We are delighted to announce that Emma Thornhill, Finance Director at Paxman, has been awarded the Celebrating Excellence – ESG Champion 2025 Award at the Northern Finance Director Awards 2025.
The Northern Finance Director Awards shine a light on the talented individuals working behind the scenes to make businesses thrive. From steering complex financial decisions to influencing strategy and fostering innovation, these leaders are often the “unsung heroes” of their organisations.
This year’s judges were particularly impressed by Emma’s ability to combine financial acumen with a genuine commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.
The ESG Champion Award recognises finance leaders who go beyond traditional metrics, making a meaningful impact on society, the environment, and their organisations. Emma embodies these qualities, combining exceptional financial expertise with a deeply human approach to leadership.
Emma is the quiet powerhouse behind Paxman’s financial and operational success. Since joining the company, she has played a pivotal role in driving exponential growth and expanding our team to over 135 people across offices in the UK, Sweden, US, Canada, Singapore, India, France, Spain, and Germany.
Her responsibilities span far beyond traditional finance. Emma oversees all entity and group accounting, investor relations, payroll, statutory filing, and data security. She has led major systems transformation projects, including the rollout of cloud-based ERP solutions entirely in-house, delivering significant cost savings. She has also been instrumental in Paxman’s global expansion and recent acquisition of its main competitor, managing integration and ensuring smooth operations across all entities.
Speaking about her award, Emma said:
"This award is as much for the Paxman team as it is for me. The growth, innovation, and impact we’ve achieved wouldn’t be possible without the commitment and talent of everyone across the business. I’m proud to be part of such a collaborative and driven team."
What truly sets Emma apart is her commitment to people. At Paxman, everyone knows Emma as a fun, positive presence – a ray of sunshine with the biggest heart. She has built and nurtured the finance team from the ground up, creating a positive culture of development and mentorship.
Emma and her team.
Team members have flourished under her guidance, progressing into new roles, gaining qualifications, and building long-term careers. Beyond her finance team, Emma interacts across the organisation, earning the respect and admiration of colleagues at every level.
Beyond Paxman, Emma has also contributed to the wider community, serving as treasurer for Business Beats Cancer Yorkshire. Helping raise tens of thousands for cancer research, it reflects her commitment to the purpose behind our work.
Emma’s recognition as ESG Champion is a testament not only to her financial expertise and operational excellence, but also to her integrity, vision, and human leadership.
“Emma exemplifies the very best in finance leadership. She is strategic, agile and mission-driven with a ‘people-first’ attitude. Emma embodies the definition of growth, in all senses of the word. Not only has she contributed to Paxman’s growth, thereby increasing patient access to scalp cooling and offering cancer patients a slice of control over their treatment, but she has also helped define what it means to grow with purpose – both for the company and for its employees.” – Richard Paxman OBE, Chief Executive Officer
We couldn’t be prouder to have Emma leading our finance team and helping shape the future of Paxman.
