Wolverhampton financial executive looking to help people get fit and active with new role with national body
Posted by rob smyth | Published: 23/10/2017
A Wolverhampton executive who oversees finance at the UK’s largest independent co-operative is taking up a new role in a bid to get more people fit and active.
Louise McFadzean is looking to combine the expertise from her role as Head of Finance at Central England Co-operative with her love of running as she takes on the position of Non-Executive Board member at Triathlon England.
Triathlon England is the governing body for the sport of triathlon in England. It provides opportunities for people of all abilities to ‘discover, enjoy and achieve’ more about the sport in a safe and controlled environment.
She said: “What am I looking forward to with my new role is learning more and being involved with a fast growing sport in the UK. I want to help young people get into sport, help widen its appeal in disadvantaged areas and develop talent from grass roots to elite level.
“I am also looking forward to working as part of an organisation that shares similar values and principles with Central England Co-operative such as supporting our communities, improving health and wellbeing and empowering women.
“My appointment comes at a perfect time as it will allow me to continue the work of the Co-operative Women’s Challenge, which seeks to ensure women are fairly represented at all levels within the co-operative movement. My new role helps fulfil one of the aims of the challenge which is to see more women in senior management roles in all different kind of organisations.”
Louise is an experienced and successful Chartered Accountant with over 25 years of experience in a range of diverse business sectors as a senior finance professional.
She is also a Pension Trustee and School Governor for Streetly Academy, in Sutton Coldfield.
She added: “Non-exec roles are exceptionally useful for executive career development – they teach a different way of questioning, challenging and thinking as you don’t have any line management power and therefore have to use relationships and influencing skills.
“Therefore, as part of my own career development, I have been keen to expand my non-executive director roles.
“I recently completed five years as non-exec of BCRS Business Loans Ltd, in Wolverhampton, and was looking for another role which would not only provide a challenge but be in an industry with which I have a passion and interest in. I have always been involved with sport, for example I was involved with Sheffield Steelers Ice Hockey Club when I lived in Sheffield and am a keen runner myself.”
Louise is a member of Wolverhampton and Bilston Athletic Club and regularly takes part in 10k races and half marathons.
In 2013, she took part in the London Marathon and raised over £13,000 for Newlife the Charity for Disabled Children.
Bill James, Chairman of Triathlon England, said: “We are delighted to have appointed Louise to our board recently as Independent Director for Finance.
“The very high calibre of applicants is a really positive indicator for us of our success as a sport and our excellent governance reputation, and for Louise coming through as the outstanding candidate. “We welcome her aboard as we continue to drive the agenda for performance, development and participation in our increasingly high profile sport.”
Notes to editors
Picture caption: Louise McFadzean has been named as a Non-Executive Board member at Triathlon England.
About Central England Co-operative
Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK. It is a modern, forward-looking organisation employing over 8,000 staff, with gross sales of £927 million in 2016/17. The Society’s principal areas of activity are food, funeral services, and property investment. Central England Co-operative has over 400 trading outlets across 16 counties including; West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. The Society has an ambitious food store development programme for 2017.
Central England Co-operative is proud of its reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility. It is a member of Business in the Community, the membership organisation that stands for responsible business, and has also won many business awards for excellence. The Society supports a number of charities including Dementia UK and invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities.
Becoming a member of Central England Co-operative offers a whole host of benefits ranging from collecting points every time you spend in store to earn a share of the profits, access to members activities and community initiatives including the Community Dividend Fund, which hands out grants of up to £5,000 to charities and good causes across the Society’s trading estate.
Find out how to become a Central England Co-operative member by calling 0800 0501 601, emailing members@centralengland.coop or visiting https://www.members.coop
For more information visit www.centralengland.coop, follow Central England Co-operative on Twitter: @mycoopfood, and on Facebook: facebook.com/centralenglandcooperative
Rob Smyth / Heather Clapton at Central England Co-operative on 01543 414140
Email –publicrelations@centralengland.coop