RSM has appointed Rosemary Ford as a partner in its consulting team, specialising in forensic accounting investigations. Ford has over 16 years’ experience advising on complex and sensitive matters with expertise in financial misconduct, accounting irregularities, suspected fraud and bribery, whistleblowing, cash and asset tracing, and contentious insolvencies. She has led engagements across the UK and internationally, working across financial services, oil and gas, retail and the public sector. In her new role, Ford will strengthen the firm’s forensic offering, expanding its existing investigations capability. Previously she was a director in Deloitte’s forensic and financial crime practice.

Azets has appointed Sarah Palmer as an audit and assurance partner in the Yorkshire team based in Leeds. She joins after more than 17 years at PwC where she led complex audits for medium to large private, private equity-backed and internationally owned entities. Palmer has experience in a broad range of sectors and counts retail and manufacturing as a specialist interest, delivering insight alongside practical, hands-on support.

Cowgills, part of Sumer group, has appointed Louise Warne as tax partner strengthening the M&A tax offering in the Manchester office. Warne brings more than 18 years of experience, specialising in M&A tax and working across a broad range of M&A tax transactions across the UK, including tax structuring, buyside and sell side projects, and IPO structuring. Her appointment reflects the firm’s continued investment in specialist talent, as demand for M&A and deal advisory services continues to grow across the north west market. Previously she was a tax director at KPMG. Pictured: Louise Warne, Cowgills

MHA has promoted Jonathan Dowding to partner in its international tax team, strengthening its support for large UK and international corporates. Dowding has more than 10 years of experience, advising large corporates on international tax issues, with a particular focus on supporting listed and private equity-backed organisations with cross-border restructuring, international expansion and complex UK tax matters. He is based at the London office and joined the firm in 2021 from EY as senior tax manager, before being made international tax director.

HaysMac has appointed Nicky Whitehead as audit director in the social purpose team in the firm’s not-for-profit practice. He brings 20 years of experience advising charities, membership bodies and arts & culture organisations, having previously been a director at Crowe UK, and training and qualifying at PwC. With expertise across financial reporting, governance, risk and systems, Whitehead is a responsible individual (RI) and specialises in delivering audits across the social purpose sector, and has worked with a range of large national and international charities. He is currently a trustee of the Born Free Foundation.

Croner audit and accounting specialist Ollie Garrod ACA has joined the ICAEW Corporate Reporting Faculty Board for a three-year term. Garrod, a chartered accountant and senior technical writer at Croner, said the appointment was a privilege and he was ‘looking forward to working with fellow board members and contributing to that work’. As one of the leading voices on corporate reporting issues in the UK, the faculty plays an important role in informing policy, supporting practitioners and contributing to the development of reporting standards and practice.

Deloitte has promoted Debapratim De to chief economist, succeeding Ian Stewart, who is retiring after 19 years in the role. De, known as Debo, was most recently director of economic research, playing a key role in shaping the firm’s thinking on macroeconomics and the corporate sector. In his new role, alongside covering the business cycle, Debo will expand the firm’s economic analysis of geopolitics, AI and energy markets as they transform the landscape for business. He originally joined the firm 16 years ago as an economist from Microsoft where he was an assistant researcher, cryptography and applied mathematics.

PwC senior partner Marco Armitrano has been appointed business co-chair of the Professional and Business Services Council (PBSC) for a two-year term, replacing interim Iain Wright, who has been in the role since October 2024. Baroness Lloyd of Effra CBE will continue to serve as government co-chair. The PBSC is an independent forum for the professional and business services (PBS) sector and government. 

The Association of Independent Specialist Medical Accountants (AISMA) has appointed Kay Botley, business services director and head of healthcare at Duncan & Toplis, to the board of the professional body. She has over 20 years of experience and has built a strong portfolio of clients across the healthcare sector, working with GP practices and other healthcare organisations. AISMA is a specialist network of accountancy firms that advises healthcare professionals and medical practices across the UK.

Equiom has appointed Lionel Richard as director, luxury asset services at the Jersey based firm. He brings more than 17 years’ experience, particularly in superyachts and private aviation, and will work closely with ultra high net worth individuals, family offices, corporate clients and internationally mobile clients to structure, own and administer high-value mobile assets. Previously he has worked in partnership roles in superyacht and luxury assets sectors.