Autonomy’s Sushovan Hussain crowned ‘FD of the Year’

Sushovan Hussain, Chief Finance Officer of Autonomy - the UK’s largest listed software developer - was crowned Finance Director of the Year at last night’s (12 May) FDs’ Excellence Awards.

Held in association with the ICAEW and supported by the CBI and Real Business magazine, the awards recognise the best-performing FDs from public and privately owned companies in the UK.

Hussain, who was appointed to the CFO role in 2001, beat off competition from BAE Systems’ George Rose and Imperial Tobacco’s Robert Dyrbus to win the FTSE 100 category, as well as being crowned ‘FDs’ FD of the Year’. The award was sponsored by Lombard Services.

Cambridge-based Autonomy, whose software enables customers to search e-mails, telephone conversations and documents to retrieve data, recently announced record first quarter revenues of £126.1m, up 50 per cent on the previous year, as well as record profits. In February, it successfully raised £500m to fund acquisitions through a convertible bond issue.

One member of the FDs’ judging academy said: “Sushovan has all the attributes of a great FD from a FTSE 100 company. Not only does he show strength within the core financial areas; he is also dynamic and able to see where there are genuine business opportunities. Understanding the whole business is very important in difficult market conditions.”

Other winners were:

• FTSE 250 FD of the Year (sponsored by Lombard Services) – David MacFarlane, Dana Petroleum
• FD of the Year Outside the FTSE 350 (sponsored by RBS) - John Stchur, Asterand
• Young FD of the Year (sponsored by Lloyds Banking Group) - Marc Bradley, Westbury Street Holdings
• Private Company FD of the Year - Stephen Morana, Betfair

As well as recognising individuals, the awards also champion the service providers that support Britain's finance community. This year, over 1,000 votes were cast in the FDs' Survey to determine the UK's best Big Six and Mid-tier auditor, relationship bank, law firm and technology provider.

Winners were:

• Auditor of the Year (Large Six) – Grant Thornton
• Auditor of the Year (Mid Tier) - Horwath Clark Whitehill
• Bank of the Year - Lloyds TSB
• Legal Firm of the Year - Trowers & Hamlins
• Technology Firm of the Year – Blackberry/Research in Motion

The ICAEW ‘Inspiring Confidence in the Community Award’ was presented to Jeremy Cox of Coventry Building Society, while the ICAEW Inspiring Confidence in Business Award went to Suzanne Baxter of MITIE Group.

Former winners of the awards include Darren Shapland, CFO at Sainsbury’s – also a judge in 2010 - and Melissa Foux of Gu Puds, which was acquired by Noble Foods in January for a reported £35m.

Michael Izza, CEO of the ICAEW, said: “This year’s awards follow a tumultuous 12 months, during which the skills and judgment of financial directors across UK companies of all sizes and in all sectors have been put to the test.

“These are extremely exciting times for the profession and we’re now looking forward to seeing the winners of this year’s awards take on wider and deeper leadership roles within business in 2010.”

Helen Alexander, President of the CBI, added: “This year’s exceptional shortlist indicates the depth and breadth of financial talent here in the UK. It’s vital that we celebrate these sometimes unsung heroes of business as they will play a crucial role in helping companies recover from the downturn.”

The winners of the FDs’ Excellence Awards were announced at a high-profile event hosted by Michael Portillo on 12 May 2010 at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square.