Farrow & Ball CEO wins South West business award

Don Henshall, boss of luxury paint and wallpaper brand Farrow & Ball, has been named CEO of the Year in the South West by the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA).
Based in Wimbourne, Dorset, Mr Henshall has overseen an exceptional growth period in the company’s almost 70 year history. Since it was bought by investment house European Capital in 2006, Farrow & Ball tripled both turnover and EBITDA and now has a global presence in the US, France, Germany and sales via third parties across 50 countries. European Capital sold the business to Ares Management in December 2014.
Mr Henshall’s prize comes as part of the BVCA Management Team Awards. These awards, produced in association with Grant Thornton UK LLP, are designed to recognise and celebrate the achievements of the UK’s leading businesses backed by private equity and venture capital.
All of the winners of the South West final are now automatically entered into the national contest, the results of which will be announced at a ceremony in London on 25 June.
The full list of winners for the South West BVCA Management Team Awards:
Category |
Winner |
Backed by |
Large Buyout Private Equity-backed Management Team of the Year | McCarthy & Stone | TPG, Goldman Sachs, Alchemy Partners |
Mid Market Private Equity-backed Management Team of the Year | Advanced Insulation | Growth Capital Partners |
Venture Capital-backed Management Team of the Year | Skyscape Cloud Services | Business Growth Fund |
International Impact Management Team of the Year | Advanced Insulation | Growth Capital Partners |
Exit Management Team of the Year | Farrow & Ball | European Capital, Ares Management* |
Community & Environmental Action | Skyscape Cloud Services | Business Growth Fund |
Best for Innovation | Zynstra | Octopus Investments |
CEO of the Year | Don Henshall, Farrow & Ball | European Capital, Ares Management* |
*European Capital sold Farrow & Ball to Ares Management in December 2014
Paul Oldham, Chair of the South West judging panel and Regional Director for South West and South Wales at BGF, said:
“It has been a very strong year for business in the South West, and the shortlist for the BVCA Management Team Awards contained some genuinely outstanding companies, driving economic growth and creating jobs both regionally and nationally. Talented management teams with the right support and investment can achieve great things, and private equity and venture capital is helping to power enterprise throughout the UK. I wish all of this year’s winners the best of luck in the national finals.”
Mark Naughton, Head of Corporate Finance at Grant Thornton South West, said: “The shortlisted entries were especially strong this year, and it has been gratifying to witness the success that businesses here have been experiencing.
“The South West has a raft of successful private equity backed businesses, which made it tough for the judging panel to select a winner. The region is establishing itself as a real entrepreneurial hotspot, nurturing a number of growing, ambitious businesses. We are pleased to be celebrating their achievements and helping to support them as they plan for the future.”
Notes to editor
- The BVCA Management Team Awards, produced in association with Grant Thornton UK LLP, are the only awards to celebrate the achievements of private equity and venture capital-backed management teams. There are eight regions in total, each with their own judging panel, and all winners were automatically forwarded to the national final, the results of which were revealed at a ceremony in London on 25 June 2015. Please click here for more information.
- The South West judging panel consists of: Paul Oldham (chair), Business Growth Fund; Guy Davies, WestBridge Capital; Julian Dennard, Technology Venture Partners; Jane Houghton, BVCA; Peter Latham, LDC; Mark Naughton, Grant Thornton; David Staziker, Finance Wales.
- The British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA) is the industry body for the UK private equity and venture capital industry. The BVCA has over 500 member firms, representing the vast majority of UK-based private equity and venture capital firms and their advisers.
- Grant Thornton is one of the world’s leading organisations of independent assurance, tax and advisory firms. These firms help dynamic organisations unlock their potential for growth by providing meaningful, forward-thinking advice. Proactive teams, led by approachable partners in these firms, use insights, experience and instinct to understand complex issues for privately owned, publicly listed and public sector clients and help them to find solutions. More than 35,000 Grant Thornton people, across over 100 countries, are focused on making a difference to clients, colleagues and the communities in which we live and work. The UK Grant Thornton member firm provides services to over 40,000 privately held businesses, public interest entities and individuals. It is led by more than 185 partners and employs more than 4,200 of the profession's brightest minds. Find out more at www.grant-thornton.co.uk.