Spring is here, and March brought another wave of major movements in the finance sector. At Honch, we've tracked the key buying signals that could open doors to fresh opportunities for providers targeting CFOs and Finance Directors. Here's what you need to know:

Fresh Faces in Finance: New Leaders Reviewing Suppliers

March was a busy month for appointments, with 2,839 senior finance professionals joining new UK companies. These executives are stepping into roles with immediate influence over supplier relationships - making them prime targets for proactive marketers. Notable new hires include:

• Harvey Nichols: Dean Redhead, CFO
• Yotel: Yvonne Thomsen, CFO
• GSK: Hamish Langley, Financial Director
• IAG Cargo: Nessa McNeela, CFO
• Medica Group: Tom Hargreaves, Group CFO
• Learnlight: Kelvin Barber, CFO
• Semble: Josh Elster, CFO
• Potter Clarkson: Janish Otar, Group CFO
• Sitecore: Ben Walker, SVP Finance

Make sure your outreach prioritises these influential newcomers, whose fresh perspectives and supplier reviews offer valuable opportunities for engagement and new business.

Promotions Mean Bigger Budgets and Decision-Making Power

March also saw 1,121 senior finance promotions within UK companies. These professionals now have expanded roles, increased budgets, and greater decision-making responsibilities. A few key promotions include:

• James Whitehorn: Chief Finance and Development Officer, Yum! Brands
• Rahul Ravi: Vice President - Head of Finance & Strategy, Pearson Virtual Schools, Pearson
• Gavin Robertson: Chief Financial Officer, Smart DCC
• Rekha Dhokia: Chief Finance and Risk Officer, Hammonds Furniture
• Philip Ellis: Group Chief Financial Officer, Dbz

Keep these rising stars on your radar; their new roles represent prime opportunities for strategic outreach and relationship building.

New Funding Opens Doors for Financial Solutions Providers

In March, 129 UK companies successfully secured new funding rounds, significantly boosting their budgets and ambitions. Highlights include:

• Pulpex: £62 million, Series D
• Luminance: £59 million, Series C
• Shop Circle: £47 million, Series B
• AppliedAI: £43 million, Series A
• Salience Labs: £23.7 million, Series A

These well-funded companies are actively seeking new finance solutions to support ambitious growth plans - perfect for providers looking to expand their market share.

High-Growth Companies Continue to Expand

Despite broader economic challenges, growth hasn’t slowed down. In March, 896 UK companies were actively increasing their headcount, signalling robust financial planning and investment—making them prime targets for providers of financial solutions and technology.

Other Notable Finance Trends in March

Here’s a quick snapshot of other key trends from March:

• Acquisitions: 77 companies
• International Expansion: 296 companies
• New CEOs: 119 companies
• New Offices: 454 companies

Stay Ahead Every Month with Honch

These signals are only a snapshot of March's activity. Honch continuously tracks key finance market movements every day, ensuring you have timely, actionable intelligence to reach finance decision-makers first. If you're ready to accelerate your growth, let’s talk.