PwC UK announces management restructure

Big Four accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has announced changes to the leadership of its core business divisions along with the promotion of 69 new equity partners.

Marissa Thomas takes on the leadership of the tax practice after two years leading deals, with Ken Walsh replacing her.

Hemione Hudson will lead the firm’s audit practice responsible for external audit and audit-related services, and Sam Samaratunga will head the new risk assurance practice, responsible for services such as internal audit, cyber security and technology risk.

This year 38% of the newly promoted partners and directors are women, with 16% of the new partners are black, Asian and minority ethnic and 27% are based outside London, as the firm continues to bring a more diverse group of people through into senior positions across the UK.

Kevin Ellis, chairman and senior partner of PwC UK, said: “The business and political environment remains uncertain and the markets and industries in which we work are changing rapidly. These appointments maintain the strong leadership of our core businesses, and represent the skills necessary to work with our clients as they respond to the external environment and to lead our people through our own technology and workforce transformation.

“We are welcoming a talented group of new partners into our UK firm. They bring the diversity of thinking and experience needed to help our clients with the opportunities and challenges of the fourth industrial revolution. One in five of our new partners this year have a technology focus, reflecting a growing client need for digital expertise.”