Accounting firm UHY Hacker Young has named Laurence Sacker as newmanaging partner in its London and Nottingham firm, with effect from 1 May 2016, taking over from Ladislav Hornan, who has held the top job for more than 20 years
appointed corporate finance partner Sacker takes over the role from Ladislav Hornan, after more than 20 years in the post.
He joined UHY Hacker Young in 1998 and specialises in advising clients on raising equity and debt finance via stock market listings and M&A deals and has been instrumental in leading strong growth in UHY Hacker Young’s AIM offering.
His appointment will see the firm continue its focus on developing client services and driving further growth, enhancing sector strengths and service specialisms, and cementing its position as a firm which combines the client care of a small-to-mid-sized firm with big-firm expertise.
During Hornan’s tenure, the firm reinforced the UHY Hacker Young UK brand and also assisted the growth of the UHY international network, driving its global expansion – which remain key objectives for the firm’s strategy.
Sacker says: ‘I’d like to thank Ladislav on behalf of everyone at UHY Hacker Young for his enormous contribution to the firm’s impressive performance during his tenure. Ladislav has helped build UHY Hacker Young into a very solid and well regarded firm.
‘I’m delighted to be taking over the role of managing partner to help continue to build on its success. In recent years, we’ve grown considerably both in terms of our size and our standing as a leading UK accountancy network, as well as on the global stage through our international network.’
The firm is planning to expand its UK coverage with Leeds and the South West earmarked for potential acquisitions.
Hornan joined the firm in 1974, becoming a partner in 1980. He took over as managing partner in 1995, when there were just nine offices with fee income of £12.6m. As well as setting up the Russia, China and Gulf desks in the firm’s UK offices, he was also twice the chairman of UHY’s international network.
He will now take on a business development role, and remains on the board of UHY’s international network.
Hornan says: ‘Laurence is the ideal choice to continue to drive UHY Hacker Young forward.
‘The executive is in a stronger position than ever and I’m very much looking forward to continuing to support UHY in its growth as part of my future role in business development at the firm.’
UHY Hacker Young is currently ranked 15th in the Accountancy Top 75 Survey with turnover of £52.6m in 2015. Now in its 91st year, it has 103 partners and 526 professional staff across 27 locations around the country.