KPMG has appointed James Kergon as Scotland’s senior partner to lead the business advisory firm nationally, he will also continue in his role as the firm’s Scottish head of deal advisory, advising businesses and investors on transactions. Kergon is responsible for a team of more than 1,300 people across KPMG’s offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen, with a remit to drive the firm’s growth in Scotland. Joining as a graduate in Glasgow 23 years ago, Kergon became a partner in 2016 and took over as Glasgow office senior partner in June 2020.

The wealth management and professional services group, Tilney Smith & Williamson has appointed Chris Grigg as chair designate. Grigg will join the group’s board with immediate effect and, following FCA approvals, will take over as chair from Will Samuel. Griggs brings 40 years of financial services and commercial experience to Tilney Smith & Williamson.  Grigg is chair of the newly formed UK Infrastructure Bank and is senior independent director at BAE Systems plc, where he has served on the board for the last eight years. The group has also appointed Rayhan Ghandi as an investment manager based in its Guildford office as part of its continued expansion in Surrey. Ghandi joins from Charles Stanley where he started as a finance assistant in 2013 working up to investment manager.

Scholes Chartered Accountants has appointed Ryan Allan as a director, marking the launch of the latest phase of growth for the Kirkwall-headquartered business. Allan, who began his accountancy career with Scholes in 2011, has been an associate director with the firm for the past two years. He now joins directors Karen Scholes and Ivan Houston on the leadership team.

Xeinadin Group, the Ireland and UK-based business advisory and accountancy group, has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Simon Nice as chief financial officer. Joining from Lloyd’s Register where he was group director of finance, Nice will be responsible for leading the group’s financial operations as it continues its development through acquisitions and organic growth. Nice joins as Xeinadin has bolstered its board with heavyweight hires: Alastair Marsh as independent non-executive chairman and Robin Williams and Martin Burgess as non-executive directors.

Moore Thompson has promoted Michelle Louth to an audit and accounts manager. Louth joined the firm from college as a junior accountant and has worked her way up to her new role by delivering skilled support and expertise on bookkeeping, VAT, and management accounts and accounts preparation. During her time at Moore Thompson, Louth gained accreditation as a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Account (FCCA).

Helen Cuthbert, an experienced private client tax adviser, who has previously worked at both Big Four and mid-tier firms, has joined as the private client leader at accountancy firm, Menzies LLP, to spearhead the firm’s family office. Based at the firm’s Leatherhead office, Cuthbert will be leading a team of local private client tax advisers and will be working closely with the firm’s centre of excellence for trusts.

Scottish accountancy firm French Duncan has hired Elizabeth Leonard as a director in its corporate tax compliance team to help extend the firm’s client base in a post-pandemic economy. Leonard was previously an associate director in the corporate tax team at RSM and also worked at Grant Thornton. The move will see her work to build increasing market share in the corporate tax sector. Leonard will provide tax compliance and advisory services to the firm’s existing portfolio, helping them to navigate the ever-changing, complex tax landscape.

Specialist business advisory firm FRP has bolstered its corporate finance offering in London with the appointment of valuation specialist Jim Davies. He joins as a partner and will be responsible for growing the valuation service line at the firm. Prior to FRP Davies was a senior director at Alvarez & Marsal, where he spent the past seven years developing its UK and European valuation practice.

Provider of independent professional trustee services and pension schemes Dalriada Trustees has appointed Jessie Wilson as a professional trustee based in the Leeds office. Wilson joins from Baillie Gifford where she was a director working in the firm’s US financial intermediaries division. Wilson has 15 years of industry experience across multiple disciplines and on starting her role Wilson said: ‘I was particularly attracted to Dalriada’s fresh approach to trusteeship, which draws upon the diversity of thinking and experience that each member of the team has to offer.’

The Institute of Management Accountants has named Laurie Burney, PhD, CMA, CSCA, CPA as associate professor of accounting and older of the J.E Bush professorship in accounting at Baylor University as IMA’s professor-in-residence. Beginning 1 September Burney will serve in the role for a three-year term while continuing to advocate for and teach management accounting at Baylor. In her role Burney will be IMA’s top academic volunteer leader, serving as the liaison between IMA and the university communities, helping to grow the next generation of accountants and expand the profession as a whole. Prior to her roles in academia, Burney worked in public accounting and for a government agency and earned her certified management accountant (CMA) in 1993 and Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis in 2017 (CSCA).