Our Board Consists of:
Peter Harry Jay – Executive Chairman (aged 63)
Peter qualified as a solicitor in 1970 and was a partner in Ingledew Brown Bennison & Garrett from 1974 until 1985 when he left to become a founding partner of Stein Swede Jay & Bibring which later became Finers Stephens Innocent. Peter was senior partner of the firm between 1989 and 1992 and in that capacity was responsible for undertaking a number of mergers and acquisitions for the practice.
As a lawyer, Peter has specialised in corporate work and, in particular, on AIM and PLUS Market listings.
Between 2003 and April 2007 Peter was a partner in Beachcroft LLP where he was responsible for building its AIM presence. In April 2007 he retired as a partner and a solicitor and is now a consultant to that firm.
Peter has held a number of directorships with both private and public companies, including Sportingbet plc, Top Ten Holdings plc and is currently non-executive director of YCO-Deuxmil plc and Interactive Publications Plc.
His executive role within the Group will include responsibility for its corporate finance functions.
Graham Read MCIOB, RICS – Group Chief Executive (aged 51)
He started his career in 1976 as a Quantity Surveyor for Taylor Woodrow Construction Limited (“Taylor Woodrow”). By 1986, when he left the company, he had become Commercial Manager for Taylor Woodrow’s management contracting division where his responsibilities included overall cost control for the division.
In 1986 he founded Mountfield as a trade contractor. The company progressed to carry out specialist installations of data centres together with large multi trade package contracts for the major fit out contractors. The company now operates with two dedicated divisions and has achieved turnover of £30million.
Andrew Collins – Executive Director (aged 43)
Andrew’s background is in surveying and he has held a number of senior posts with companies specialising in refurbishing and fast track fit outs. In 1989 he joined ISG Plc, which specialises in commercial fit outs and refurbishment services, as a senior quantity surveyor. When he left the company in 2004 he held the post of divisional financial director.
Andrew became Managing Director of Connaught in June 2004 where he has developed the reputation of the company such that it is now regarded as recognised specialists in the supply and installation of raised access flooring, primarily for commercial offices and Data Centres.
Rakesh Patel, BA Econ, FCCA, CF – Finance Director (aged 44)
Rakesh joined Gerald Edelman, a firm of chartered accountants in London in 1988 and qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant in 1991. In 1992 he formed the corporate finance division, dealing with acquisitions, disposals, mergers, private placings and stock market flotations. Rakesh was involved in advising on the acquisition of Ryman the Stationer and left the firm in 1996 to become Group Financial Controller of Chancerealm Limited, a group including Ryman Limited and Contessa Ladieswear Limited. Rakesh returned to Gerald Edelman in 1997 as a partner to head the firm’s corporate finance division until leaving in March 2003 to join Adler Shine LLP, chartered accountants as a Partner. Rakesh is on the board of two AIM listed investing companies.
The Rt Hon Sir Jeremy Hanley, KCMG – Non-Executive Director (aged 63)
A Chartered Accountant, Sir Jeremy has carried on a wide-ranging commercial life since retiring from politics in 1997. Previously he was Member of Parliament for Richmond & Barnes from 1983-97, and a Government Minister for over 7 years. His posts included: Cabinet Minister without Portfolio whilst Chairman of the Conservative Party, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (responsible for Hong Kong and the Middle East), Minister of State for the Armed Forces at the Ministry of Defence, and Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland as Minister for Health & Social Services, Minister for Agriculture and for Education and Political Development.
He qualified as an FCA (1969), FCCA (1980) and FCIS (1980) and was Senior Lecturer in Law with the Financial Training Co. for 21 years, becoming Deputy Chairman. He now serves on the Boards and Audit Committees of a number of quoted and unquoted companies.
He has been a Privy Counsellor since 1994 and a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael & St George since 1997.