Global CFO Excellence Awards 2020

6 Acquisition International - Global CFO Excellence Awards 2020 Mar20406 Best Butchery Equipment CFO 2020: Martin Hughes Based in Newport, South Wales, Atlantic Service Company has been manufacturing butchery equipment since 1901. Fresh from his success in the Global CFO Excellence Awards 2020, we got in touch with Martin Hughes to find out more. rom humble beginnings, producing its first products in a dark and dusty workshop in Brooklyn, New York, and delivering to customers by bicycle or on foot, Atlantic Service Company has grown to become a global leader in butchery equipment. To start, Martin offers more insight into the firm’s primary line of work and its client base. “Atlantic Service Company is a premier bandsaw blade producer, supplying throughout the United Kingdom, as well as to more than 50 international destinations around the world. Typically, we work with all types of clients, from top-end distributors to your local butcher. We are enormously proud of the markets we serve and are always looking to provide our customers with the best products and services in the market.” With a dedicated team who are committed to the company vision, the business has to ensure the products they are producing are of the highest order as Martin goes on to explain. “To make sure every aspect is considered we use a system called Strategy Deployment and continuously work on it throughout the year, making sure the goals we set are aligned with our customers and employees.” Predominately working in finance, Martin started his career at The Royal Mint in Llantrisant as a graduate, learning the manufacturing ropes and developing his experiences in a global organisation. Prior to that, working in family businesses, he has performed most of the roles you could think of. Moreover, as Martin goes on to explain, by working in a variety of roles he has developed a greater understanding of what it takes to succeed. “Working in small family businesses has given me a great grounding and helped to shape my understanding of the sacrifices required in order to be successful.” After The Royal Mint, Martin went back to South Africa to work in the family business, gaining an appreciation for private equity and deal making as he further explains. “Working on several funding projects, I found there was an incredible need to be able to absorb information quickly, perform research and provide feedback in terms of modelling and potential returns.” Returning to the UK, after a further short period at The Royal Mint, Martin joined an aerospace company in Cheltenham. Martin believes that deputising for the Financial Controller while she was on maternity leave gave him the confidence to step up to his current role, that of CFO at Atlantic Service Company. “It was an incredible place to work with people always around to offer guidance and support. Stepping up to the role of Financial Controller was a real eye opener in terms of workload and the demands of the job, but having proved myself there it was time to move on to a new challenge at Atlantic Service, where I find myself today.” F Since joining Atlantic Service, Martin has found ensuring that crystal clear communication amongst colleagues is vital, with people at all levels having an input on business matters. “As CFO, I like to engage with people in my organisation to hear what they have to say about different topics. I do not have all the answers, so it is imperative that everyone feels empowered to speak up if they feel something is not right, or they have a better way of doing things. I really like people to have an input into how we run the organisation.” Looking ahead to the future of Atlantic Service, Martin is keen to see the business moving forward, and he insists they cannot afford to stand still if they are to remain a global leader in the manufacturing of butchery equipment. “Hopefully, we will continue to thrive like we have done so over the last five years. However, we should always be looking to improve what we do and how we do it to remain a serious market player. On a personal level, my main goal is to keep improving as a leader and a professional.” Coming up to his fourth anniversary at Atlantic Service, Martin concludes with a bit of advice with those looking to emulate his success as a CFO. “This is a great industry to be in and really as a CFO, you need to understand your business and the market it operates in while adding value. So never accepting the norm and always trying to improve everything will stand you in good stead.” Company Name: Atlantic Service Co. (UK) Ltd Contact Name: Martin Hughes Telephone Number: 01495 246012 Address: Unit 4, Willow Rd, Pen-Y-Fan Industrial Estate, Crumlin, NP11 4EG Web Address: www.atlantic-service.co.uk