Blick Rothenberg has appointed Sean Drury (pictured) as partner to head up the people tax advisory practice. He brings more than 30 years of experience and specialises in all aspects of the workforce challenges of employees working both domestically and in multi-jurisdictional environments. His expertise covers global mobility, employment taxes, employee reward, and tax disputes with a particular focus on regulated industries and US/UK interactions. Previously Drury was a partner and held senior leadership positions in the tax and people advisory practices at PwC, and moves back into practice after running his own business, Executive Tax and Advisory Services.  

S&W has appointed Sophie Long as partner in its consulting team. This strategic hire signals the firm’s continued commitment to expanding its consulting capabilities. Long brings over 20 years of experience in financial services, including 12 years at Thistle Initiatives, a private equity-backed firm where she played a pivotal role in driving growth and shaping strategic direction, most recently as chief executive officer. This leadership role gave her first-hand insight into scaling a business, managing investor relationships, and delivering strategic transformation in a fast-paced, investment-led environment.

Crowe has strengthened its audit capabilities through the promotions of Matthew Howard and Marc Newman to partners. Howard, who joined Crowe as a trainee in 2007, has extensive experience supporting a diverse portfolio of corporate and non-profit entities. His corporate clients are predominantly owner-managed businesses across a range of sectors, including manufacturing, retail, and consultancy. Newman brings 19 years’ audit experience to his new role as corporate audit partner, having started his career with Crowe in 2006. He has served as a director and Responsible Individual (RI) since 2023, and has extensive experience of both UK GAAP and IFRS and has worked with a number of international groups.  

PwC has appointed partner Gareth Henty as head of pensions, and Mark Jennings as head of the pensions employer covenant and restructuring team. Henty has been with PwC for 18 years and became a partner in 2016. Throughout his career Henty has advised trustees and scheme sponsors across the full range of pension issues, including all aspects of pensions strategy, funding and derisking, scheme governance and data solutions, and advisor and fiduciary management procurement. Jennings will head up a team of 50 people based across eight UK offices. He previously led the regional covenant practice.

EY has appointed John Owen as a UK consulting partner to build out its financial services risk practice. He joins from the UK Government, where he led on domestic financial services policy for the Treasury, and has 20 years of experience working within government from HMT to the Cabinet Office and Ministry of Justice. Owen has deep expertise in managing complex risk and is highly skilled in implementing strategic change, particularly within financial regulation.  

Lubbock Fine has promoted Robert Hoad to partner in the corporate tax team, further strengthening the firm’s expertise in corporate tax compliance and advisory services. Since joining the business in 2019 he has played a key role as a corporate tax director in growing the corporate tax team five-fold. He has more than 15 years’ experience in corporate tax compliance and advisory, and works with corporate clients, focusing on tax planning and transaction tax for owner-managed businesses and large corporates and fund structures. Previously he was a tax manager at Ecovis Wingrave Yeats.

FRP has appointed Dan Jonas as partner, based in its London office, to spearhead the growth of its mid-market transaction services offering, including support for private equity. He has more than 10 years of advisory and deal experience specialising in buy/sell-side advisory and due diligence services for private equity, debt funds and corporates. He joins from Azets where he was a transaction services partner.

Dains has appointed Sarah Pemberton as employment tax director, supporting clients with domestic and cross-border challenges. Based in Nottingham with a national remit, Pemberton is a qualified tax professional with more than 18 years of experience and began her career in expatriate tax at EY in 2007, then at Deloitte. She joins from Cooper Parry where she was employment tax director. Lorna Logan has been appointed as a director, and Laura Nicoll has been promoted to associate director, both in the accounts advisory team covering Scotland. Sophie Rogers, Katy Murrall and James Pridmore have been promoted to corporate finance assistant managers following a period of strong deal activity.

Wright Vigar has promoted Darren Calvert to associate director in the accounts team based out of the Lincoln hub. In his new role he will look after a significant number of clients and help to drive growth across the region. He has nearly two decades of experience and also heads up the firm’s internal accounts committee. He originally trained at Nicholsons Chartered Accountants.

Milsted Langdon has hired eight trainees as they continue to nurture new talent. Bath office accountancy team has welcomed trainees Max Burge and Jordan Goodwin join the Bath office accountancy team, Joe Redgers, Jaroslava Malinova, Owen Dyer and Bryn Powell in Bristol, and Josh Lowrie and Charlie Hunt in Taunton. Each trainee will undertake their professional ACCA, ACA or ATT qualifications, and will work closely with experienced accountants to boost their technical and client service skills, and gain valuable experience.

TaxAssist Group has appointed Karl Gessner as group director of practices. In the newly created role, he will oversee the management, integration and growth of the group’s owned practices and acquisitions, based at the Norwich support centre. Chartered accountant Gessner brings extensive international experience, having spent 20 years as a partner at Deloitte in South Africa, Australia and Ukraine. He joins from Canham Consulting where he was director of finance and operations.