Ben Dawson joins BDO as Director
Professional services firm BDO has bolstered its M&A team with the appointment of Ben Dawson. Arriving as Director, Dawson will help businesses across the Midlands weigh up and finance deals that will help them adapt their offerings, amid the recession.
Roger Buckley, corporate finance partner at BDO in the Midlands, said, “We’re delighted to welcome Ben to the team – someone who has vast experience and a depth of understanding of the Midlands corporate finance market that adds real strength to our proposition.”
As the UK faces the longest downturn of any advanced economy, regional businesses must find alternative ways to secure financial stability, and diversify their offering. In this context, acquisitions and mergers will provide a crucial outlet, allowing them to pivot to new areas of demand. As investor cash continues to follow fast-growth and scalable businesses, with a strong ambition and clear strategic intention, businesses are increasingly turning to consultants to help attract investors to that end.
According to BDO’s recent Rethinking the Economy survey, nearly a third of Midlands businesses intend to take on additional private equity funding and growth capital in the next 18 months. In the last three to six months, 64% of regional businesses have changed their approach to raising finance, with 14% seeking funding earlier than planned to support growth strategies.
In his new role with BDO, Ben Dawson will be responsible for supporting business owners and management teams in the East Midlands on mergers and acquisitions. This will include raising capital, as well as designing and delivering successful, value maximising exit strategies.
Dawson commented, “The East Midlands is a vibrant and diversified regional economy, with strong long-term growth prospects, but remains somewhat underserved in terms of M&A advisory services. BDO is a strong, forward-thinking brand, with a full-service offering, deep sector insight, and a global reach that positions it perfectly for this market, creating a highly exciting opportunity. I look forward to leveraging the breadth of my experience, including the insight gleaned from seeing transactions through the lens of funder, investor and strategic acquirer, to deliver great outcomes for businesses in the East Midlands and beyond.”
As a qualified chartered accountant, Dawson arrives from Ideagen – a fast-growing, PE-backed, global software business, where he had responsibility for leading its M&A growth strategy. He brings 16 years of experience to BDO, having worked in the Midlands corporate finance market in a variety of roles, including at KPMG, Natwest, and Foresight Group, where he led and managed several investments in regional SMEs.
“This is an excellent time to join BDO,” Dawson added. “The firm is investing significantly in the East Midlands, with a new office opening and several recent senior hires and promotions. The M&A team has an established pipeline of opportunities in the region, which I look forward to helping to develop over the coming months.”
