Southampton: BOFA International named BDO Mid Market Company of the Year

BOFA International was named Mid Market Company of the Year at BDO LLP’s annual Central South Mid-Market gala dinner at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton.

Celebrating the top-performing mid-sized companies in terms of international activity and profit growth, BDO also recognised talented FDs in the region for the first time. In partnership with CMA Recruitment Group, they named Paul Winter, group finance director at Red Funnel Group, as the first Central South Mid Market FD of the Year.

Attended by more than 150 business leaders and stakeholders, the BDO event, hosted by BBC South Today’s Laura Trant, shone a spotlight on the region’s mid-sized companies including BOFA International, and finalists Sydenhams and Natures Way Foods.

Malcolm Thixton, lead partner at BDO Southampton, said: “Over the last 12 months, businesses in the Central South have continued to achieve great things against a backdrop of economic uncertainty. Selecting the winners was a tough decision again this year, with three excellent finalists from very different industries.

“BOFA performed exceptionally well against our key criteria of leadership and vision, driving innovation and approach to new markets, all leading to sustained growth with great prospects for the future. BOFA has a very clear three-year plan that has been written following sound collaboration and research - and that includes investment in new technologies and a real focus on retaining and rewarding their people that are so key to its success.”

Commenting on the FD of the Year announcement, Thixton said: “Over the last 12 months Paul Winter showed exceptional leadership and passion during a time of significant change for Red Funnel, involving a refinancing and a change of ownership, ensuring the group continued to show impressive financial growth.”

Richard Dibden, commercial director at CMA Recruitment Group, added: “Whilst there can ultimately only be one winner, the calibre of the finance professionals we met was outstanding and their impact, both from a financial and operational perspective has clearly been significant within their respective companies.”

While the potential impact of Brexit was not ignored, the tone of the evening was upbeat, with discussion on continued growth and investment from the three Company of the Year finalists. BDO recognised that a ‘new economy’ for the Central South post-Brexit will be driven by a growing, successful mid-market and bold, entrepreneurial businesses. The firm called for a strong, united business voice to drive change and create an inspiring vision for the region.