Rob Kendall, who lives in Kenilworth, joined HB&O in 1985 and will be stepping away from the business after 40 years with the firm.
He had previously worked for Thompson McLintock, as well as Dafferns and Thornton Baker before joining Harrison Beale, which at the time had eight staff at one office on Queen’s Road in Coventry.
Kendall, a multi-specialist and expert in owner-managed businesses, was Managing Director of the firm until 2017 and has been a consultant for the past eight years.
He led a significant period of growth which has established the business as one of the leading independent firms in Coventry, Warwickshire and the wider West Midlands.
This included overseeing the acquisition and merger with DA Owen Accountants and DA Owen Financial Services in 2005 – marking the creation of HB&O – and leading the expansion of the practice from Coventry into Leamington.
HB&O now employs more than 100 staff across its offices in Coventry, Leamington and Birmingham. Last year it was named as one of the top 100 firms in the UK For the first time.
Kendall is also a former President of the Warwickshire Society of Chartered Accountants.
He says he is proud of how the practice has grown over the past 40 years, supported the professional development of staff and remained independent.
“When I joined the firm back in the 1980s, we set a target of being one of the top independent practices in Coventry and Warwickshire,” said Kendall.
“I’m proud to say that we have achieved what we set out to do. It has been a lot of hard work, but you reap what you sow, and I am fortunate to have been supported by a lot of brilliant people along the way.
“Personally, it has been a pleasure to see members of the team develop and grow during their time with the firm. I had a hand in recruiting some of the current directors and they are now driving HB&O onto new heights.
“The profession has changed tremendously over the last 40 years, but we built the practice on excellent customer service and one-to-one relationships with clients; that ethos remains through the business now and continues to fuel the firm’s growth.”
Mark Ashfield, Managing Director at HB&O, added: “Rob’s leadership has helped to shape the firm into what it is today.
“He has guided the business through major milestones, including mergers and office expansions, and the culture he instilled in the business continues to underpin our company values to this day.
“We wish Rob all the best in a well-earned retirement, and we will continue to build on the strong foundations he has set for the firm over the past 40 years.”
