Tax specialist and chartered accountant Francesca Lagerberg has been promoted to head of tax at Grant Thornton, taking over the position from Rob Withecombe. Lagerberg has a long-running career in tax - having qualified as a chartered accountant in 1993, she moved into financial journalism at Taxation magazine and then went on to hold roles at the ICAEW and Smith & Williamson. She has contributed the Tax Update pages of Accountancy magazine for many years. Withecombe is leaving the firm at the end of June to join Barclays Wealth. A former chairman of the ICAEW's Tax Faculty, Lagerberg currently chairs its technical committee as well as sitting on the council of the Chartered Institute of Taxation. Her role at Grant Thornton will see her working closely with senior tax partners Phil Barrett, Eric Williams and John Loebl and will see her combine development of the firm's tax practice with her current technical role as head of the national tax office. CEO of Grant Thornton Scott Barnes said Lagerberg combines technical knowledge of the 'highest order' with 'an ability to inspire confidence in both colleagues and clients'. Lagerberg said she was 'delighted' with the appointment.