Cooper Parry unveils three senior appointments

Cooper Parry has appointed Nick Hatton, Arif Ahmad, and Laura Bevan into senior roles across the firm. 

Hatton joins as partner and head of transaction tax, bringing over 25 years of experience from PwC and EY. 

Based at Cooper Parry’s East Midland’s Sky View hub with a national remit, he will lead the expansion of the firm’s transaction tax offering, particularly in the private equity mid-market space.  

Hatton’s career journey began in the culinary world, having originally trained as a chef before transitioning into accountancy. He is chair of trustees at the School of Artisan Food, where he champions food education and sustainability.  

Hatton said: “What drew me to Cooper Parry was its ambition, trajectory, and culture. There’s a real opportunity here to build something different, something impactful, without the constraints of the Big Four. Cooper Parry gives you the freedom to innovate and make a meaningful difference.”   

Meanwhile, Ahmad joins as regional market leader for Yorkshire and North East and audit relationship partner, with a focus on building the firm’s presence across the region. 

He previously spent 28 years at PwC, with roles including head of Leeds Office and head of North of England Private Business and PE. 

Alongside his role at Cooper Parry, Ahmad is involved in other business ventures, including the launch of an indoor padel, cricket and Pilates facility in Bradford, and is a trustee of Harewood House Trust and Governor at St Peter’s School York. He is also a well-known figure in the Yorkshire business community and co-founder of Stronger Together Leeds, a membership network created to raise the profile of diversity, inclusion and equality in the professional services sector across the city.  

Ahmad said: “Cooper Parry felt different from the outset, there’s an energy here that aligns with my values of making a real difference. Cooper Parry’’s approach to growth, culture, and community made it the right choice. I’m excited to be joining the firm and building a team and client base across Yorkshire and the North East.” 

Finally, Bevan joins as  assurance director following 12 years at PwC, where she most recently led sustainability for PwC Wales. She brings “deep expertise” in ESG and assurance and will play a key role in the firm’s “continued evolution as a purpose-led firm”.  

Bevan said: “Joining Cooper Parry felt like a natural next step. The firm’s commitment to being the UK’s largest B Corp accountancy practice isn’t just a label, it’s a mindset. I’m excited to help shape how assurance and sustainability come together to deliver real impact for our clients.”   

Commenting on the three appointments, Ade Cheatham, CEO of Cooper Parry, said: “We’re building the next generation professional services firm. One that’s rooted in innovation, collaboration, and client impact. Welcoming leaders like Nick, Arif, Adam and Laura shows that Cooper Parry is a credible and compelling alternative to the Big Four. And they won’t be the last. Others are already following in their footsteps, drawn by our vision and values.”