BDO LLP has strengthened its South East team by appointing Lucy Saunders as a partner in the private client tax team. Saunders, with 20 years of experience, specialises in advising international high net worth individuals on complex tax matters. She aims to enhance BDO’s private client tax team both regionally and nationally, contributing to the firm’s expansion.
PwC has forecast UK headline inflation nearing the Bank of England’s 2% target in 2024, driven by global energy price fluctuations. Despite weak growth projections, the UK is expected to outperform France, Japan, and Germany in real GDP. Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland are among the fastest-growing regions, with predictions of improved living standards for low-income households. PwC anticipates London rents surpassing £2,000 per month, a 20% increase from March 2020, and a notable rise in corporate insolvencies.
Lauren Glaister has joined Evelyn Partners as a partner in the Leeds office’s investment management team. With extensive experience, Glaister specialises in managing investments for private clients and contributes to Evelyn Partners’ growth plans in the region. Her appointment aims to enhance the firm’s investment proposition and overall business performance.
BDO UK has introduced Personas, a secure generative AI platform for its 7,500 employees, utilising the latest GPT-4 models. Designed to augment employee productivity, Personas supports tasks from drafting reports to analysing documents. Custom personas tailor outputs to individual styles and specialisms, incorporating BDO’s voice capabilities. Developed using Microsoft AI technology, Personas ensures confidentiality and compliance, reflecting BDO’s commitment to human-led, technology-powered strategies and continuous innovation.
