As part of their growth strategy for the future Carlisle based H&H Group Plc promote Roger Blake to the position of Finance Director
H&H Group Plc announces the promotion of their current Financial Controller, Roger Blake, to the newly created position of Finance Director. The appointment is a landmark in the continuing growth and complexity of the H&H group of businesses, and reflects the key strategic role that Roger will now play in the Group’s ongoing expansion and success.
Working closely with the CEO, the Finance Director will be part of both the main Non-Executive Board and the Executive Board, taking full responsibility for all financial aspects of the Group, and will provide board-level strategic financial leadership advising on the best path of growth for the business.
As Financial Controller for the H&H Group for the last 9 years, Roger has been a pivotal member of the senior management team in the group’s evolution into the UK’s leading livestock trading company. He has led the financial team across the group’s increasing range of agri-business companies, including Harrison & Hetherington, H&H Land & Estates and H&H Insurance Brokers.
A graduate of the University of Exeter and a qualified Chartered Accountant, Roger moved to Cumbria in 2003 and joined the H&H Group in 2016. In the 9 years since then H&H has developed from a mainly North West livestock trading business to a diversified, multifaceted business with livestock throughput approaching £300m and a group turnover of more than £20 million in their most recent financial year.
CEO Richard Rankin, says this promotion to the Board is a reflection of the group’s need for increasingly sophisticated financial direction, and their complete confidence that Roger Blake is the right person to provide it.
“We invest a great deal in developing the next generation of leadership in-house, and Roger is a perfect example of a highly talented member of the team who has grown and developed within our growing business. H&H Group has reached the point where we need a new level of financial control, and Roger has proved without any shadow of a doubt that he’s the right person for the new role of Finance Director.
“Our business has changed and evolved very significantly over the past 20 years, and that process is accelerating. We have big ambitions for the future, and we’re delighted to have someone of Roger’s calibre and proven experience at the helm.”
Married with three children, Roger originally moved to the North West to live in the heart of a hill-walker’s paradise. Also a keen kayaker and cyclist, he is looking forward to helping guide the H&H Group on its continuing journey to greater heights.
“This is my dream role, living and working in a place I love, and working with a fantastic team across all the group’s businesses. It has been a great experience so far, the changes in the role of Financial Controller since I started have been phenomenal, and the business has developed profoundly in terms of scale, style and leadership.
“Now we are planning for future growth, and it’s a privilege to be given the chance to contribute to that as a Director. I’m looking forward very much to dealing with the challenges which arise and continuing to develop the finance team and our capabilities. I believe the future for the H&H Group is bright. We’re eager to grasp the opportunities for growth in the agricultural sector that fit with the H&H brand, objectives, and values, and we will continue to add to our offering to our customers and clients and to deliver the results for our shareholders.”