Next and Dixons Carphone finance chiefs scoop major industry awards

NEXT finance director David Keens (pictured) and Dixons Carphone CFO Humphrey Singer were the big winners at the Business Finance Awards 2015.

The awards, organised by Financial Director and held last night in central London, celebrated the efforts and achievements of the UK’s community of FDs and their finance teams.

Keens picked up the Lifetime Achievement Award for his efforts with Next over a 29-year period. During that time the retailer went from near collapse to become a sector-leading performer, currently with a market capitalisation of £11.5bn.

Financial Director editor Kevin Reed said that Keens is “an unassuming character who, along with other Next board members, have let their results do the talking”. “A constant focus on cash management and return on capital have helped drive Next to enormous success in what are extremely tough times for retailers. David sits at the heart of that success.”

Humphrey Singer scooped FTSE 100 FD of the Year, after helping convince investors about the virtues of bringing together Dixons and Carphone Warehouse to create a £10bn business with 40,000 employees.

“The analysts that we at Financial Director spoke to were effusive about Singer’s integral role in driving together two of the biggest businesses in the UK, and explaining the deal’s virtues,” said Reed.

Other winners on the night included National Express (Annual Report-Business), Crossrail (Finance Team of the Year – public sector & voluntary) and Halfords (Finance Team of the Year – blue chip).

Click here to see all the winners