The mid-tier firm has also announced plans to appoint eight new partners, including Leigh Wormald, who is expected to join the financial services team in the next 12 months. Wormald joins from Baker Tilly and previously led the bank and investment funds audit team at Mazars, having been a banking partner in the financial services practice at KPMG in South Africa.

Mike Clasper, former chair of HMRC, is to take over as chairman of Guinness Peat Group (GPG), replacing Rob Campbell. Clasper is currently a non executive director of the company   and chairman of GPG's subsidiary Coats plc.  He is a non-executive director at Serco Group, chairman of Which? Ltd, and was, until recently, senior independent non-executive director of ITV plc. He has served as chief executive officer of BAA operational managing director at Terra Firma, and held a number of senior management positions at Procter & Gamble.

Liz Hazell is to join Saffery Champness from PwC, where she is head of charities. Hazell has advised the not-for-profit sector for more than 20 years, acting as audit engagement leader for a wide range of charities, including major service providers, grant giving foundations, livery companies and international non-governmental organisations. She will become a partner at Saffery Champness with effect from October 2014, working alongside other London-based members of the firm’s not-for-profit practice group.