Laura Luty has joined RSM as a tax director in the Manchester office. She has 17 years’ experience from roles within Big Four firms in the north west and brings a wealth of expertise having advised entrepreneurs and high net worth individuals with a range of personal tax, trusts and estate issues, including offshore structures. In her new role, Luty will provide tax advisory support to a number of private clients, while working closely with the north west private client team.

RSM Legal has been listed in the Legal 500 for the first time and was the only multi-disciplinary practice to be listed in the corporate and commercial partnership list. Rachel Khiara, a partner within RSM’s client legal services practice is also listed on the ‘leading lawyers’ list for corporate and commercial partnership advice.

The International Valuation Standards Council (IVSC) has appointed Ana Maria Elorrieta to its board of trustees. She has over 35 years’ experience in accountancy having been a partner at PwC in Brazil and head of risk and quality in South America from 2003 to 2010 and in Brazil from 1997 to 2012. She has also served on the board of IFAC and the IAASB and was chair of the Brazilian Institute of Independent Accountants.

Quantuma, the corporate recovery and business advisory firm, has announced that partner Andrew Hosking has been appointed head of the firm's London office. Hosking led the administration of Europe’s largest legal sector insolvency earlier this year, King & Wood Mallesons.

Southwest-based Francis Clark Financial Planning has hired chartered financial planner, Andy Hammond, to join the senior management team based out of the Exeter office. He joins from Nottingham-based solicitors, Nelsons, where he was head of investment management. He specialises in managing corporate client relationships, particularly concerning the accumulation of tax efficient funds for retirement and ensuring that business leaders and their families are protected.

Leeds-based firm Leon & Company Chartered Accountants has appointed Darren Stone as a partner. Stone joined the firm in 2014, having been headhunted from his previous position as a senior accountant at TP Jones in Harrogate. Prior to this he was an auditor at Brown Butler in Leeds until 2010.

The International Accounting Education Standards Board (IAESB) has reappointed chair, Chris Austin, for a one-year renewable term commencing 1 January 2018. He will continue to lead the IAESB’s work developing accountancy education standards and support materials, building on the five-year strategy and work plan that lays out new strategic areas of focus on standards development, implementation support, and stakeholder engagement. Austin is a senior civil servant with more than 30 years’ experience and was recently appointed head of the UK taskforce on Hurricane Irma and Maria at the Department for International Development (DFID).