MEET THE TEAM

ALAN MARKS

Managing Director

Alan has over 35 years’ experience of advising Owner Directors and Entrepreneurs in both financial and business services matters offering both personal and corporate advice in both NED and quasi NED roles.  He has personally been involved in the building and selling of four financial services companies, (prior to his work at the Harrison Spence) and has also worked with many professional advisors to assist them and their clients. 

In 2005, he took up the role of Group Managing Director of the Attention to Finance Group which was a Financial Management group incorporating Accountancy Services, Corporate Finance and Wealth Management.  In 2007 he was awarded the Managing Partner of the Year for his work within the ATF Group.  In 2008 the Group was winner of most Innovative Practice of the Year and Runners up in The Best Managed Firm. In 2010, having seen a substantial increase in both turn over and profits, and having taken the Group as far as he felt he could Alan stepped down from his role.

He has since this time worked with the Harrison Spence to assist clients in areas of best business practice and performance as well as preparation for the M&A market and in advising companies on sale and purchases. He has also assisted in a number of valuations of IFA businesses for fund raising, internal sales and for matrimonial cases

In addition he has worked for a number of individual clients in various industries including, food manufacture, travel, on-line service providers, and fashion, as a consultant and NED.

His preferred area of management expertise is in the areas of Change Management and Strategic Planning, working with the Stakeholders to motivate employees at all levels, raising company profile, increasing productivity, increasing profits, mentoring individuals, valuing and preparing businesses for sale.

Alan has spoken at a number of international accountancy conferences on best business practices.

 

 

LAURA SHERWOOD

The Real Boss

Laura has worked alongside Alan since 1998 through the numerous companies and positions he has had and as the expression goes, behind every successful Man is the Woman who is Relentless!

If you want to speak to the real boss, ask for Laura, she will get the matter sorted and done.

She is a fully qualified Adviser and Personal Assistant and has tackled roles as diverse as an Office Manager and HR.

Her passions outside of the office are her beloved Tottenham Hotspur and her family.

CLAYTON WITTER

Director of Consultancy Services

Clayton has over 25 years senior executive experience covering the retail, consumer products and manufacturing sectors which include 7 years as Managing director developing a £315m turnover market leading consumer product business Clayton’s achievements during this period were:

  • Growing company sales from £135m to £315m.
  • Increasing PBT from £3.8m to £35.4m.
  • Achieving over 50% improvement in stock turn.
  • Growing retail sales across all major retail distribution channels.
  • Growing brand sales to becoming one of the largest consumer product brands in the UK.

Clayton has worked extensively across Europe, Turkey and the Far East and in addition to a successful executive career is also a qualified executive coach, Myers Briggs practitioner and a member of the Academy of executive coaching. He also runs a successful consultancy which helps organisations to grow their sales and profitability and executives to achieve their true potential. Recent projects have included an 11 month contract for a €4bn multinational group developing and implementing business growth strategies across Europe which resulted in improved profitability and sales growth of between 10-20% in markets which are currently experiencing static or negative growth.

Clayton is an executive of integrity with a passion for excellence, with business experience that includes strategic Planning, business development, sales, product development, business operations and turn around, commercial management, marketing and supply chain management. He has been described as an inspirational people manager known for providing hands-on coaching and training, with a proven track record of creating challenging and learning work environments with a customer and market focused culture.

Clayton joined the team at Harrison Spence in 2013 and since 2015 has been in charge of the Consultancy team within the company.

 

MATTHEW MILLS

Director of Digital Engagement & Communications

Dr Matthew Mills has been and IFA and Fund Manager for over 20 years. His is widely regarded as an industry innovator and provocateur. In 2012 Matthew established Higgs Boson Consultants, introducing a unique, digitally engaged paradigm for financial advice delivery. Two advisers and one administrator were enabled to grow funds under management from £8M to over £120M in just over 5 years. Using the experiences gained in his time at HBC, Matthew consults for us on systems and processes, the financial advice processes, complete digital engagement services, client experience, and communication strategies. He is most happy when working with clients who wish to embrace the opportunities that today’s technology facilitates, especially allowing them to spend their time doing what they really want rather than administration and non-productive work.

BOB ANDREWS

Independent Consultant

Bob has 35 years’ experience in the Insurance Industry and has built and sold 3 Online Insurance businesses.

He is a specialist in SEO and Email Marketing and assists companies that wish to develop an income from  General Insurance Businesses by partnering with a provider who will take care of all of the administration. He also assists companies that wish to dispose of General Insurance books of business.

 

HENRY MARKS

Crossed the Rainbow Bridge & Retired

After a unexpected and rare illness unfortunately our beloved Henry crossed the Rainbow Bridge on March 4th.
He really did love to come to the offices and to meet so many of our clients and we are sure that many of you will
miss him when visiting in the future. He was always a part of the team and we like to thank those of you who have
contacted us for your kind words. We are sure his spirit will live on in our newest team member Leo.

 

 

LEO & HENRY

NEW & OLD GUARD TOGETHER

Leo is seen here receiving instruction from Henry on the essentials of calmness. Henry is hoping that Leo can bring as much much joy and happiness to everyone in the same way he did.

 

LEO MARKS

NEW RECRUIT

Leo Joined Harrison Spence in  2020 and is now settling in quite nicely. Although he hasn’t had the opportunity of meeting any clients yet, he  is very much looking forward to doing so. 
He knows he has a tough act to follow in Henry who has left him many useful tips including how to extract biscuits from visitors  

 

 

Above is our core team, but we also have an amazing extended team of people who are also happy to help our clients in any way they can.

GET IN TOUCH

13 + 6 =

Harrison Spence Limited
Lincombe Keep
Lincome Drive
Torquay
TQ1 2HQ

 

Standard Office Hours
Monday to Friday 9.00am-5.00pm
(outside of these hours by arrangement)
We are happy to schedule calls at a time to suit you  from 8.00am to 8.00pm
Face to Face meetings can be arranged at a location convenient  to suit your needs.