Leading independent industrial recruitment agency, gap personnel, has appointed Lee Woodward as its new finance director to replace Andy Gunson who left the organisation at the end of June.
Woodward qualified as a chartered accountant with PKF in 1996 and has since spent 17 years in Industry, most recently in finance director positions within Mouchel and Speedy Hire. He will divide his time between gap’s head office in Wrexham and 26 branches nationwide.
The appointment follows a remarkable period in which gap, one of the UK’s top three independent labour providers, increased its turnover to £98m in 2013, an increase of 15% on predicted figures.
With the UK economy reporting solid growth and the latest CBI Industrial Trends Survey showing that manufacturers are continuing to perform well and following an upward trend, job creation is set to increase in the industrial sector, where gap personnel particularly excels.
Commenting on the appointment, gap personnel’s founder and CEO, Gary Dewhurst said: “This is a key appointment for us as we look to continue our sustained growth. Our quality of earnings and the faster than expected growth in the market, has provided a foundation for an exciting new phase for us and Lee will be an important player in helping us going forward.
“We are delighted to welcome Lee into the gap personnel team, he is commercially astute, has an impressive track record, excellent qualifications and will provide our Board with a valuable strategic financial steer,” explained Dewhurst.
Woodward’s broad commercial background includes working capital and risk management, bids and tenders and M&A experience. He also brings FTSE and AIM experience and has extensive change management and project management expertise.
“I am delighted to be joining Gary (Dewhurst), Mark (Roberts – managing director) and the Board at this important stage of gap’s growth. gap is a truly dynamic and innovative business with a proven record of creating and developing commercial opportunities and of driving sustained growth and profitability” said Woodward.
In his free time, Woodward mentors local start-up businesses and is an accredited mentor for SFEDI (Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative). Married to Anne, he has a daughter, Charlotte and lives in Lancashire.
Founded in 1997, gap personnel supplies nationwide temporary and permanent workforce and management personnel solutions across a wide range of industrial sectors through high street branches, specialist divisions and an on-site network. More than 7,500 temporary workers per week are placed, covering in excess of 2.2 million shifts per year.
More information about gap personnel at www.gap-personnel.com