Inaugurated in 2013, the Small Cap Awards is an annual event celebrating and rewarding the finest in the sub-£350m market cap quoted company sector.
The Awards celebrates those professionals and companies that work within the AIM and Aquis communities and is attended by listed companies, institutions, fund managers, brokers and advisors.
The 2026 Awards will be held on Thursday 11th June 2026 at Merchant Taylors Hall in London.
The nominees for Executive Director of the Year are as follows:
James Van Den Burgh – TruFin
James van den Bergh is the CEO and founder of TruFin, a diversified financial and technology group with subsidiaries spanning video game publishing, public sector finance and credit management, having spun the business out of Arrowgrass Capital Partners in 2018. Under his leadership, TruFin has delivered an outstanding H125 performance, with gross revenue up 42% to £36m and PBT increasing 2,711% to £4.6m, reflecting strong operational gearing across its Playstack and Oxygen businesses, with the board’s confidence underscored by the initiation of a second £4m share buyback programme.
Dr. Miles Adcock – Concurrent Technologies
Dr. Miles Adcock has served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Concurrent Technologies Plc since June 2021. He has over 25 years of experience in high-technology and defence sectors, working in at some of the UK’s largest defence companies including, Teledyne Technologies, QinetiQ Group, BAE Systems, and GEC Marconi. He holds a PhD in Adaptive Optics from Imperial College London and is both a Chartered Engineer and a Chartered Physicist.
Under Dr. Adcock’s leadership, Concurrent Technologies has been transformed from a company that has spent 30 years under the radar, to one that has delivered year-on-year growth since 2021 due to Miles’ identification of several growth areas to target. In the year ending December 31, 2024, the company reported a record revenue of £40.3 million, 27% up on the year before and profit of £20m 28% up on 2023 . Earnings per share rose to 5.49p, up from 4.06p in 2023. The company’s cash position strengthened to £13.7 million, underscoring the effectiveness of Dr. Adcock’s strategic initiatives and operational improvements.
A key focus of the company’s growth strategy, introduced by Miles been securing multi-year ‘design wins’—agreements where the company’s products are integrated into customers’ designs, leading to long-term revenue streams. In FY24, the company achieved 22 design wins, including 10 major wins anticipated to generate over £1 million annually once they reach peak production. These design wins are expected to contribute to a combined lifetime value of £100 million, laying a strong foundation for sustained growth.
Miles’ leadership has also focused on expanding Concurrent Technologies’ global presence. In 2023, the company acquired Phillips Aerospace, a U.S.-based firm specialising in industrial products and services. This acquisition has enhanced the company’s capabilities and customer relationships in North America, supporting its strategic objectives. Miles has also played a pivotal role in defining and embedding a new target culture across the organisation globally, centred on four key pillars: get things done, no spectators, ambition, and buzzing.
Through his strategic vision and leadership, Miles is positioning Concurrent as a leader in high-performance embedded computing solutions for mission-critical applications.
Jennifer Winter – Animalcare Group
As CEO, Jennifer has responsibility for developing and executing the Group’s strategy as approved by the Board and drives the performance and results of the Group. She manages Group operations in conjunction with the Leadership Team. With her background in the healthcare sector, including senior commercial roles at AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline, Jennifer brings significant experience of product development, change management, marketing and communications.
She was a Non-Executive Director of Allied Irish Bank from 2004 to 2010, and Chief Executive Officer of Barretstown from 2003 to 2007, transforming it into a successful, leading children’s charity.
Jennifer has a BSc in Physiology and Pharmacology from the University of Southampton.
Stuart Last – Audioboom Group
Stuart joined Audioboom in 2014 and, as Chief Operating Officer, launched the business in the U.S., leading all strategy, business development, sales, and marketing operations. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer in September 2019 and joined the Board in December of that year. Before joining Audioboom, he ran podcast operations at Voxnest in New York City. Stuart previously held executive positions at the BBC in London, controlling digital strategy for BBC Radio 2, the UK’s biggest radio station and overseeing the development of key brands at BBC Radio 1, including the world-renowned Live Lounge.
Simon Tucker – SRT Marine Systems
Simon Tucker is Chief Executive Officer of SRT Marine Systems plc, a role he has held since 2008 after first joining the business as an adviser in 2002. He has led the transformation of SRT into a global provider of maritime domain awareness, surveillance and vessel tracking systems, working with governments, coastguards, fisheries authorities and maritime agencies worldwide. Under his leadership, SRT has developed into a recognised leader in maritime technology, delivering large-scale national surveillance and monitoring systems while building a substantial international contract pipeline. Simon is widely respected for his entrepreneurial approach, strategic vision and long-standing commitment to innovation within the UK technology sector.
Bobby Kalar – Yü Group
Bobby Kalar is the founder, majority shareholder and CEO of Yü Group, an independent supplier of gas and electricity, meter asset owner and installer of smart meters to the UK small and medium-sized enterprise sector. Since founding the business, Bobby has driven a strategy of digital disruption and customer service excellence that has delivered consistently strong results. Under his leadership, H125 saw revenue grow 9% to £341m, PBT up 14% to £22.6m and meter points supplied surge 48% to 107k, with net cash growing 27% to £109.9m and the interim dividend increased by 16%.