Business & Economy
WilliamsAli boosts team with corporate finance director appointment
June 8, 2022
WilliamsAli, the North East’s specialist M&A boutique, has announced the appointment of Simon Hewitson as corporate finance director.
With their fresh and independent approach to the corporate finance sector, WilliamsAli is well known for providing its own unique brand of financial advice to business owners, companies, and entrepreneurs throughout the region.
Simon Hewitson, who is a chartered accountant, has specialised in corporate finance work for over 12 years.
He has advised the owners and directors of a wide range of private and listed companies in the North East operating in a variety of different sectors on sale, acquisition, debt, and private equity activity.
Simon has spent his entire career in the North East, initially working in practice before moving to an asset based lending role at Five Arrows Commercial Finance.
He then moved into industry as finance director for Mill North East, having previously advised them on their management buyout from Inchcape plc.
Simon was appointed to strengthen the management team and advise on all corporate finance activity leading to the ultimate sale of the business to Stoneacre Motor Group.
The appointment will enhance WilliamsAli’s corporate finance capabilities in the North East as it looks to grow its team after a record start to 2022.
In the last year, WilliamsAli has advised on a number of deals including the sale of Tyne Tees Vehicle Repair Group to Steer Automotive Group, the management buyout of Quintessentially Estates, the seed funding round for health-tech firm Applied Monitoring, and the latest growth funding round of sports gaming platform Network Gaming.
The next six months also promises to be highly active with WilliamsAli currently supporting a number of further transactions which are drawing close to completion.
Phil Williams, partner at WilliamsAli said: “We are thrilled to welcome Simon.
“He is a highly experienced advisor with an outstanding reputation and a long and distinguished career.
“His appointment is a tremendous reflection on the growing profile of WilliamsAli and to attract someone of his calibre puts a marker in the ground as we continue to grow and expand our capability.
“His banking, industry and FD expertise gives Simon a unique perspective to see a deal from all sides and he will be a real asset to our clients.
“Our approach is all about working in partnership with our clients throughout their growth journey, helping them fulfill their ambitions and ultimately exit.”
Phil added: “We’ve got a strong pipeline secured as the North East deals market continues to be incredibly buoyant.
“We also have plans to grow the team further to increase our bandwidth to work with more and more regional businesses while we continue to successfully grow our share of the deal advisory market.
“The ambitions we have for our clients’ businesses is mirrored in the huge ambitions we have for WilliamsAli.”
Simon said: “I am excited to be joining WilliamsAli and look forward to being part of their future growth story.
“I was attracted by the senior lead advisory approach and the type of deals they’ve recently advised on as well as working for a pure M&A boutique operating independently in the North East.
“I have worked with companies, providing corporate finance advice on raising finance as well as buying and selling companies for over 12 years and I look forward to using that knowledge alongside my industry experience to advise ambitious businesses in the region.”
Pictured, above, from left to right, are WilliamsAli partner Abu Ali, Simon Hewitson and Phil Williams