Board of Directors

Heather Lauder

Independent Non-Executive Chair

Date of appointment

February 2020

Experience

Heather was appointed as Non-Executive Chair in December 2021, prior to that she was Non-Executive Director since February 2020. Heather has over 35 years’ experience in Board and Executive level business and retail banking roles in a number of organisations including Co-op, Tesco, Virgin, Northern Rock and NatWest Banks where she was focused latterly on wholesale transformation. Over the last 8 years she has held a number of Non-Executive Director roles at Zurich Assurance, Legal and General Finance Plc, The Financial Ombudsman Service and the National Museums and Galleries of Liverpool. During her career, Heather has won multiple awards including Northern Power Women’s Top 50 Power List.

External appointments

• Non-Executive Director on Board, Remuneration & Nominations committee, and Risk & Audit committee for Zurich Assurance Ltd
• Non-Executive Director on Independent Governance Committee for Workplace Pension contracts for Legal & General Finance plc.

Committee memberships

• Remuneration and Nomination committee (Chair)
• Audit and Risk committee

Shrutisha Morris

Chief Executive Officer

Date of appointment

April 2025

Experience

Shru is a qualified accountant, having spent eight years at Bowmans and Baker Tilly (now part of RSM) at the start of her career. She spent seven years at the law firm Napthens, joining as FD in 2014 before being appointed CEO in 2017. During her tenure, she was responsible for setting the firm’s overall growth strategy, helping to increase revenue and profitability, strategic recruitment, increasing the firm’s profile nationally and expanding the firm’s services both organically and through acquisitions. Most recently, Shru was CFO at Pick Everard, a national multi-disciplinary consultancy working within the property, infrastructure and construction industry, where she was responsible for working with stakeholders across the group to drive change, business performance, and financial governance. As CEO of DSW Capital, Shru’s role is to lead in the growth, leadership and future development of the Group.

External appointments

• None

James Dow

Founder, Executive Director

Date of appointment

Established Dow Schofield Watts in 2002

Experience

James is a Chartered Accountant who began his professional services career in 1983 at KPMG. After 8 years as a corporate finance advisory partner he left to establish Dow Schofield Watts in 2002. James led DSW Capital from its inception, through the introduction to AIM in December 2021 and remained as CEO until April 2025. He is also Chair of licensee, PHD Industrial Holdings Limited, and has established two private equity funds on behalf of PHD. He is involved in attracting new businesses and partners to the Network and providing strategic counsel to the management team.

External appointments

• None

Pete Fendall

Chief Finance and Operating Officer

Date of appointment

November 2024

Experience

Pete is a Chartered Accountant who previously spent eight years at Deloitte in the North West Audit & Assurance team, working on large and complex audit engagements whilst also being actively involved in Accounting Advisory and Reporting Accountant projects. He joined DSW in September 2021 to help deliver the IPO and, since then, has led several initiatives to enhance the Group’s unique licensee platform model and actively engages with licensees to help them identify ways in which DSW can add value and support their growth ambitions. His most recent projects include the development of the Group’s ESG strategy and recruiting new teams and individuals into the DSW Network.

External appointments

• Non-Executive Director for the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts
• Network Board Member for ICAEW Manchester