The Corporate Finance world is accessible – Recruiting and retaining a diverse team

I am part of MHA’s highly experienced Corporate Finance team. We are focused on privately owned businesses at all stages of growth – scale-up, high growth to family owned. My clients value the connections and introductions made at all levels and I am passionate about leveraging my networks and building relationships based on doing the right thing.

I have a proven track record of developing client relationships, understanding their business priorities and supporting them on their growth journey right through to exit.

As a firm MHA is the UK independent member firm of Baker Tilly International, ranked 9th globally. We provide premier accounting, assurance, tax, financial planning and specialist business advice worldwide, drawing on nationally and internationally recognised industry experts.

Chloe Fletcher is an Associate Director with Alvarez & Marsal Corporate Finance in Manchester. Chloe has worked across the corporate finance landscape, from venture capital fundraising to IPO preparation across a variety of sectors and deal sizes. Prior to joining Alvarez & Marsal, Chloe spent over a decade in the Big 4, and also spent a year in the Investor Relations team at £2bn revenue online retailer The Very Group working on a number of strategic projects which has gleaned a unique perspective and skillset in addition to her advisory experience.

Alvarez & Marsal Corporate Finance is committed to building a diverse corporate finance team – so far 50% of the national team is either female or from a ethnic background. The team has an ambitious recruitment strategy to support its growth and diversity of thought, gender, race and backgrounds is an important consideration at every stage of the talent cycle.

Obehi Alofoje is a psychologist, behavioural change specialist, and Managing Director of Aurora, a leadership and organisational effectiveness consultancy. She works with senior leaders and HR teams to strengthen leadership, psychological safety, and organisational culture, helping organisations build trust and achieve sustainable performance. She has worked with organisations including Allianz, BBC, Browne Jacobson, Co-op, NHS, Shoosmiths, TomTom, UA92 and Coventry City Council, delivering leadership development, organisational diagnostics, executive coaching, and facilitated programmes. Obehi is also the co-host of the award-winning podcast The Wellbeing Rebellion, exploring leadership, trust, workplace culture, and organisational effectiveness. A self-confessed flat white enthusiast and proud hearing aid wearer, Obehi brings both professional expertise and lived experience to conversations about leadership, inclusion and accessibility.

Joanna has worked at PageGroup for 16 years, spending the majority of her illustrious career as a senior recruitment consultant across sales, marketing, procurement and HR. Joanna has established her reputation as a committed and successful recruiter with clients in the private sector and public sectors. Following her passion to improve diversity within the workforce and as a continuation of the work she had done in recruitment, and for the last seven years of her recruitment career advised the NHS on DE&I recruitment processes to support their diversity goals. Joanna moved to become the director of the DE&I Client Solutions team in 2022. She says:

‘Over the past 10 years I have seen PageGroup as well as our clients evolve on their journey of bringing diversity and inclusion into the workplace. I am passionate about bringing DE&I solutions to life for our clients, and being part of the conversation to ensure no one is left behind. Ensuring DE&I is at the forefront of a recruitment strategy means all talent acquisition is done from a place of equity.’
In 2020 Joanna created a mentoring programme for women in Finance from Not for Profit and Public Sectors. This programme is currently in its third year.

And most recently launch a Networking Group for Asian and Black C-Suite leaders who are looking to progress their careers into Non Executive positions.