Smith Cooper has appointed Andrew Stevens as an insolvency director to work across the firm’s offices. Stevens has years of experience advising distressed and underperforming owner managed businesses in the SME market and for the last 15 months, he has been involved in his own boutique Insolvency Practice.

Christian Mouillon has joined Duff & Phelps as a global senior adviser. He is a former global vice chairman at EY. As a member of the global executive committee at EY from 2004 to 2015, Mouillon led the assurance and advisory service line before becoming the global vice chairman of assurance services and then global vice chairman of risk management. He is currently a trustee at International Valuation Standard Council (IVSC) and is also the President of La Fondation ESCP Europe, one of the top French and European business schools.

Lynne Pearson has been appointed as partner in Blick Rothenberg’s private client tax team. She joins from BDO and has almost 30 years’ experience working with private clients. Her areas of expertise include assisting shareholders of owner managed businesses on transactions and reconstructions, dealing with non-UK domiciled clients and their offshore structures and advising individuals on leaving the UK.

Smith & Williamson has appointed Tom Shave as partner. He joins the firm from Deloitte where he was a partner and specialised in advising financial services businesses, with a particular focus on fintech, on their tax and business affairs.

Mitchell Charlesworth has made two senior promotions in its Widnes and Warrington offices. Mike Faragher has been promoted to audit and accounts assistant manager after joining the firm in 2008. He provides audit and accounts services to a mixed portfolio of clients, ranging from sole traders and partnerships to small and medium sized enterprises. His new role will bring additional responsibilities including business development and staff training. Chris Nanson has also been promoted to audit and accounts assistant manager after three years’ at the firm. He is ACCA qualified and manages a wide range of audits and accounts within the Warrington office portfolio, including a variety of charities and owner managed companies.

Henderson Loggie has expanded its corporate finance team with the appointment of Jamie Beal as senior manager. Jamie joins from William Duncan + Co, prior to that he was at HW Corporate Finance. He was also a former managing director of an industrial textiles business, during which time he made significant changes resulting in record profit levels. He ultimately oversaw the sale of the business, realising full value for shareholders.

Rick Sherman has joined Howard Matthews Partnership as a senior tax manager. He joins from a large north London accountancy firm where he was a tax director. He will work with the tax team to drive business development and help manage client relationships.

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has appointed Mary Cleary to the Audit and Assurance Council and John Hitchins to the Conduct Committee. Cleary is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland and is a partner with PwC Ireland since 2005. Hitchins has been a member of the Corporate Reporting Review Committee and Deputy Chair of the Financial Reporting Review Panel (FRRP) since 2016. He retired from PwC in 2014 after 26 years as a partner.