Board of Directors

Heather Lauder

Heather Lauder

Independent Non-Executive Chair

Date of appointment

February 2020

Experience

Heather was appointed as Non-Executive Director in February 2020 prior to her appointment as Non-Executive Chair. Heather has over 30 years’ experience in senior retail and business banking roles with her most recent role being as Chief Customer Officer at the Co-op Bank. She was also a member of the executive team which oversaw the turnaround of Northern Rock and its sale to Virgin Money. Heather started her career at RBS where she held several global roles. During her career, Heather has won multiple awards as a director and been named as one of the Northern Power Women’s top 50 Power List. She held a Non- Executive Director role at the Financial Ombudsman Service from August 2020 to July 2021.

External appointments

  • Director at National Museums & Galleries of Liverpool – chairs its remuneration committee, having previously chaired both its audit committee and its risk committee for five years.
  • Non-Executive Director at Zurich Assurance Ltd.

Committee memberships

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

James Dow

James Dow

Chief Executive Officer

Date of appointment

Established Dow Schofield Watts in 2002

Experience

James is qualified as both a Chartered Accountant and Cost and Management Accountant. James joined KPMG in 1983 and after qualifying, focused for over 13 years on corporate finance, approximately eight years as a partner leading Corporate Finance in the North West. James was nominated for the North West Insider Top Dealmakers of the last 25 years in October 2019 and is the author of six books focused on private equity, corporate finance, and deal structuring. James is also Chair of Private Equity fund, PHD Industrial Holdings

External appointments

  • Non-executive director of the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts

Nicole Burstow

Nicole Burstow

Chief Financial Officer

Date of appointment

April 2019

Experience

Nicole previously spent 15 years with Deloitte in Manchester. As a Director, she was responsible for leading the audits of some of the region’s largest and most complex international businesses, more recently focusing on listed businesses.  She also played a significant role in growing the North West practice by recruiting and developing talent and expanding the local client base.

External appointments

None

Jill Jonesjill jones

Independent Non-Executive Director

Date of appointment

January 2021

Experience

Jill is a Chartered Accountant, with over 30 years’ experience in the accountancy profession, having qualified with Deloitte, Haskins & Sells. She retired from RSM in 2020 where she was a main board director and acting COO and, since 2013, the North West Regional Managing Partner. Jill is well known and highly regarded within the professional services sector and the North West business community. Her experience in helping to grow and build RSM’s business regionally and nationally will be invaluable in supporting the next stage of our strategic development.

External appointments

  • Non-executive Director of The Liverpool and Merseyside Theatres Trust Limited – Chair of Finance and Risk committee
  • Non-executive Director of Local Solutions
  • Non-executive Director of RHDJ Properties Limited
  • Non-executive Director of Cynergy Business Finance Ltd
  • Governor of Coleg Cambria – Chair of Audit and Risk Committee
  • Member of the Board of Management of Lews Castle College – Chair of Audit and Risk Committee
  • Chester Race Company Limited, co-opted member of Audit Committee

Committee memberships

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

Jon Schofield

jon schofield

Non-Executive Director

Date of appointment

Co-founded Dow Schofield Watts LLP in 2002

Experience

Jon is a chartered accountant and spent 12 years with KPMG before joining an MBO in 1994. After exiting from the buyout, Jon became a partner at Grant Thornton. In 1999 he joined Cammell Laird Holdings Plc as Finance Director and subsequently was appointed Chief Executive before leaving to co-found Dow Schofield Watts. Jon has also been a Non-Executive Chairman of Dee Valley Group Plc, Non-Executive Director and Vice Chairman of The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Non-Executive Director of Atlantic & Peninsula Marine Services.

External appointments

  • Non-executive Director of EA Technology Ltd
  • Non-executive Director of IVCC
  • Non-executive Director of Seddon Group
  • Non-executive Director of Seddon Real Estate Limited
  • Non-executive Director of Liverpool Trekkers Limited

Committee memberships

  • None