Smith (46), of Alderley Edge, Cheshire, spotted potential in the fast-growing telecoms company while working as Corporate Finance Partner for the leading professional services firm, Ernst and Young.
Smith’s team was responsible for organising the company’s regional final of its Entrepreneur of the Year awards back in 2007 where Daisy’s CEO Matt Riley was winner.
Riley later went on to win the national final.
Smith said: “I was greatly impressed by Matt’s clear-minded and simple approach to business and his massive ambition. He showed then that he had the ability to grow a substantial business and has gone on to prove it over the past three years.”
Such was Riley’s impact on Smith, when the opportunity arose to work for him, Smith had no qualms about making the move.
In May this year he started work on a consultancy basis and took on full time employment with the firm last month.
Already in his short time at Daisy, Smith has assisted in preparing the company for the reverse acquisition of Freedom 4, as well as the acquisitions of Eurotel, AT Communications and telecommunications division of Redstone Plc.
Smith said: “My role involves the identification and acquisition of further companies which will complement the Daisy Group as well as post merger integration.
“I am really enjoying working for such a young, dynamic and positive company and am looking forward to being involved in Daisy’s future growth plans.”
Riley added: “Steve played a key role in Daisy’s smooth acquisition of four companies this year so far and having him on board enables us to look for and act upon further acquisition targets for 2010.”
Smith trained as a chartered accountant at Arthur Andersen, working in the firm’s Manchester office and enjoying a short secondment in Sydney, Australia.
He moved on to Haines Watts Chartered Accountants, where he was managing partner of a newly formed Manchester office for three years before spending 11 years at Ernst and Young.