Chief Financial Officer - Bikmo
Bikmo are now a leading player in the bicycle insurance market, but in 2016 when they engaged our support they were still very much emerging on the scene. B Corp certified and founded in July 2014 by cycling enthusiast David George, the business has rapidly created a name for itself as a leading provider of cycling insurance products that enable its customer’s to simply ‘ride more’. In 2016 the business won the coveted ‘Best Cycling Insurer’ award at the Insurance Choice Awards and recently moved to new premises in Abbey Square in the heart of Chester City Centre and have also opened a site in Zurich, Austria.
Looking to recruit a new Director of Finance to the business, Sherrington recently helped them with the search. Utilising our extensive network of CFO's within the North West region, we were able to swiftly help Bikmo to identify a highly accomplished candidate with an ideally-suited background of working with high-growth tech start-ups and an impressive pedigree of building financial structures and controls to help entrepreneurial SMEs like Bikmo scale-up and grow.
Crucially the other key criteria in this important appointment for Bikmo would be the candidate's personal and business values. Bikmo were at the time going through the coveted 'B-Corp' accreditation, an arduous process that holds businesses accountable for their social responsibility, aligning boardroom focus on People, Profit and Planet in equal measure. It was imperative that the candidates values were aligned to those of Bikmo's if they were to uphold their B-Corp commitments in the future.
Louise Towers, a highly experienced finance leader with experience of scaling tech startups through strategic funding, joined the business as Chief Financial Officer in July 2018 and over a highly successful seven year tenure as Global CFO, went on to lead Bikmo through successful Series A and Series B funding rounds, as well as helping Bikmo achieve their coveted BCorp certification and recertification. Sherrington continued a long relationship with Louise, later appointing her as a Non-Executive Director on the board of regional investment fund, MSIF.
We're delighted with our new CFO. I was very happy with the support provided by Sherrington Associates through this search.
David George - CEO & Founder, Bikmo
After the best of times I’m now hanging up my Bikmo helmet. I’m so proud of the journey we've shared, from a small team working out of a cramped office in the centre of Chester to a 50-strong workforce spread across Europe. Bikmo is now market leading and I’m grateful to have played a role in that growth.
Louise Towers - Global CFO - Bikmo
Since joining Bikmo, I led and closed three institutional investments, securing over £11m million in funding, whilst navigating challenging economic times. Maintaining our focus on sustainable growth has been key to success. Thanks to Hiscox, Development Bank of Wales, Puma Growth Partners and all the Angels for being part of that. A huge thanks to Sherrington Associates for their support in finding and recruiting me for Bikmo. They have since also recruited me as a Non-Executive for regional investment fund, MSIF. Witnessing the value their 4A Assessments brings to the recruitment process was inspiring. Thanks!
