At Rutherford Cross we have been keen to continue bringing our networks together, and as such have hosted a number of virtual networking events since lockdown commenced. We were delighted to welcome Richie Webster, UK Finance Director of drinks business C&C Group, to host the first in our mini-series of virtual Planning Your Career Journey events.
Richie joined C&C five years ago from Deloitte and has enjoyed great success and career development over this period. In his discussion Richie spoke positively about his experience at Deloitte and the grounding it gave him, whilst appreciating that working in practice was not where he saw his career on a longer-term. Richie was able to secure a year’s secondment to Deloitte’s Sydney office, which he explained helped his own personal development, rather than accounting skills. On returning back to Glasgow he was keen to secure promotion to Audit Manager before embarking on his search for opportunities in industry.
By his own admission Richie was not hugely well informed when it came to considering career options in industry. He applied and was successful with a couple of interviews for technical accounting roles, but he simply couldn’t picture himself taking on this type of position day to day.
He then put himself forward for a role with C&C Group as their sole Internal Auditor. The drinks sector and the opportunity to work with exciting, well known brands appealed. The interview was candid where Richie explained that this was not a position he would like to commit to for a period of more than three years, but he saw it as excellent opportunity to learn how the business operated and would provide him a platform for career development within the business. Thankfully that honesty paid off.
After 18 months in the Internal Audit role, a vacancy arose in Commercial Finance, which he moved across to. This role was not necessarily a step up the chain but a sideways move that would allow him to progress in the area of the business he was most passionate about. Richie discussed how he “backed himself” to quickly show his capabilities in the department and he was fortunate that at that time there were a couple of major projects that he was able to deliver on, increasing his status amongst the senior management team.
Richie took the opportunity to become Head of Commercial Finance and within a relatively short period was able to take the role of UK FD, when his predecessor took an internal move down south.
C&C Group provides great opportunities for those who show application and a willingness to progress and Richie spoke enthusiastically about the business funding a two week course for him earlier this year at the London Business School. The on-going health crisis may present a considerable challenge for the business, given the volume of trade it does with pubs, bars and restaurants, however Richie is determined that he and his team can help provide solutions to navigate these tough market conditions.
To find out more about Rutherford Cross events, or to discuss your senior finance recruitment needs, contact [email protected]
