New group finance director for Danbro

Noted Lancashire ‘deal maker’ Rob Kenmare has been appointed group finance director of Lytham-based Danbro Accounting, one of the fastest growing accountancy service providers in the UK.

The move underlines Danbro managing director Damian Broughton’s determination to double the company’s client base and turnover over the next four years.

Broughton announced his ‘2020 Vision’ shortly after moving into the 60,000 sq ft Jubilee House, on the edge of Lytham Green, Lancashire, earlier this year.

Danbro is poised to make the most of opportunities presented by the challenges of proposed legislative changes. The group offer specialist umbrella, accountancy, business and financial services.

Damian said: “We started our five year plan last year with the intention of getting the company up to £500m turnover; grow our workforce to 300-350 and almost double clients from 8000 to 15,000.

“Rob joined us in November 2013 as group development director. He is an adept strategist. He has helped with a key acquisition that has enabled us to have a fully operational London base in addition to our office in the City which regularly hosts trade events.

“We believe wholeheartedly in the Northern Powerhouse but we must have a presence in the London area to serve the high volume of clients that we have in the southern counties.

“Rob helped us secure that. He is a strategic thinker; he makes considered decisions, and has a good sense of perspective.”

Rob said: “Much of my work on strategic development and acquisitions has involved working closely with the financial function so this is a natural progression. We now have some idea of how proposed legislative changes in our market place will affect us and what our response will be. The industry needs to concur on the best way to provide services for recruitment agencies and end users.

“It is our ambition to grow the business – right across the group. The contractor market or contingent workforce is here to stay and will continue to grow and need us. We will continue to ensure we grow the business, products and services, in the right way for our customers and staff. “

Rob was born in Blackpool and grew up in Fleetwood, where he attended Rossall School before studying economics with accountancy at Loughborough University.

He qualified as a chartered accountant with Ernst & Young in 1996. He spent 15 years in merger and acquisitions initially at Ernst & Young and then Moore and Smalley where he became a partner before becoming a director at Barclays Corporate.

He’s won Insider Lancashire’s ‘Dealmaker’ award three times and advised a wide range of businesses in and around the North West.

The keen sportsman concludes: “My dream job was professional sportsman – but this is the next best thing. And the dynamic nature of the company means that every day is different.” Rob’s appointment comes days after the announcement of Katie Allen’s promotion to group operations director two years after joining the company as a ‘temp’. Katie was born in Wigan, grew up in Wrea Green and attended Carr Hill, Kirkham.