Dave Evans
Loughborough,Please select...
Summary
Accomplished professional with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning and digital strategy across B2B, B2C and B2B2C business models.
Demonstrates exceptional skills in business development, strategic planning, board leadership, and investor relationships across PE and PLC ownership structures
Recognised for leadership excellence and a proven track record of driving organisational growth and success.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Chief Executive Officer
Highbourne Group
Northampton, Northamptonshire
2021.09 - 2026.03
- CEO of the Highbourne Group, a standalone business under PE ownership, employing c.3000 colleagues with a turnover of £1.5bn, operating from 370 branches across the UK and Ireland comprised of the City Plumbing, Plumbworld, PTS, Direct Heating Spares, Underfloor Heating Store and National Shower Spares trading brands.
- Successfully delivered the carve out of the P&H division from Travis Perkins in 2021, to create the Highbourne Group alongside the required standalone entity disciplines and structures.
- Completed the £100m acquisition of Plumbworld, leading to £10m+ operating profit synergies.
- Upgraded the leadership team to bring complementary experiences from inside and outside the industry, aligned to driving culture and value across the Group.
- Took Group EBITDA returns to over 5% for the first time, taking Group market shares above 25%.
- Delivered significant strategic growth by expanding the proposition into adjacent markets, such as Industrial products and customers, building an Electrical and Renewable category proposition, and investing into digital tools and AI technologies.
- As markets tightened renewed focus on cash, cost and margin improvement initiatives such as GNFR, COGS reductions and warehouse consolidations, reducing central overheads by 25% and improving working capital by 20%.
Managing Director
Plumbing and Heating Division, Travis Perkins
Northampton, Northamptonshire
2020.10 - 2021.09
- Lead responsibility for performance of the P&H Division of Travis Perkins, reporting to the CEO as part of the Travis Perkins Executive Committee
- Successfully led the carve out of the P&H division, and the sale process that concluded with the business being acquired by HIG Capital for £325m.
- Led the business out of through the post Covid era, with the gradual removal of trading restrictions and the re-establishment of normal market conditions
- Established the leadership team, equity incentives and the mission/purpose/values of the proposed standalone entity.
Deputy CEO and CFO
Plumbing and Heating Division, Travis Perkins
Northampton, Northamptonshire
2019.03 - 2020.10
- Accountability for the finance function, property and digital business performance within the P&H division.
- Led the ultimately unsuccessful sale process of the P&H division, including the creation and delivery of the IM, business plans, VDD work and potential investor presentations.
- Led the first phase of the carve out from Travis Perkins, including the separation of supply chain, balance sheet and the creation of a standalone finance system and ledger
- Managed the business Cashflow position, within the Group, during the Covid pandemic, with revenue movements highly volatile
- Drove several cost efficiency programmes, including branch network planning, to reset the business, delivering more than £10m profit improvement.
Senior Finance Roles
Travis Perkins
Northampton, Northamptonshire
2013.09 - 2019.02
- Senior finance leadership of the General Merchant, Toolstation and Plumbing and Heating divisions of Travis Perkins
- Establishing a forward looking finance function across, delivering value creating, business partnering, strategic support to dovetail with the traditional merchanting operating model.
- Moved the General Merchant division from £120m to £190m (2013-2016) and the P&H division from £15m to £30m (2017 to 2019)
- Led the Toolstation business case for its expansion into Holland, France and the potential for it to move Global.
Senior Finance Roles
Coles Supermarkets
Melbourne, Australia
2011.01 - 2013.08
- Relocated to Australia to be part of the Coles turnaround team following its acquisition by Wesfarmers
- Roles included finance support to the largest part of the Supermarket trading team (Grocery products), emergency support to the Liquor business following a poor system implementation and Commercial Finance Director providing strategic and operational support to the trading teams including weekly trading, price management, range expansions and investment projects.
Finance and Marketing Roles
Alliance Boots
Nottingham
1998.10 - 2010.12
- Various finance roles including Finance Director - Ireland (Standalone role based in Dublin during the GFC), Head of Stores Finance (focused on bringing together the branch network post the Alliance Unichem and Boots the Chemist merger), Regional Finance Manager (Commercial support to 200 branches), Planning and Systems Manager (Implemented Cognos planning)
- Initial role worked with Advantage Card data as part of the Marketing team
Quantity Surveyor
AMEC Construction
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
1992.10 - 1998.09
Education
ACMA -
CIMA
UK 2003.09 -
Bachelor of Science - Commercial Management and Quantity Surveying
Loughborough University
Loughborough 1992.09 - 1996.06
Skills
- Mergers and acquisitions strategy
- Strategic planning software
- E-Commerce strategy
- Business development
- Strategic planning
- Board leadership
- Investor relationships
- Leadership excellence
Affiliations
- Enjoys the odd round of golf, regular running as exercise and time in Spain with family and friends
Accomplishments
Captained several senior representative rugby teams before a brief coaching career
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Chief Executive Officer
Highbourne Group
2021.09 - 2026.03
Managing Director
Plumbing and Heating Division, Travis Perkins
2020.10 - 2021.09
Deputy CEO and CFO
Plumbing and Heating Division, Travis Perkins
2019.03 - 2020.10
Senior Finance Roles
Travis Perkins
2013.09 - 2019.02
Senior Finance Roles
Coles Supermarkets
2011.01 - 2013.08
ACMA -
CIMA
2003.09 -
Finance and Marketing Roles
Alliance Boots
1998.10 - 2010.12
Quantity Surveyor
AMEC Construction
1992.10 - 1998.09
Bachelor of Science - Commercial Management and Quantity Surveying
Loughborough University
1992.09 - 1996.06