Cowgills international lead made partner

Leading independent audit, accounting and business advisory firm, Cowgills, has appointed Alex Hesketh as its latest partner.

Hesketh, 35, who joined the Bolton-based firm’s graduate scheme in 2007 has more latterly been responsible for growing the company’s international client base and has advised a number of high-profile clients on both their inward and outward overseas investment plans.

He is also heavily involved in the firm’s family business offering and through a combination of succession and new client wins, has significantly grown his client portfolio over recent years.

Managing partner, Paul Stansfield, said: “Alex has been with Cowgills from day one of his career. He is highly regarded by peers and clients and has been instrumental in helping build important external relationships in the wider professional community. It’s extremely pleasing for a product of our graduate recruitment scheme to be admitted to the partnership and vindicates the investment we make in the program. This promotion is extremely well deserved.”

Hesketh added: “It is rare to join a firm as a graduate trainee and make a complete progression through to partnership. This clearly demonstrates the scope for personal development at the firm, which has been facilitated through a period of uninhibited growth and a remarkable support network.

“Without the backing of the partners and the commitment consistently demonstrated by my colleagues, this simply wouldn’t have happened. We continue to invest in the development of young talent and I believe it is only a matter of time before other graduates are also made partner. I look forward to contributing to the future success of the firm in a leadership capacity.”

Cowgills is rolling out a four-year development plan to establish it as the independent firm of choice for the north west by 2023, when it will celebrate its 40th anniversary. The firm also said it was on its way to achieving that goal having recorded record group revenues in 2018.