Howard Bell (Aged 63) - Non Executive Chairman
Howard joined Yorkshire Imperial Metals as a management trainee before moving to Provident Financial in 1967. He was initially involved in computing before taking up senior positions in human resources and line management. During this period he spent 3 years in Scotland running Provident Financial’s Scottish operations. He was appointed to the Group Board in 1989; became Managing Director in 1995 and Chief Executive in 1997.
In addition to responsibilities for regular City presentations, Howard was responsible for the rationalisation of the Group from 27 operating companies to 2 strategic divisions and oversaw the implementation of the highly successful overseas expansion. He retired from the Provident Financial Group as a director in 2001 and has subsequently been involved in a number of local external appointments.
Howard is the Group’s Non Executive Chairman and chairs the Nominations and Remuneration Committees and sits on the Audit Committee.
Stephen Lightley (Aged 51) - Chief Executive Officer and Finance Director
Stephen trained to be a Chartered Accountant with Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co (now part of KPMG) qualifying in 1982 and becoming a Senior Manager in 1987.
In 1992, Stephen joined Haines Watts as Partner in charge of the Newcastle office. Stephen accepted responsibility for opening new general practice offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh, becoming the Regional Partner for Scotland and Finance Partner of Haines Watts Business Recovery and Insolvency Scotland (HWBRIS).
As Chief Executive Officer, Stephen is responsible for the strategic development of the Group and, as Finance Director and Company Secretary, he is responsible for all financial, legal and compliance aspects of the Group’s activities.
Ian Wright (Aged 41) - Managing Director
Prior to joining the insolvency industry Ian worked for The Royal Bank of Scotland plc for 8 years, the last two years being spent in the Law Department where he specialised in Debt Recovery.
In 1991, Ian joined Buchler Phillips Gray (now Kroll) to specialise in business recovery and insolvency, moving to Kidsons Impey (now Baker Tilly) in 1994 as a Corporate Insolvency Manager.
In 2000 Ian joined HWBRIS as a Senior Manager in Edinburgh and became a Partner in the Glasgow office in October 2002.
As Managing Director, Ian is responsible for the day to day management of all of the operations of the Group.
Bob Lewis (Aged 61) - Non Executive Director
Bob has over 35 years experience in the accountancy profession, having qualified as a Chartered Accountant with a predecessor firm of what is now Ernst & Young in 1971, becoming a partner in 1981.
In 1984, Bob was asked by the managing partners of Haines Watts to develop additional offices in the North. Between 1986 and 2003, he was responsible for opening 13 new offices, accounting for approximately 30% of the Haines Watts' group turnover.
In 1992, Bob was appointed to the main board of Haines Watts Limited and was Managing Partner of the group from 1999 until 2003. He retired from the board of Haines Watts Limited on 31 March 2006. Bob holds a number of local charitable appointments and is a consultant to Haines Watts Chartered Accountants in Leeds.
As a Non Executive Director Bob chairs the Audit Committee and sits on the Nominations Committees.
David Macmillan (Aged 39) - Non Executive Director
David has extensive knowledge of the City and the financial services sector. Until recently David was with the Standard Life Group, having spent 16 years in a variety of roles culminating in a position as UK Retail Director. He recently joined Barrie & Hibbert Ltd, a leading financial risk consultancy based in the UK and the USA, where he has assumed the role of Chief Executive.
David joined Standard Life in 1991 as a graduate management trainee. In 1998, as Head of Corporate Development, he joined the start-up team at Standard Life Bank to take charge of sales and marketing. David spent the next seven years playing a major role in shaping and directing the multi-award winning telephone and internet bank, becoming Sales and Marketing Director in 2000 and joining the Board in 2003.
In 2005, David was appointed UK Retail Director at Standard Life Group, ahead of the company's Stock Market floatation in July 2006. He was tasked with identifying and validating growth and productivity synergies across the core UK insurance, investment, banking and healthcare operations.
As a Non Executive Director, David sits on the Nominations and Remuneration Committees.
John Hall (Aged 46) - Non Executive Director
John qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1989 with Arthur Andersen & Co in Leeds and as an insolvency practitioner in 1993. He moved to Scotland in 1991 and, until late 1997, was a Senior Manager with Ernst & Young dealing with a varied portfolio of corporate insolvencies, restructurings and viability reviews on behalf of major lending institutions. He also managed a mixed portfolio of personal insolvency cases.
In January 1998, John established Haines Watts Business Recovery and Insolvency Scotland (HWBRIS), which he built from scratch to become the leading provider of personal insolvency solutions in Scotland.
John was formerly CEO of the Group until April 2008 when he stepped aside to become a Non Executive Director.
As a Non Executive Director, John sits on the Nominations Committee.
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Directors of Subsidiary Companies
Invocas Business Recovery and Insolvency Limited
Derek Wilson (Aged 45)
Derek is a Chartered Accountant and licensed insolvency practitioner. He joined Invocas as director responsible for the Edinburgh office following the acquisition of his own practice in June 2006. Derek has 20 years’ experience of insolvency and recovery work since qualifying as a Chartered Accountant. He has held senior management positions within several practices and has experience in all aspects of corporate and personal insolvency.
Colin Murdoch (Aged 39)
Colin is a Chartered Accountant and licensed insolvency practitioner. He is the director responsible for the Glasgow office. Colin has over 7 years’ experience of corporate and personal insolvency and specialises in advisory, restructuring and turnaround assignments as well as formal corporate insolvency appointments. Colin joined Invocas in 2003.
Donald McNaught (Aged 30)
A graduate Chartered Accountant and licensed insolvency practitioner, Donald is the director responsible for the Aberdeen and Dundee offices. He has 7 years' experience of corporate and personal insolvency with an emphasis on corporate insolvencies and non formal viability and investigation work. Donald joined Invocas in 2004.
Newtomorrow Limited
Ben Cartwright (Aged 36)
Ben joined Newtomorrow in 2006, to design and implement the Newtomorrow contact centre and develop the customer facing offering. Previously Ben was employed by BSKYB and in his 13 years, he undertook a variety of operational and sales roles and has gained an extensive knowledge of contact centres. Experience of managing a multi-site 500 staff sales operation means that Ben brings a wealth of operational and sales knowledge to Newtomorrow.
Ben is responsible for operational process and contact centre expansion.
Rachel Wright (Aged 44)
Rachel joined Invocas in 2001 as manager specialising in personal insolvency, being responsible for the team handling the implementation and progression of a large portfolio of insolvency cases. In 2007 Rachel transferred to Newtomorrow to build and manage relationships with external contacts and to ensure clients referred to the advice centre are offered practical and efficiently run debt solutions. Rachel has 14 years of insolvency experience to date and, coupled with her knowledge of the debt advice industry, brings a wealth of technical knowledge to Newtomorrow.
Rachel is responsible for the management of external relationships, building new relationships, client liaison and ensuring the advice centre’s quality of technical advice is to the highest standard.