Grant Thornton UK has announced that Ed Warner, who has not worked in the professional services sector, is to be the new chair of its partnership oversight board responsible for overseeing governance, replacing current chair, GT partner Steve Maslin
This marks the first time a major UK accountancy firm has appointed an independent chair. The eight-member Partnership Oversight Board (POB) is responsible for the protection of members’ interests and the oversight of the management board.
Warner takes over his new role effective 1 April, succeeding current chair Steve Maslin, who is a partner at the firm and will have served his maximum term in the position in July 2016.
Warner was one of Grant Thornton’s first independent non-executives, appointed in 2010. He has broad ranging commercial experience, and is currently chairman of investment bank Panmure Gordon, derivatives exchange LMAX, the Standard Life European Private Equity Trust and the Blackrock Commodities Income Investment Trust.
In addition, Warner is chairman of UK Athletics, and is an independent non-executive director for shipbroker Clarksons, and electronic payments provider SafeCharge International Group.
Sacha Romanovitch, CEO of Grant Thornton UK, said: ‘The appointment of an independent chair at this stage in the firm's evolution is a further example of us leading the way in modernising the profession.
‘On a personal level, I've found Ed's external market perspective, ability to cut through to the heart of the matter and practical approach to dealing with issues most valuable. I've seen Ed working closely with our elected members, and feel this dynamic means we have the best of both worlds as we work to fulfil our ambition of becoming the go-to firm for growth.’
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