In this week’s career moves, partner promotions and hires at Sumer, RSM, Boodle Hatfield, Cooper Parry, Larking Gowen, Forvis Mazars, Grant Thornton, Kingsley Napley, Champion, Fairstone, Unilever, caba

Sumer has promoted Nick Taylor to chief financial officer, strengthening the group’s executive committee, moving up from his role as head of M&A. This follows the retirement of Nigel Carr, co-founder and CFO of the private equity backed Top 15 firm. The promotion recognises Taylor’s contribution to the fast growing group as head of M&A, driving 34 transactions and acquisitions for the firm in just over two years. In his new role, Taylor will report to CEO and co-founder Warren Mead and continue to drive financial strategy and expansion initiatives.

RSM has appointed Grant Morrison as office managing partner in Aberdeen, taking the reins from Andrew Forsyth, who remains a partner at the firm. Since joining RSM in 2021 as an audit partner, Morrison has led and built the firm’s audit practice in Aberdeen, and also heads up the UK oil and gas sector team. Morrison trained with PwC in Aberdeen before spending the next 25 years specialising in the energy sector, in the UK, US and Middle East. Pictured [l-r]: Andrew Forsyth, Grant Morrison

Grant Thornton has appointed Ian Guthrie as partner to lead its real estate advisory business. He brings a wealth of experience and deep sector expertise, having held senior leadership roles across banking, capital markets, and strategic advisory with over 30 years of experience. Guthrie joins Grant Thornton from JLL, where he was senior managing director in banking & capital markets and also led the pan-EMEA loan advisory business. Prior to his tenure at JLL, Ian held senior positions at HBOS & Lloyds Banking Group, latterly leading the Real Estate restructuring team.

Cooper Parry has appointed Nick Hatton and Arif Ahmad as partners, and Laura Bevan as assurance director. Hatton joins as partner and head of transaction tax, bringing over 25 years of experience, and will based at the East Midland’s hub with a national remit. Previously he was a partner at PwC and is an M&A tax specialist. Ahmad joins as audit relationship partner and regional market leader Yorkshire & North East, with a focus on building the firm’s regional presence. He brings 28 years of experience from a career at PwC, most recently as a partner, and various roles including head of the Leeds office and head of North of England private business and PE. Bevan has 12 years of experience, also at PwC, and is a specialist in ESG and assurance. Previously she was sustainability lead for PwC Wales.

Azets has appointed Claire Murray and Lewis Aldridge as partners, and promoted Sarah Sullivan to private client tax director. Murray has joined as tax partner and employment tax lead for the central and West region, based in Bristol, and will head up the local tax team while also supporter the regional network. She brings over 25 years of specialist experience in employment tax, most recently as a senior director at Alvarez & Marsal, and previously spent 10 years at BDO. Aldridge will head up the East Midlands audit team from the Nottingham office and brings over 15 years of experience advising owner-managed businesses, private equity-backed companies and subsidiaries of overseas entities. Sullivan specialises in advising owner-managed businesses with a private client focus, and has been with the firm five years, having originally trained at KPMG.

Kingsley Napley has appointed Paul Davidoff as a partner to lead its international tax desk, advising UK-based and international high net worth individuals, families, trustees and beneficiaries on tax, trusts and estate planning. He is expert in the complexities of the UK’s residence and domicile rules and the UK-tax implications of asset ownership or transfer for individuals, companies and trusts both onshore and offshore. Davidoff joined from New Quadrant Partners where he was a partner since 2018. This followed New Quadrant’s strategic refocus on UK trust, fiduciary and family office work.

Larking Gowen has appointed Jan McLean as a director in the specialist medical team. She will be working from the Ipswich and Norwich offices, supporting the teams in both locations and strengthening the offering across East Anglia. Chartered accountant McLean has more than 30 years' accountancy experience specialising in the healthcare and medical sector, particularly NHS pensions. Previously she was a partner, then consultant at Ensors.

Champion Accountants has hired five trainees across its Chester, Preston and Blackpool offices. The recruits, Oliver Kirby, Lucy Roberts, Ethan Bartley, Jacob Howarth and Harley Rutherford will gain hands-on experience in audit, accounts, and tax while studying towards professional qualifications, including AAT, ATT, and ACCA, supported by tailored mentorship that blends technical learning with client-facing skills.

Forvis Mazars has appointed 326 trainees to its UK offices with new cohort will be based over 13 offices across England and Scotland, joining teams in five service lines, with the majority entering the firm’s audit practice. This year’s intake includes 172 graduates, 79 school leavers, 43 returning placements, and 32 industrial placement students, reflecting the firm’s inclusive approach to attracting talent from a wide range of backgrounds.

caba, the chartered accountants’ benevolent association, has appointed Roger Merchant as chair, succeeding Ken Coppock. A chartered accountant and ICAEW Council member, Merchant has worked closely with caba over the past five years. Until his recent retirement, Merchant was a charity specialist partner at UHY Hacker Young, and brings both professional expertise and a deep commitment to supporting accountants and their families through hardship and poor health.

Vialto Partners has appointed Matthew Harrison as UK partner to focus on the growth of the private client offering at the workforce mobility, tax, and immigration firm. He will advise individuals, trustees, and family offices on all aspects of personal taxation, with a particular focus on international tax matters. 

Unilever has appointed Srinivas Phatak as chief financial officer (CFO) after a thorough internal and external search process. The appointment as CFO, and to the board and Unilever leadership executive, is effective immediately. Phatak has been acting CFO since February, after stepping up from his role as deputy CFO and group controller at the time and has been with Unilever for over 25 years. He is also an independent non-executive director at Coats Group plc.

Fairstone Group has appointed Steven Cooper CBE as chief executive officer, succeeding founder Lee Hartley, who becomes deputy chair. Cooper will take up the position at the chartered financial planning firm later this autumn, bringing with him more than 30 years of experience in the financial services sector. He is currently CEO at Aldermore Bank, where he led the business through a period of substantial growth, and has spent the majority of his career at Barclays, including as CEO of Barclaycard Business.