms & Interiors and Weir & Sons, and supported by Newstalk, Independent.ie, Enterprise Ireland and Marks & Spencer, were announced at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Dublin, Burlington Road on Monday 2 November.

Now in their ninth year, the much anticipated Awards champion trailblazing businesswomen’s contribution to Ireland’s economy and their vital role within the Irish business community at home and abroad.

Fiona Flannery Chartered Director Fiona is a senior banker with over 25 years’ experience in the industry across a broad range of risk and strategic functions. She has held several senior positions within DEPFA prior to her appointment to the Board, including Head of Credit Risk & Credit Advisory and Global Head of Public Finance Risk Management.

Before joining DEPFA Bank, she worked at Pfizer International Bank Europe and IIB Bank. Fiona is a member of the Board of Crumlin Medical Research Foundation and sits on the Advisory Council of WXN.

She holds a degree in Mathematics and English from the National University of Ireland, Galway. She has a CDip AF from the ACCA, is a Chartered Director, and is currently reading for an MSc in Business (Leadership and Management Practice) at UCD Michael Smurfit Business School.

British Friendly Society’s finance director Lee Schopp is the Institute of Directors’ 2015 Chartered Director of the year

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Nov 052015

Lee Schopp, British Friendly Society’s finance director and ICAEW chartered accountant is the Institute of Directors’ (IoD) 2015 chartered director of the year

Lee Schopp Chartered Director The award recognises excellence of achievement in the IoD’s certificate and diploma examinations and the professional review for chartered director.

Schopp became a chartered director after studying and gaining distinction in both the certificate and diploma in company direction.

At the British Friendly Society (BFS), Schopp ensures chosen strategies are commercially viable and fit within the society’s capital constraints, and he has executive responsibility for operations, IT and human resources.

Since joining the society, Schopp has implemented a new strategy and business plan and overhauled all financial reporting in a bid to drive the business forward.

Schopp says that the chartered director training had given him more confidence to work at board level. “Because of my training, I’ve been able to introduce new governance and standards such as board evaluations which allow us to review our performance as a board.

“While the new legal realities of working in the insurance industry has scared off some non-execs in the last year, my training means I just get on with it."

Schopp joined BFS alongside a new chief executive in 2011 and they have worked closely together to turn the ailing business around. “Over the last four years, we’ve not only stopped the rot, we’ve achieved more than 35 % growth," he says.

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New Finance Director for Bancon Group Allan Clow is a Chartered Director

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Nov 052015

Bancon Group has completed its new senior management team with the appointment of Chartered Director Allan Clow as group finance director.

Allan Clow is set to leave Stirling-based Superglass. Picture: Contributed

Mr Clow joins from CHAP Holdings, where he also held the role of group finance director, and replaces David Cassidy who has retired after 12 years with the independent Aberdeenshire housebuilder and construction group.

Mr Clow previously worked in similar roles for Superglass Holdings Plc and Havelock Europa. He holds Chartered Director status from the Institute of Directors and was a former member of the board of Perth College within the University of the Highlands and Islands.

John Irvine, Chief Executive of Bancon Group, said: “As part of our ambitious growth plans for the next five years, we have been strengthening our senior management team. This has included my own appointment last year, the appointment of Gavin Currie and Philip Hogg as Managing Directors of the construction and homes businesses respectively.

“His experience in successfully supporting sustained growth within a number of sectors will be invaluable to us.”

Bancon Group recently reported robust results with turnover rising by £5million to £83.5million. The group operates in housebuilding, property development, construction, property maintenance and timberframe manufacturing.

Commenting on Mr Cassidy’s retirement, Mr Irvine said: “During his time with Bancon, David has been a great ambassador for the group and we wish him well for the future.”

With a strong heritage in the North-east, Bancon Group’s current projects include high profile homes sites Aspire and Maidenraig in Aberdeen and, in construction, the city’s Mile End school refurbishment and conversion.