As well as celebrating our 40th anniversary as a firm, 2025 marks 10 years since Corporate Finance Partner Darren Hodson joined PKF SC and formed our West Midlands Corporate Finance offering.

Before we delve into the past, did you know our CF team across the East and West Midlands now has 11 team members? Over the past year, they have been ranked 2nd most active M&A adviser in the Midlands, and moved up to 6th most active nationally. 17% of the deals involved overseas acquirers and are continuing to develop expertise in a number of key sectors, with several deals in the tech sector, self-storage and food & beverage franchise team, who delivered their first Domino’s deal to date, all under the leadership of Darren.

Let’s get to know a little bit more about the man himself…

Why did you join PKF Smith Cooper back in 2015?

“I joined in 2015 because I was drawn to the Firm’s ambitious plans to expand its Corporate Finance division and for me to personally develop off the credentials and experience of the other CF partners at the time. I wanted to be part of an entrepreneurial organisation where I could see a longer-term future, and in a role with more autonomy. Today, I love the fact “empower” is one of our core values for everyone at all levels. The Firm has more than delivered on this for me, and I don’t think that level of autonomy exists in many other organisations.”    

What has been your favourite memory so far?

“One of my favourite memories at PKF Smith Cooper is the celebration of the team winning the ‘SME Advisory Team of the Year’ at the Insider Midlands Dealmakers Awards in September 2022. It is something I never thought possible when I joined and was a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team. It is incredibly rewarding to see their efforts recognised on such a prestigious platform."

What are you most looking forward to in the next 10 years?

“A nice big long holiday for my travels - so I am encouraging the Firm to introduce 10 additional weeks of holiday for those that stay with the Firm for over 10 years! That would be a great perk...”

“In the real world, I love to look to the future, and to adapt to a changing landscape. I am really excited by AI and the impact it can have. PKF Smith Cooper is also very different now to the Firm I joined. It’s been through many iterations in the last 10 years. Every 3-4 years it feels like I am at a new Firm. We all have a massive opportunity ahead, and we are going to succeed and so more exciting changes to the Firm will come. Additionally, I am keen to see the next generation of dealmakers progress and hopefully being part of their development. I really like to see people progress and get promoted (across all divisions) and I am hoping to continue to generate home-grown talent. I really hope the team feels that they have the same level of autonomy and opportunity as I have had over the last 10 years. Everyone can make a difference here if they want to.”