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Biography

Derek has been a Chartered Accountant since 1994.  He is one of two partners at Pinkham Blair, a general practice which he co-founded in 2004.  The business specialises in assisting “corporate refugees” – those who have left large organisations to set up their own business.

Graduating from Essex University in Accountancy, Finance and Economics, Derek joined BDO in 1990 as an audit trainee, before moving to a small firm, Charles Rippon & Turner, based in Willesden Green, London, where he qualified as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant.  From there, he moved to Morgan Brown & Spofforth (MBS) in Clerkenwell as an Audit Manager and became a partner in 2001, focussing mostly on corporate finance projects.

MBS subsequently became the founding firm of Vantis plc, an AIM-listed consolidator, where Derek remained until co-founding Pinkham Blair.

Derek was born in Chester and grew up in the village of Rowton. He holds a keen interest in military history and enjoys touring battlefields. He serves as Honorary Treasurer of the Army Records Society and previously as Honorary Treasurer of the Western Front Association. He is also a member of several military history societies. He is also a season ticket holder to Saracens Rugby Club.

He is married to Sue, a GP practice nurse, with whom he has two children.

Declaration of Interests

Membership of, or interests in, formal bodies or groups, or other professional bodies

  • Member of the Navy Records Society
  • Member of the Anglo Zulu War Historical Society
  • Member of the Western Front Association
  • Member of the Gallipoli Association
  • Member of the Sutton Hoo Society
  • Friend of the British Museum
  • Member of the Society for Army Historical Research
  • Member of the T.E. Lawrence Society
  • Honorary Treasurer of the Army Records Society
  • Member of the Salonika Campaign Society
  • Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

Membership of ICAEW Council, ICAEW Boards and other ICAEW Committees

  • Council

Partnerships, Directorships or beneficial interests in companies

  • Director/Shareholder of Square Root People Limited (a dormant company)
  • Equity partner in Pinkham Blair
  • Director/shareholder of Pinkham Blair Limited (a dormant company)
  • Director/shareholder of Corporate Refugees Limited
  • Conversational Accountants Ltd (a dormant company)
  • Conversational Accountancy Ltd (a dormant company)

Professional or social relationships with individuals who have business relationships or who compete with ICAEW

None

Any other matters you feel should be identified

None

Derek Blair