19.10.2022

New FD for AFI

UK based rental group AFI, has promoted group financial controller Richard Orme to finance director for its UK and Middle East operations with immediate effect.

The appointment follows the decision by AFI's long standing group chief financial officer Steve Woodhams, to leave the business after 10 years to pursue an opportunity away from the rental sector. As part of the change Kat Berry has been promoted from UK financial controller group financial controller.

Richard Orme joined AFI when it acquired Kimberly Access in 2017, where he had played a key role at Kimberly with the acquisition. In his role as group financial controller, he supported AFI's subsequent acquisitions and business integrations of Facelift and MBS. Prior to his time in the access rental market Orme was part of the management team at Arriva Bus and Coach.
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Richard Orme

Kat Berry joined AFI in 2015 after almost two years as finance manager at Mediaworks online marketing. Before which she was an accountant with SCM Pharma for five years.
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Kat Berry

AFI chief executive David McNicholas said: "During his time with AFI, Steve Woodhams has developed a strong finance team, and Richard has been an asset to that team since the Kimberly acquisition in 2017. Richard has built a solid relationship with the management team and has been pivotal in guiding successful acquisitions. Steve leaving creates an opportunity for Richard, and we are confident that he will continue the team’s excellent work in his new role as financial director."

"Richard and Kat's promotions represent a recognition of the strength of the team we have in the business in the UK. Kat has been an integral member of the AFI finance team for over seven years and epitomises the AFI ethos. She is a team player who is always friendly, helpful and professional."

Richard Orme added: "I am genuinely delighted to step up into the role of finance director, I have worked closely with the board and management team over the last five years to drive recent successful acquisitions and business integrations, including Facelift in 2019 and, more recently, MBS/Spiderlift last year. "