Save content
Have you found this content useful? Use the button above to save it to your profile.
AIA

Practice News: 11 Grant Thornton promotions

by
29th Oct 2012
Save content
Have you found this content useful? Use the button above to save it to your profile.

A round-up of significant executive moves, announcements and other developments from the world of practice during October 2012

Dow Schofield Watts recruits former KPMG senior manager

24 Oct - The Cheshire business advisory firm has recruited Keith Miller to lead a new VAT services provision. 

This is the latest stage of DSW's growth plans, as it seeks to add a range of services including corporate finance, management and financial due diligence, business broking and forensic expertise.

The practice is also looking to open offices in Bristol and Birmingham in addition to its Leeds office. 

Miller has more than 20 years' experience, having spent eight years at KPMG, where he helped build and lead its northern mergers and acquisitions VAT practice. 

Before that, he worked at HMRC and Deloitte. 

DSW founder James Dow said: "The addition of VAT services will enable us to not only provide valuable support to our clients in this complex area of tax, but also to help them identify new opportunities that exist to improve their VAT position." 

* * * 

New director for accountants Clive Owen & Co 

24 Oct - Kevin Shotton returns to the firm as director to support their plans for growth. 

Shotton originally qualified as a chartered accountant with Clive Owen & Co, having started work there after graduating from university. 

He stayed there until 2005, when he moved to Ernst and Young. He has since worked with a variety of owner-managed businesses and has knowledge of IFRS, regulated and transport companies. 

Partner with Clive Owen & Co said: "We are delighted to welcome Kevin back to the firm. As we continue to move the practice forward and remain focused on further developments and new initiatives, it is essential we have the right team in place."

* * *

RSM Tenon reaches number two for M&A deal volume in the UK

Oct 23 - RSM Tenon has reached second position on the Experian Advisor League Tables in the UK for M&A deal volume, up from 20.

Looking ahead after an "unsatisfactory" year, the firm have also come first for M&A deal volume in Yorkshire and second for M&A deal volume in the midlands and north west. 

Head of corporate finance Peter Vandervelde said: “These impressive statistics confirm that we are delivering in terms of excellent advice and quality work for our clients. We are now clearly recognised as one of the front runners in the mid-market Corporate Finance space.”

Global information services company Experian revealed the total volume of UK mergers, acquisitions, flotations, rights issues and placements was up by 3.4% in the first nine months of 2012 compared to 2011.

* * * 

RDP Financial Services launched

23 Oct - Chartered accountants RDP launched their new initiative RDP Financial Services atop London's Gherkin recently. 

The initiative will include services such as supporting investment for charities, pension reform solutions for employers, planning and investment solutions for individuals and mortgage support. 

Managing director of RDP Financial Services Aaron Mears gave a speech at the event: 

He said: “At the heart of RDP Financial Services is a strong duty of care towards our clients and it was very pleasing to receive the level of support that we did as well as an acknowledgement of the hard work that we have put in to the company in getting it set up and underway.”

Mears has more than 20 years' experience in the financial services industry and held his first directorship with SP Financial Management Ltd in 2009. 

Previous to this, he was a director at a firm who worked alongside RDP Newmans for a number of years on a professional basis. 

Mears then approached RDP to form a new company and RDP Financial Services started earlier this year. 

* * * 

Grant Thornton promotes 11 staff 

18 Oct - Grant Thornton have promoted 11 staff across five of their divisions, including tax, assurance and recovery and reorganisation. 

The promotions include Stuart Brodie, head of VAT, being promoted to partner in the firm. 

Stuart Preston, recovery and reorganisation specialist, has been promoted to director at Grant Thornton's Glasgow office. 

Ross Lamont has been promoted to manager within the tax division and Pauline Davidson and Monica Cleary have been assigned assistant manager roles. 

Mike Reid, Keith Wilson and Gary Motherwell have been promoted to associate directors within the government and infrastructure advisory division. 

In addition, Anne Shepherd takes up the role of assistant manager in the firm's assurance division.

Grant Thornton managing partner Andrew Howie said of the new appointments: "Throughout their careers with the firm they have shown motivation, enthusiasm and dedication and I wish each one the very best in their new role."

* * * 

Former KPMG partner joins Origo Partners

18 OctChartered accountant Shonaid Jemmett-Page has joined the firm as vice-chairman. 

Jemmett-Page has over 30 years' experience working in private equity, consumer goods and financial services in developing countries. 

Between 2009 and 2012 she was CEO at CDC group, which provides debt and equity capital to businesses in the developing world.

Jemmett-Page also has considerable board level experience and is currently a non-executive director of Amlin, Close Brothers Group, GKN and APR Energy. Previously, she was a non-executive director at Havelock Europa between 2008 and 2010. 

* * * 

MHA MacIntyre Hudson promotes Georgina Eason to corporate recovery partner

15 Oct - Georgina Eason has been promoted to parter at MHA MacIntyre Hudson with immediate effect.

Eason joined the firm from boutique insolvency specialist BN Jackson Norton in 2008. She qualified in 2005 and has over 11 years experience in the industry. A registered fixed charge receiver and licensed insolvency practitioner, she is a member of R3, IPA and NARA. Drawing on a wide variety of experience, in recent years she has focused on the property sector and on securing returns for petitioning creditors, charge-holders and members.

"I am looking forward to the challenges the new role will bring and to contributing further towards the firm's growth. I will enjoy providing a partner led relationship and giving advice that will hopefully make a real difference to the clients," she said.

* * *

Grant Thornton launches new sustainability team 

12 Oct - Grant Thornton has launched a new sustainability team, headed up by new hire Jane Stevensen. 

The firm will now offer an advisory service that reflects the market for sustainability services, head of energy Nathan Goode said, which is a "natural progression". 

"Sustainability is increasingly seen as a core business issue and the market for sustainability services is expanding rapidly," he said. 

Stevensen, an experienced strategy adviser in sustainability, business development and environmental and business policy recently joined Grant Thornton as head of the team. 

She is also an experienced board member and has held non-executive directorships with UK social enterprise groups, having previous worked for Barclays Global and advised clients such as BP, Southern Water and Sainsbury.   

Stevensen said she is looking forward to her new role: "This is an exciting opportunity and I'm looking forward to working with existing Grant Thornton clients as well as bringing new prospects into the firm," 

* * * 

Smith & Williamson revamp to appeal to younger partners to invest

12 Oct - The firm has changed its corporate structure to include two LLPs as it wants to encourage younger partners in invest. 

Within one LLP are investment management and banking, which is awaiting FSA approval, while in the other is tax and services. 

The firm said the move should encourage younger partners to take a stake in the business, and the structures are more tax efficient for its partners than awarding shares. 

* * * 

Somerset accountancy firms merge 

11 Oct - Somerset accountancy firms Chalmers & Co and Jean Davenport accountants have merged as part of a expansion strategy. 

The staff at Jean Davenport accountants will continue to work from their Langport office, although the firm's name will change to Chalmers & Co. Davenport is aiming to reduce her work commitments and spend more time with her family. 

Chalmers & Co director Simon Bachrach said the merger that will expand services across Somerset, Dorset and Devon will be beneficial. 

"We are thrilled that Jean Davenport has decided to merge her business with ours. Over the coming months we will be working closely with Jean to meet with her clients and to get to understand their businesses and how they would like us to work with them," he said. 

* * * 

KPMG announces UK non-executive board members

8 Oct KMPG has voted in a group of six non-executive partners as part of a new corporate governance structure recently put into place.

The six are led by Richard Reid, who was appointed by recently elected chairman Simon Collins and will supplement the team of 10 partners.  

KPMG chairman Simon Collins said: "All partners were invited to put themselves forward for the role, with the partnership voting on the shortlist. The partners who went through the election process represent a diverse mix of the characters, backgrounds and skill sets our professionals have to offer," 

The partners are: 

  • Kru Desai - leads the public sector team within the management consulting practice
  • Jonathan Hurst - KPMG's Northern regional chairman
  • Richard Reid - KPMG's London regional chairman and chairman of KPMG's UK China practice
  • Melanie Richards - debt advisory partner within corporate finance 
  • David Sayer - KPMG's global head of banking 
  • Ian Starkey - audit partner on some of KPMG's largest global clients 

* * *

Forensic Investigations Services partner for Grant Thornton

8 Oct Accountant Nick Andrews has been appointed partner in Grant Thornton's forensic investigations services team. 

Andrews has more than 30 years worth of experience, including accounting, investigations and forensic work and also recently led another firm's UK dispute advisory practice for 10 years. 

Main areas of specialism for Andrews are the quantification of loss claims in breach of contract or business interruption situations, advising on post-acquisition transaction-related disputes and business valuation in contentious situations, including in matrimonial disputes. 

Scott Barnes, chief executive of Grant Thornton, said: "Nick is a fantastic hire for our firm, his considerable experience and expertise will complement our already world-class offering in the area of forensics. The FIS team has grown from strength to strength over recent years, working on a number of  landmark international cases, and Nick's appointment is certain to add to this momentum."

Andrews added: "I'm excited to be joining Grant Thornton at a transformational time for the business. It's setting itself apart from its competitors with a genuinely client focused approach to working relationships, and within the FIS team there are some exciting opportunities" 

* * *

Manchester expansion for PM+M

5 Oct - Chartered accountancy and business advisory firm PM+M has taken on David Gorton as a partner, as it seeks to expand its client base across the Greater Manchester border.

The firm currently has offices in Blackburn and Burnley.  

Managing director of PM+M Stephen Anderson said: “The whole team warmly welcomes David, and all his existing clients, into the PM+M family. He will play a central role in our expansion strategy. We are confident the year ahead will prove to be a landmark period in PM+M’s history, and we are glad David will be along for the ride.”

Gorton, an Oxford graduate, chartered accountant and tax adviser, spent 13 years with PwC in corporate transactions and audit, before moving to his family firm Gortons for nine years. 

He said of his partnership: “PM+M is a leading light in accountancy practice, not just in Lancashire, but nationally. The team is commercially impressive as well as personally impressive, takes great pride in its client relationships and the whole business has a very appealing culture.

"I hope my existing client base and professional networks in the Bolton and Greater Manchester area, as well as nationally, will aid PM+M in its ambitious and achievable plans for growth.”

* * *

New Partner appointment for Crowe Clark Whitehill 

5 Oct Charities audit specialist Guy Biggin, who joined tax, audit and advisory firm Crowe Clark Whitehill in 2004, has been promoted to partner.

Andrew Pianca, chief executive of the firm, welcomed Biggin to the team: “We are delighted to promote Guy Biggin to partner. Guy has proved a vital member of the national not for profit team and instrumental in developing our specialist national risk management advisory services for charities and schools.”

At the onset of his career with the firm, Biggin specialised in the auditing of charities and independent schools, with a recent focus on risk management.  

At the beginning of 2012 he transferred to the firm’s Cheltenham office where he has continued to build not-for-profit audit services.  

He said:  “I am pleased to take on this new challenge. My promotion will allow me to take a more active role in developing the firms Risk Management services, providing clients with more robust advice to prepare them for all eventualities.”

* * *

Tags:

Replies (1)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

avatar
By GuestXXX
17th Mar 2015 15:45

.

Thanks (0)