Jo Haigh
Jo Haigh
Jo Haigh is a Partner and Head of Corporate Finance for Corporate Finance Services LLP, with bases in London, Birmingham and Yorkshire, and a partner in the fds Group, a specialist training and development business.
An experienced dealmaker, Jo specialises in putting together the right deal at the right time and in the right format for growing businesses throughout the country. She has bought and sold over 300 companies in the last 20 years specialising in owner managed companies.
She is a regular presenter for the Institute of Directors on corporate governance and mergers and acquisitions.
As Partner of fds – a highly successful training and consultancy organisation she founded at the start of the 90’s, she has held circa 40 + Non-Executive Roles over that period in companies across the country and helped many businesses through successful transactions. She has sold 3 of her own companies and undertaken 2 personal MBO’s.
She is a Visiting Fellow at The University of Leeds where she delivers the Corporate Governance development programme for all academic staff wishing to hive off new companies, in addition to training and developing non-executive directors appointed to University Companies whose role is to represent University interests.
She is currently Non-Executive Director of 6companies; Anchor Magnets Ltd, Sticky Content Ltd, NED Solutions and TPD Corporate Finance, is Chair of Huddersfield University Business School and sits on the board for the charity Crimestoppers and the Angelus Advisory Group.
Awards/titles/achievements:-
Currently writing a finance book for the FT
RealBusiness.co.uk columnist
On the advisory board of the Angelus Advisory Group
Sits on the board for the charity Crimestoppers
Part of the judging panel for the Growing Business Awards 2010
Short listed for the Forward Ladies Women in Business Awards 2010 in the Corporate Leader category.
Named in the Yorkshire Post top 100 entrepreneurs 2010.
Short listed to final 3 stage in the Women of the Future Awards – Mentor of the Year category 2009
Winner of IoD Business Advisor of the Year 2009 and 2006
Nominated for Financial News’ Top 100 Most Influential Women in Finance 2009.
Entered into the 2008 edition of “Who’s Who of Britain’s Business Elite”.
Short-listed finalist in the First Women CBI Awards 2007, in the Finance category.
Voted ‘Star Speaker’ and ‘Outperforming Speaker’ at the Vistage Annual Speakers Awards 2008 2007, 2006 and 2005.
- Jo is an Ambassador of Huddersfield along with Joanne Harris.
- Selected as a ‘woman of achievement’ at the prestigious Women of the Year lunch, which brings together outstanding women from all walks of life. The ceremony was held in London on October 16, 2006.
- Jo was one of the first corporate financiers in the country to receive a new qualification based on her past experience alone. The prestigious advanced diploma in corporate finance was awarded by the Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales.
- Recipient of a 2006 Woman of Achievement Award by the American Biographical Institute.
- Yorkshire Businesswoman of the Year 2005
- Her first book, The Business Rules, published 2005 and 2006, was such a success that a foreign rights deal has been confirmed with a publisher in China. Jo’s second book, An Entrepreneur’s Guide, was published in March 2007 and her third book, Tales from the Glass Ceiling - A Survival Guide for Women in Business, was published in June 2008 and sold out of its first reprint after 5 days It was best selling business book of the year 2008 selling over 500k copies.
Testimonials from some past clients:-
Jo is a pleasure to work with. She really cares for her clients and works hard to achieve the best results for them. Her energy and enthusiasm are infectious and drive a deal through. She delivers!
Edward Persse. Partner, Irwin Mitchell
I've seen both sides of Jo in action; the authoritative yet motivational speaker, and also the Corporate Financier. In either role she is superb. Her knowledge, coupled with her ability to impart it to others in terms that are easily understood and her practical and pragmatic approach places her in a unique position - an advisor who walks the talk!
Grant Ellis. Executive Chairman, Broker Network Group
Jo is a real "hot-shot" corporate financier and what she doesn't know about deal making............is very little!. She's negotiates strongly to get the best deal for her clients, whilst ensuring a "win-win" position for all parties. As a Vistage and IoD speaker, she's recognised as a leading light in her field and is always engaging to hear and see. She's a polished presenter and she's also great fun to spend time with.”
Paul Luen. MD, Martek Marine Ltd
Jo is providing some independent thinking and challenging our Executive Board along with bringing valuable networking contacts.
Peter Holmes, Anchor Magnets
We engaged Jo as a non-executive director in 2009 with a view to providing us with guidance from a corporate governance perspective and to use her corporate finance expertise to further the growth of our company. It is very evident that she will move us towards our goals very swiftly and far more quickly than had she not become involved. All input has been very positive.
Neil O’Keefe
As a business coach, I often have need to find someone in corporate finance to advise my clients whom I can trust implicitly to do a good job. Jo is just such a person for whom I have the highest regard and who's name is always top of the list when it comes to recommendations.
David Adams. Group chairman, Vistage International
Jo is working with me as a non executive director and has been supportive and highly focussed on a number of key business planning decisions that we have needed to make as the company moves forward. Jo is great fun to work with and her experience is invaluable.
A Davidson MD of Hayes Davidson
From our very first meeting with Jo it was clear that she has immense experience in the selling of owner managed businesses. Jo gained a thorough understanding of our business, the market sector and the acquirer which ensured a professional and competent approach through to completion.
The negotiation process had several areas of contention which required a firm but common sense approach to ensure we were adequately protected from excessive risk and that any unreasonable terms within the sale and purchase agreement were removed. This was achieved to the satisfaction of all parties.
It was a pleasure working with Jo, who fully understood our personal and business requirements and ultimately delivered fully on what we set out to achieve."
The negotiation process had several areas of contention which required a firm but common sense approach to ensure we were adequately protected from excessive risk and that any unreasonable terms within the sale and purchase agreement were removed. This was achieved to the satisfaction of all parties.
It was a pleasure working with Jo, who fully understood our personal and business requirements and ultimately delivered fully on what we set out to achieve."
S Ashton. Hallmark Fire Limited
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