KPMG has appointed Jo Thomson to lead its Edinburgh office as senior partner. Based at the firm’s Saltire Court office in the heart of the capital, Thomson will lead a team of more than 400 people strengthening the firm’s connections within the city’s business community. She will also become public sector lead for Scotland. Having worked at KPMG UK for over six years, Thomson succeeds Arleen Arnott. The appointment follows a period of expansion for KPMG UK in Edinburgh. Stuart Thomson has also re-joined the team from Johnston Carmichael as corporate tax partner. He has more than 25 years of experience in tax, and will focus in particular on family-owned and private equity-backed businesses.

SRLV has appointed three new partners after promoting music and entertainment directors Pembe Ozoran and Adam Stanley, and tax director Kieron Clement-Smith. Chartered accountant Ozoran manages an extensive portfolio of music, film and entertainment clients, while overseeing SRLV’s theatre work, providing compliance and advisory support to well-known West End, Broadway and touring productions. A certified accountant, Stanley specialises in business management services for private clients and businesses, spanning music, entertainment, film & TV, live events and festivals, and has played a pivotal role in the expansion of SRLV’s digital and content sector work, which includes YouTube/creator talents and social media influencers. Clement-Smith, who is a chartered accountant and tax advisor, specialises in advising high net worth individuals, families, and their businesses, with a particular focus on international matters, inheritance tax and property-related taxes. Pictured: Pembe Ozoran

Wbg has promoted Shehzad Ashaq to partner in its tax team. Ashaq, who previously won the Rising Star in Business category at the Scottish Asian & Business Awards, has a broad range of experience in corporate and personal tax and specialises in tax planning and compliance advice to entrepreneurs and the SME market. He advises on a wide range of issues including property transactions, acquisitions and disposal structuring, capital allowances, R&D tax relief and tax advantaged share schemes.

Azets has made a major round of promotions, including 13 new partners and 20 directors. The partners include Andrew Isaacs, David Holden; Katie Watson and Luke Morgan in accounting & business advisory services; Alistair Campbell, Sarah Simpson and Angela Ingham in audit & assurance; Gordon Burns and Mike Williams in corporate finance; and Luke Wheal, Oliver John, Lorna Stark and Jez Howson as tax partners. Azets has also made an external hire appointing Joe Stroud as corporate finance partner. He brings nearly 20 years of experience in the investment banking and private equity industry. Previously he was a director at Aliter Capital.

Gravita has promoted Kelly Gould, Jade Quaintance and Matthew Oldfield to director. In the Exeter office, Gould, a tax specialist with expertise in complex HMRC matters, personal and NHS pensions, has been promoted to tax director, and Quaintance has been promoted to audit director. In Bristol, Oldfield becomes tax director, focusing on personal tax work for high net worth individuals and business owners.

Champion Accountants has appointed Elizabeth Dutton as audit assistant manager at its Manchester headquarters. She will work in the specialist audit team and will contribute to the firm’s digital council, reviewing the impact of emerging technologies in terms of AI, ethics and safety. Dutton is an ACCA qualified accountant and began her career at PwC, progressing to senior associate auditor, managing complex audit projects and training junior colleagues.

Stephen Abbotts, director of payroll services at Azets has won the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recognises his five decades of dedication to the payroll profession, during which he has played an instrumental role in shaping services, supporting clients, and mentoring the next generation of payroll leaders. At Azets, he leads a payroll team of more than 200 people and a service line worth almost £20m.