Press Release
Grant Thornton makes record investment in deals team
26 Mar 2024
Grant Thornton UK LLP, the leading business advisory firm, has made a record investment in its Corporate Finance team, with 10 partner promotions across M&A and Transaction Advisory Service (TAS).
Half the new partners are based in the UK regions with key appointments in Cambridge, Cardiff, Leeds and Manchester.
The new partners are Cambridge-based Stuart Davies, Jamie Roberts in Cardiff, Jim Whittaker and Bob McDermott in Leeds and Matt Bryden-Smith in Manchester.
Sector specialists Victoria Giles (skills & training), Paul Lynch (financial services due diligence) and Simon Blackburn (head of M&A for financial services), James Moore (transactions tax) and TAS expert Chris Sharpe, who are all based in the firm’s London-office, have also joined the partnership.
The firm, which in 2023 advised on 216 deals with a total value of more than £8.1bn, also promoted five Assistant Directors to Director. They are: Will Rose in the Thames Valley, Toby Hare in Cambridge, Humza Khan in Manchester and Jonny Bedford, Ryan Dearman and Mayoo Thushaarah in London.
A further 43 promotions have been made across the M&A and TAS teams as the firm continues to invest in its people and grow market share.
Keely Woodley, new Head of Deals and Business Consulting at Grant Thornton, said:
“The UK mid-market, the bedrock of our business, is a dynamic and diverse landscape, alive with enterprise and endeavour.
“These 10 partner promotions are a vote of confidence in the UK mid-market and statement of our commitment both to our people and to the regions, where we have strong local teams with outstanding market knowledge.
“Despite recent economic headwinds, our deep insight and close alignment with some key growth sectors such as healthcare, education, Software-as-a Service and other business services such as sustainability, travel, facilities management and waste and recycling, give us confidence in the future.”
Of the 216 successful transactions the firm delivered in 2023, 68 were cross-border while 115 involved Private Equity investment. The firm was ranked No 1 in London and No 2 across the UK by deal volume in the 2023 Experian MarketIQ M&A Review.
