Richard Austin appointed as BDO’s head of manufacturing
Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO has announced the appointment of Richard Austin as the firm’s new national head of manufacturing.
Richard takes the reins from Tom Lawton who is stepping down after 13 years in the role ahead of his retirement in December.
Richard is head of corporate advisory services at BDO and has over 25 years’ experience in supporting businesses to improve their operational performance both in the UK and internationally. Richard’s experience spans roles in management, consulting and private equity. He has supported businesses across the globe including in Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Americas.
In particular, Richard has extensive experience in supporting manufacturing and industrial businesses to deliver EBITDA and cash improvement throughout their supply chain including in the automotive, aerospace & defence, FMCG, chemicals and pharmaceuticals sectors. He supports clients to achieve their growth and profitability aspirations having successfully implemented mergers and acquisitions, performance improvement and transformation programmes to deliver sustainable change.
In his role as national head of manufacturing, Richard will be responsible for driving the firm’s manufacturing sector strategy, working closely with clients as well as BDO’s national and global manufacturing networks to understand key industry trends and how to support clients to effectively respond.
Commenting on his appointment, Richard said: “I’m thrilled to be taking on this role at a critical time for the sector. Many manufacturers have responded swiftly to the challenges of Covid-19, taking difficult decisions in order to shore up their balance sheets and build resilience. New challenges lie ahead, notably the adoption of greater digital transformation to boost productivity and improve competitiveness on the international stage. I look forward to supporting our manufacturing clients through this difficult period, and I am convinced that once the immediate challenges of Covid and Brexit are behind us, the sector can begin to look to the future with some certainty, confidence and optimism.”
Paul Eagland, managing partner at BDO said: “BDO has always been a strong advocate for the UK manufacturing sector and I’m delighted that Richard has agreed to take on this important position. He will be a vocal champion for the sector and play a vital role in ensuring our teams do all they can to help our manufacturing clients succeed.”