Francis Small

Background

About Francis Small

Francis Small is an experienced Chair and Committee Chair with extensive board leadership across AIM-listed technology companies and major financial institutions. Francis combines deep governance expertise with a distinguished executive career as Senior Partner and Global Head of Corporate Finance at Ernst & Young, delivering significant value creation and strategic transformation.Non-executive Experience*Nexteq plc (£60M market cap): Chair*1Spatial plc (£90M market cap): SID, Chair of Audit & Risk Committee and Chair of RemCo*British Business Investments: Chair & previously Chair of Audit & Risk Committee*Kingston University: Chair of Board of Governors & previously Chair of Finance CommitteeExecutive Experience with Ernst & Young*EY Global Head of Transaction Advisory Services & member of Global Board, responsible for establishing and growing new global service line*EY European Head, Transaction Advisory Services: delivered 28% UK revenue growth and 50% profit increase across $800M business*EY Senior Partner, International Clients: delivered revenue growth from £350M to £475M over three years*EY Global Leader, Sovereign Wealth Funds: built relationships across Middle East, achieving over 50% revenue growth over two yearsKey StrengthsBoard & Committee leadershipStrategic transformation and turnaround leadershipM & A expertiseExecutive mentoring and talent developmentWhat I Bring to the Board* Clarity, Calmness and Perspective to complex discussions and periods of change* I'm a supportive challenger, who brings sound judgement, emotional intelligence and the confidence to ask the difficult questions in a constructive way* I'm commercial, thoughtful, positive and pragmatic, with a values-driven approach to decision-makingProfessional ContextTechnology, financial services, professional services sectors; listed companies; international markets; M&A; Audit & Risk; ICAEW Fellow; Cambridge Law graduate