Replacing a stalwart of 30 years
Harrison Engineering, a third-generation manufacturing and engineering business, was led by David, with his daughter, Emma, serving as Operations Director. The board also included Paul, a Non-Executive Director, and Tom, the long-serving Finance Director, who had been with the company for 30 years.
The Challenge
Tom, nearing retirement, unexpectedly announced his decision to step down sooner than planned due to his wife’s illness. While his eventual departure had been anticipated, the sudden nature of the decision unsettled the business—particularly as it coincided with the integration of a major ERP system. The timing could not have been worse.
With Harrison Engineering growing and expanding internationally, securing the right financial leadership was critical. Tom offered to stay on as a Non-Executive Director for up to two years to help transition his replacement. He suggested that rather than hiring a direct FD successor, the business could appoint a Financial Controller who could develop into the role under his guidance.
At the same time, it became clear that Emma was already operating as the de facto Managing Director. Having joined the business after a career in education, she was still establishing herself in the role. She needed a strong finance leader—not just to manage the numbers but to provide commercial and strategic support, as well as help develop the wider leadership team.
The Solution
TWYD was introduced to Emma through a trusted partner who worked closely with the firm. In discussions with the board, TWYD highlighted that while hiring a Financial Controller could work given Tom’s continued involvement, it was unlikely that such a candidate would have the leadership experience required to fully support the business.
Instead, TWYD recommended running a dual search for both a Financial Controller and a Finance Director, presenting candidates at different levels of experience to determine the best fit. Given Harrison Engineering’s strong culture, finding the right cultural alignment was also a key priority.
The Outcome
TWYD produced a shortlist of two Financial Controller candidates and two Finance Director candidates. While the FC candidates were technically strong and aligned well with the company culture, it became clear through the interview process that the business needed someone with greater leadership experience to support Emma.
One of the Finance Director candidates stood out—not only as an excellent cultural fit but also as someone with the strategic and commercial acumen to strengthen the leadership team. The appointment provided Emma with the right support while ensuring the business had the financial leadership it needed for its next stage of growth.