Luke Grant's journey to Chief Financial Officer
At IMI, we believe in giving people opportunities from the very start – real-world challenges, meaningful ownership, and the chance to make an impact early on. It’s this approach that helps shape confident, capable leaders. A great example of this is Luke Grant, who formally stepped into the role of Group Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of the Board last week.
Luke started his journey in IMI as Group Financial Accountant, gaining critical early experience by supporting the strategic and successful disposal of two divisions. From there, he moved into his first management role as Chief Management Accountant, where he completed formal leadership training – which he describes as one of the most valuable learning experiences of his career. In this role, Luke implemented a global data reporting tool that is still used today – an early marker of his innovative thinking.
Building operational and regional expertise, Luke relocated to Germany to take on the role of Financial Controller Operations, overseeing 11 European sites and gaining valuable insights into our business at a regional level. This led to his first site Finance Director role for our Industrial Automation facility in Alpen, Germany, where he also took on responsibility for commercial activities across the country.
Luke’s strategic leadership skills were further developed when he became Group Financial Controller, managing a larger team, leading the audit tender process, and gaining Board exposure. He also completed our leadership programmes at Warwick Business School and IMD, ensuring he had the skills to succeed at this elevated level.
Alongside his own development, Luke has always been a strong advocate for the growth of others. He’s an exporter of talent, building capable teams and ensuring continuity – equipping those around him with the skills and exposure to take on the next opportunity.
The addition of Investor Relations to his responsibilities further broadened his expertise, providing his first experience in investor-facing roles and the opportunity to complete a Certificate in Investor Relations. Luke also stepped in as interim Finance Director for one of our sectors, further solidifying his ability to lead in varied and complex environments. Most recently, as VP Finance, Industrial Automation, Luke’s global exposure has strengthened his commercial insight even further.
Luke continues to invest in his growth, completing the Harvard General Management Program – a reflection of his belief that learning never stops. His promotion to Group CFO and Executive Director of the Board is not only a personal milestone, but a clear example of how our commitment to developing talent unlocks opportunity.
We know that development isn’t just about formal learning. It’s the combination of tailored training, varied roles, and global exposure that shapes confident, commercially minded leaders. Luke’s journey shows what’s possible when ambition is matched with support.
