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Rob Crossland, CEO of Optionis Group, a freelancer and SME services company headquartered in Warrington, has been named CEO of the Year for the North West by the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA).
The impressive performance of the company over the past 12 months under Mr Crossland’s leadership was commended by the judges as part of the BVCA Management Team Awards.
These awards, produced in association with Grant Thornton UK LLP, are designed to recognise and celebrate the achievements of the UK’s leading businesses backed by private equity and venture capital.
Optionis is backed by MML Capital Partners and specialises in providing tax, employment, accountancy and legislative compliance solutions to freelancers, contractors, small businesses and recruitment firms.
The group employs more than 300 office-based staff across seven UK sites, and is home to three market-leading companies – Parasol, ClearSky Contractor Accounting and ClearSky Business. Group turnover for 2013/14 was £316m.
Mr Crossland joins seven other winners from the North West final. All are now automatically entered into the national contest, the results of which will be announced at a ceremony in London on 25 June.
Matthew Bryden-Smith, a director in the corporate finance team at business advisers Grant Thornton, commented: “One of the reasons the North is richly endowed with private equity and venture capital is the quality of the business leadership across the region. The dynamism, and the ability to make a difference, is reflected in these awards and we congratulate all the leaders acknowledged this year.”
The full list of winners for the North West BVCA Management Team Awards:
Large Buyout Private Equity-backed Management Team of the Year - Innovia Group
Mid Market Private Equity-backed Management Team of the Year - Character World
Venture Capital-backed Management Team of the Year - Tyres on the Drive
International Impact Management Team of the Year - Travel Counsellors
Exit Management Team of the Year - Metronet (UK)
Community & Environmental Action Award - MoneyPlus Group
Best for Innovation - Epistem
CEO of the Year - Rob Crossland, Optionis Group