Today’s news in brief – 10/7/2024

Grant Thornton has appointed Jo-Anne Allen and Heather Smallwood as global mobility tax partners, and Ian Rowland as innovation tax partner. This follows a record investment in their tax team, with seven partners and 19 directors hired or promoted in the past six months. Allen, with over 20 years of legal and global mobility experience, will support mid-market companies. Smallwood, with 25 years in international tax, will focus on the energy sector in Aberdeen. Rowland, with extensive R&D experience, will support dynamic mid-market businesses. Head of Tax Hazel Platt highlights these appointments as part of their ambitious growth plans. BDO's managing partner elect, Mark Shaw, has announced a new leadership team effective from October 1. The team includes Dominic Stammers (audit), Adam Fraid (tax), Gurpal Ahluwalia (deals), Leigh Treacy (consulting), Kyla Bellingal (regions), Scott Knight (growth), Anna Draper (people), Kaley Crossthwaite (quality), Andy Butterworth (operations), and Gervase MacGregor (governance). Shaw emphasises the team's role in balancing BDO’s heritage with future opportunities, particularly supporting mid-sized businesses, which are crucial to the UK economy. Shaw's leadership aims to ensure BDO's resilience and growth amidst current economic challenges. FRP has appointed Andy John as a partner in its restructuring team at the St Albans office. John, a chartered accountant and insolvency practitioner, brings significant experience from Leonard Curtis, where he led the Hertfordshire office. At FRP, he will advise UK businesses on restructuring and insolvency, enhancing the team that recently managed the administration of The Body Shop and assisted Tasty PLC. This appointment follows FRP’s promotion of six restructuring staff to partner and acquisitions of Wilson Field and GWC. COO Jeremy French highlights John's expertise as a valuable addition to their expanding national practice. Karen Thomson has rejoined Armstrong Watson as partner and head of payroll, based in Carlisle. With extensive payroll experience, Thomson previously developed Armstrong Watson's payroll service to a national standard before heading AAB’s payroll service. She holds influential positions in various payroll and tax forums, including CIPP and HMRC. Thomson aims to expand Armstrong Watson’s payroll offerings, integrating new technology and enhancing client services across employment tax, financial planning, and IT. CEO Paul Dickson emphasises Thomson’s vision and experience as crucial to advancing their client proposition and delivering superior service.