Three women on shortlist to become new EY managing partner

Six people are reportedly on the shortlist to become the next managing partner of ‘Big Four’ accountancy firm EY, with half believed to be women.

According to The Times, the process to find a successor to former managing partner Steve Varley is to begin later this week with the firm asking its current head of European business, Julie Teigland, to oversee the process.

According to sources cited by the newspaper the six people in the running are:

• Steve Wilkinson, senior client partner, oil and gas who manages the relationship with BP.
• Hywel Ball, head of audit
• Omar Ali, head of financial services
• Bridget Walsh, head of tax in Europe
• Lynn Rattigan, UK chief operating officer
• Alison Duncan, an audit partner who manages the relationship with Vodafone

The even gender split also increases the possibility of the frim appointing the first female managing partner of a ‘Big Four’ firm.

Varley had been managing partner since 2011, however will now take on a new role as global vice chair for sustainability.