Rob Kendall to retire from HB&O after 40 years

HB&O has announced that Rob Kendall is set to retire after 40 years with the firm. Kendall was managing director at the firm until 2017 and has worked as a consultant since then.

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.

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.

Kendall said: “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. 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.”

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.”