bfinance, the independent investment consultancy, has appointed Mark Brownlie as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), bringing more than 15 years’ experience of accelerating growth and increasing enterprise value for businesses across the financial services, tech and media sectors.
The appointment of a dedicated CFO reflects bfinance’s strong growth in recent years, both in the UK and internationally and the broadening scope of the markets the consultancy covers and the services it provides. Strengthening the finance function will help anchor the firm’s expansion and provide more detailed financial insights and analysis to guide the consultancy’s expansion strategy.
As a finance professional, Brownlie has significant expertise in building and leading financial teams in fast-growth companies and has put in place systems which have contributed directly to the significant growth in value across these businesses. He has also undertaken broader operational responsibilities such as developing system solutions and leading business process reviews for a number of his previous firms, demonstrating his broad skill set and the considerable contribution he has made to these companies.
Brownlie joins bfinance from software business The Foundry, where the turnover more than doubled from GBP15m to GBP35 million and the firm’s enterprise value increased from GBP65 million to GBP200 million over his four years at the company. Prior to this Mark worked at Bigmouth media/LBi, latterly as Group Head of Business Support & Internal Control, where he restructured and created best in class finance teams in both the UK and Germany. Mark joined Bigmouth media/LBi from Giles Insurance Brokers where he held a variety of roles, including leading a transformation of financial controls within the business.
Brownlie is a FCCA qualified accountant and the quality of his work has been recognised in the market and reflected in the industry accolades he has achieved, including BDO’s “Hot 20 FDs in TMT” award in 2013.
Announcing the appointment today, David Vafai, CEO of bfinance, says: “We are delighted to welcome Mark to the team as we continue to move forward in both the UK and internationally, with the recent opening of the office in Australia. Mark’s track record in building robust platforms, both financially and operationally, will prove invaluable in supporting bfinance through its next stage of growth. This appointment, following successive mandate wins, which have further enhanced our already strong network of clients, gives us an excellent platform from which to build on our recent successes and accelerate our expansion.”
Brownlie says: “I am very pleased to be joining bfinance at such an exciting time in the company’s growth. As asset owners continue to seek innovative solutions to help achieve their investment objectives, bfinance continues to uphold its excellent reputation by providing high-calibre and award-winning investment advice to its clients. I look forward to being part of the company’s growth as it continues its geographical expansion and further deepens its market penetration.”
