Philip White

Philip White – IFT Accredited Member 

If you want a parachute CFO in the North, choose Phil!

Phil is a Cambridge graduate catalyst CFO with 25 years Board and Executive experience, helping transform diverse and highly challenged or ambitious mid-cap businesses of up to £400m turnover.  

Raising finance, re-fi, and delivering short and medium-term sustained step-change have become increasingly key in Phil's roles over the last 10 years.

Leading through Finance as well as IT, logistics and HR, Phil's experience covers PE/VC-backed, plc, OMB UK-based multi-site and international Groups. Wide sector coverage of manufacturing, engineering, automotive, B2B and B2C services, household equipment, fmcg, supply chain, mining, property, energy, pharmaceutical and health services. 

All stages of M&A, PE-backed turnaround and exit covered many times, delivering step change in mainly in interim and interim to perm roles.

Phil joined Carclo plc as Interim CFO in December 2020 and was appointed perm CFO from 1 March 2021. Phil Chairs the IFT NE Region since 2020.

 Phil's first FD brief at Wella to "move minor mountains without causing earthquakes" typifies his style and achievements throughout, bringing rapid and sustained business change and improvement, while building cohesion in his management and functional teams. 

Phil supported Endless LLP at Andrew Page (£180m car parts group) in 2014, was made Interim CFO, leading a £40m re-fi, stabilising the finance function and profitability.

In March 2015 Phil  joined Ultra Finishing Group (Bathroom Equipment) in Burnley as FD to turning £11m losses to achieve budget target £4m ebitda, brought the Group out of RBS restructuring division, re-fi'd with Bank Leumi on enhanced £17m facilities, sold the HQ and relocated to a single site.  

From here in 2016, Phil moved to the prestigious Sheffield Forgemasters International Ltd Group as Interim CFO at a point of financial dysfunction, distress and £7m losses and has led the turnaround hitting financial targets every month despite a 10% sales shortfall to date.  Earlier in 2013, Phil completed Jacuzzi plc's bathroom sector turnaround and exit from £8m loss to ebitda profit and sale exit between 2010 and 2013. Phil moved to Ark Home Healthcare as CFO raising £4m new funding and maximum RGF grants to close London HQ and south-east branch networks and relocate the business into Sheffield. 

Previously in 2010, Phil helped secure loss-making £80m bus maker Optare plc’s future, leading DD liaison with Ashok Leyland through to 25% investment and subsequent control.

World-class general management trained with Glaxo for 4 years, followed by fmcg FD appointments with Wella in 1993, and Tetrosyl in 1996, joining Unipart as Railpart FD for 8 years, leading Finance, Warehouse and Distribution.

 At UK Coal plc 2006-2008, he re-defined the Group into 4 separately financeable sectors, transformed the balance sheet revaluing property, adding £214m to reported net assets and £48m to profit, with a quadrupling of the share price, moving UK Coal into the FTSE 250.

Phil is based in Halifax with wife, Liz and three adult children, and enjoys fell-running and following FC Halifax Town.