1. GEORGE DUTTON MBA, ACA
9 CLEVELEY ROAD, ALLERTON, LIVERPOOL, L18 9UN
Tel: 07342 045223 Email: zengeorge56@hotmail.com
An accomplished, entrepreneurial and commercially astute FINANCE DIRECTOR/CFO with a wealth of
experience within diverse sectors creating and implementing aggressive strategies to deliver sustainable and
profitable growth, meeting the organisational vision and shareholder expectations. Proven expertise building,
growing and restructuring financial and administrative resources in rapidly changing organisations, developing
new businesses and new markets as well as ensuring fiscal rigour throughout the business. A strong and
influential strategic leader building, motivating and developing high performing multi-disciplinary teams, who
deploys a meticulous attention to detail in providing innovative solutions to identified problems. An excellent
communicator at all levels and cross-culturally, who establishes outstanding stakeholder relationships. A
results-oriented, pragmatic and highly personable professional now seeking a new challenge within an
ambitious medium or large organisation providing the scope for both personal and professional development.
Qualifications and Training
MBA with Distinction Griffith University, Australia 2000
ACA (First time Passes) ICAEW (Deloitte London) 1982
BA (Hons) in Philosophy & German Kings College London 1978
PROFESSIONAL CAREER
Classic Holidays Group 2015 - 2015
A diverse group of companies operating in the leisure and hospitality sectors, 400+ employees. T/O $85m
Finance Director (Interim) Reported to the CEO with 27 direct reports and responsible for restructuring
the finance team, systems replacement and preparing this privately owned company for due diligence by a US
buyer.
The Challenge: An attempt by the shareholders to attract a US buyer had stalled, in part due to inadequacies
in the reporting and control systems. I was brought in to analyse the business processes and systems and
provide the shareholders/directors with solutions.
Achievements:
 Sourced, configured and gained board approval for a new accounting system, to be integrated with
other operational systems to meet changing internal reporting requirements and external due
diligence.
 Restructured and downsized the finance team to be capable of producing timely and relevant
financial reports for all stakeholders.
 Assisted the board to select a permanent CFO to prepare the company for sale.
Anantara Vacation Club 2010-2014
A new division of Bangkok based Minor International PCL, an international hospitality, restaurant and leisure
group with over 50 luxury resorts and 1,900 restaurants in 24 countries and 26,000 employees. T/O $2bn
Divisional Chief Financial Officer
CFO of the luxury timeshare division reporting to the divisional CEO with a dotted line to the group CFO, with
42 direct reports and managing a budget of $65m with responsibilities including strategy, research, financial
reporting, consumer finance, regulatory compliance, treasury, international tax and other commensurate
responsibilities.
The Challenge: Having prepared the business plan for this new division in 2008, the venture now required the
leadership and skills to execute the plan and build the business to critical mass.
Achievements:
 Produced and presented an international business strategy and detailed financial model for the new
division, designed to deliver $800m over five years across several countries.
 Oversaw the construction of a 100 unit luxury pool-villa resort in Phuket with an investment of over
$40 million and conversion of a Bali resort for $15 million.
 Recruited and trained a talented team of local and expat professionals for the head office of the new
Bangkok based business division with shared services ERP (Oracle), establishing policies,
procedures and regulatory compliance protocols and manuals. I also set up a consumer finance
underwriting and collections team.
 Increased profits by c$2m by securing consistent VAT-exempt tax treatment for revenues across
multiple Asian jurisdictions
 Established a Hong Kong based finance team with systems and processes to support the
commencement of sales and marketing operations from two registered Shanghai companies

2. MacDonnell Regional Council (Australia) 2009 - 2010
Newly created Local Government Authority in Australia’s Northern Territory with some 350+ employees
serving 14 remote aboriginal communities. Budget of $40m from over 200 grants.
Director of Corporate Services/Director of Finance
Reporting to the CEO with 14 direct reports and responsible for all financial and administrative services
including HR, IT, property management and compliance as well as corporate governance.
The Challenge: This newly formed local government body was in crisis with a dysfunctional computer system,
staff shortages and serious non-compliance with its statutory and grant obligations and failure to prioritise its
service-delivery obligations.
Achievements:
 I formed and led a statewide project team to redesign and substantially reconfigure the
local government accounting systems to enable compliance with statutes and grant
conditions. MRC became the first Council to be fully compliant with the new Local
Government Act.
 Prepared a strategic plan for sustainable funding by consulting with all stakeholders
including indigenous community leaders to advise the government on service priorities and
funding requirements.
Accor Vacation Club (Australia) 2005 - 2008
A division of the global Accor hospitality group. A multi-site “Novotel” branded timeshare resort network in
Australia, New Zealand and Bali with over 800 employees. T/O $80m
Divisional Chief Financial Officer
Reported to the divisional CEO with a dotted line to the regional CFO with 25 direct reports with commensurate
responsibilities including preparation of the full budget, financial management and reporting, consumer
financing and collections as well as international business development.
Challenge: Five years after start-up, the business was failing to grow as fast as its competitors. Development
and implementation of a growth strategy was required.
Achievements:
 I undertook the research, business plan preparation and detailed financial modelling to facilitate the
company’s expansion and growth, organic and acquisitive, into Asia by leveraging Accor’s extensive
network of hotel investors.
 I networked extensively and made presentations at international conferences in China, Thailand and
Dubai, developing opportunities to promote the company to potential business partners in new
markets.
 Established a timeshare property trust in Singapore to hold resort property leases across Asia.
Placed the first resort project (at a “Novotel” branded property in Bali) into the trust and commenced
sales in Bali and Jakarta.
 I undertook due diligence on a number of potential acquisition targets in Thailand, Bali and India.
Marriott Vacation Club International (Florida, USA) 2003 - 2005
The World leader in the vacation ownership industry and a JV partner with Anantara with 40,000 employees.
T/O $1.5bn
International Business Development Consultant
Reporting to the Senior Vice President Business Development with responsibility for researching market
opportunities and tax and regulatory structures in the Asia – Pacific region and providing detailed financial
modelling.
 Researched and delivered a comprehensive five year strategic plan to extend the Marriott vacation
ownership product into 5 markets in Asia including detailed financial modelling and scenario
analysis. The plan was approved and the business has operated from a Singapore base since 2005.
Wyndham Resorts & Hotels (Australia) 1999 - 2003
Branded international hotel and timeshare resort network and travel agency with 1,200 staff in region. T/O
$120m
Chief Operating Officer (Australasia Region)
Reporting to the CEO with a dotted line to the group CFO in the US with 85 direct reports with responsibilities
including financial management and reporting, consumer finance underwriting and collections, IT & HR teams,
legal compliance, property management and PR.
Challenge: Launch a new form of branded and regulated timeshare in the Australasian market and grow it to
critical mass ($100 million turnover with 20% NPAT)
Achievements:

3.  Created a regulated special purpose trust structure to comply with new securities legislation.
 Built the professional teams, policies, systems and processes to enable the business to grow from
$11m to more than $122m within three years
 Successfully negotiated an S&P/Moodys rated $100m structured, asset backed financing facility with
an international investment bank (SocGen) to facilitate rapid growth and expansion into new markets
 Successfully lobbied opposition politicians to block an adverse change in tax legislation ensuring a
10% GST (VAT) was not imposed, winning an industry award for the achievement
EARLIER CAREER
Full Time MBA (Strategy & Entrepreneurship) Griffith University, (Australia) 1998 – 1999
Chief Financial Officer (travel services) RCI Asia-Pacific (Australia & Singapore) 1994 – 1998
Community Accountant (housing construction) Injinoo Community Council (Australia) 1992 – 1994
Financial Controller (advertising and design) Alphabet Design Group (NW England) 1989 – 1992
Director of Finance (toy imports and logistics) Cowan De Groot Toys & Giftware (London) 1985 – 1989
Financial Accountant (software developers) Pearce Technology Group (London) 1982 – 1985
Audit Manager (professional services) Deloitte (London) 1978 – 1982
PERSONAL INTERESTS
Married with 2 adopted children aged 7 and
13.
A keen interest in family travel, astronomy, history and
painting.