Gavin Manson has spent his career in finance leadership roles implementing strategic change and turnaround in businesses across sectors. Having filled CFO roles in UK and international businesses, from FTSE 250 to privately held, he is now Chief Financial and Operating Officer of Electra Private Equity PLC.
Electra is an LSE investment company that focuses on sustainable value creation in controlled corporate investments. The portfolio now includes TGI Fridays, Hotter Shoes and Sentinel Performance Solutions. Gavin is on the board of each of the firm’s portfolio companies and works closely with portfolio management to steer strategy and grow value. Under his leadership, shareholder value has grown from £1bn to £2bn.
A highly respected finance professional, Gavin was previously CFO of Thomas Cook Group’s £7bn revenue tour operator division, after joining in 2013 to help develop and implement the Group’s recapitalisation and turnaround plan. Before this, Gavin was Finance Director of Premier Farnell PLC, a FTSE 250 company, where he had global P&L responsibility whilst delivering digital strategic change across operations in Europe, US and APAC.
During his tenure at Merck KGaA, Gavin served in leadership positions in the UK whilst also leading wider group projects. He led Merck’s Consumer Healthcare division in the UK and Ireland as Finance Director and managed the integration of the group’s four operating divisions across the UK and Ireland. This followed his success as Finance Director of OTC medicines manufacturer, Seven Seas.
Earlier in his career, Gavin held Finance Director roles within The Drambuie Liqueur Co Ltd and Lees of Scotland, where he helped lead strategic turnaround and change.
Gavin started his career at KPMG, as a Chartered Accountant, after graduating from The University of Edinburgh with a BSc (Hons) in Civil Engineering. He is a keen supporter of Scottish Rugby and of The Royal Opera House.
