Scottish CFO Awards 2026

Finance leaders from across Scotland have been named winners at the 2026 Scottish CFO Awards, sponsored by Grant Thornton UK, Addleshaw Goddard, Barclays and FWB Executive Search.

Now in its third year, the programme celebrates the chief financial officers (CFOs) and the finance teams shaping the financial strength and strategic direction of organisations across the country, with the ICAS Foundation as charity partner.

Finalists were selected by an independent panel of judges.

The wide range of award entries span fast-growing SMEs, established PLCs, private equity-backed businesses, family-owned firms and not-for-profit organisations.

The 2026 winners are:

• Scottish CFO of the Year, turnover up to £50 million: Jen Given, Love Electric
• Scottish CFO of the Year, turnover £50 million to £200 million: Michael Hope, Simple Online Healthcare
• Scottish CFO of the Year, turnover over £200 million: Alasdair Noble, Park’s of Hamilton
• Scottish CFO of the Year, private equity-backed company: Colin McLellan, Create Future
• Scottish CFO of the Year, family-owned business: Michelle McDonald, Scottish Leather Group
• Scottish CFO of the Year, not-for-profit organisation: Nicky Wood, Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland
• CFO of the Year, growth/scale up: Duncan Macrae, Artus Air
• CFO of the Year, one to watch: Alan Gilbert, Zelim
• CFO of the Year, deal of the year: Jennifer Doran, Graham & Sibbald
• CFO of the Year, impact: David Dishon, Ferguson Marine
• Finance team of the year: Park’s of Hamilton, led by Alasdair Noble

Commenting on this year’s awards, Stuart Preston, Partner at Grant Thornton UK in Scotland, said: “The judges saw real range this year, from CFOs steering scale-ups to those holding complex organisations steady under pressure.

“What tied them together was quality of judgement and these awards exist to recognise exactly that.”

Meanwhile, Alan Shanks, Head of Scotland at Addleshaw Goddard, commented: “Every year the entries get stronger and this year’s winners set a high bar for what a finance function can deliver.

“The best finance teams do more than just report the numbers; they help their boards make better decisions and that is what this year’s winners have shown.”

Jamie Grant, Managing Director of Barclays Corporate Banking Scotland, said: “Many of the most important contributions a CFO makes go unseen.

“Behind every successful business are finance leaders making difficult decisions, managing risk and helping shape strategy.”

“It is fantastic to see that contribution recognised through these awards.”

Michael Dickson, Director at FWB Executive Search Ltd, said: “Strong finance leaders are in demand across Scotland, so these awards matter.

“They show the profession at its best and give the next generation something to aim for.”

The role of the chief financial officer now reaches well beyond the numbers, into strategy, growth and the hard decisions that keep organisations on track. The winners show what that looks like in practice, from scale-ups to not-for-profit organisations.

Full details of the categories and winners are available at scottishcfoawards.co.uk

This article was originally written and published by The Herald. To read the article on The Herald’s website, please [click here].