Grant Thornton Partner Emma Stoddart joins West Wallasey

Vehicle lease company West Wallasey has appointed Emma Stoddart as its new Chief Financial Officer. Stoddart arrives after a two-decade spell with Grant Thornton, where she was a Partner.

With the automotive sector facing an increasingly difficult road ahead, companies in the market are increasingly hard pressed to find new ways to improve their bottom lines. Sweeping changes including interconnectivity and self-driving vehicles look set to shift how historic companies operate – in manufacturing, sales and leasing. In the UK in particular, the pressure is on for firms looking to find ways to improve their value creation.

Founded in 1974, West Wallasey provides rental solutions for both cars and commercial vehicles including specialist and bespoke requirements. Based in Wallasey, Merseyside, the firm now has a fleet of circa 14,000 vehicles and has over 250 employees.

As the firm looks to prepare for a complex future, West Wallasey has appointed Emma Stoddart as its new Chief Financial Officer. Stoddart brings more than two decades of experience to the role, and will be responsible for managing the financial actions of the company. Her duties will include tracking cash flow and financial planning as well as analysing the company's financial strengths and weaknesses and proposing corrective actions.

Stoddart was previously a Partner at Grant Thornton, where she spent 21 years of her career. During her time with the professional services firm, Stoddart specialised in working with growing owner-managed businesses. She is also a Director on the boards of local business organisation Professional Liverpool, and the University of Liverpool Management School Advisory Board, where she brings her relevant experience to ensure the students and future professionals at the Management School benefit from the experience of local businesses.

In one endorsement on Stoddart’s LinkedIn profile, former Grant Thornton Senior Business Development Manager Louise Garforth said, “What makes Louise so successful is her ability to see a connection that other don’t readily see, spotting valuable opportunities for others. She builds long standing relationships based on amazing rapport, super organisation skills and regularly keeping in touch.”