David Elliott is to take KPMG's leadership role in the region as Newcastle Office Senior Partner from 1 March 2017, ahead of Mick Thompson's retirement from the firm in Spring 2018.
David, presently the professional services firm’s head of tax in Newcastle, is a home grown business adviser from Stocksfield in the Tyne Valley and has spent his 30 year career in Newcastle. He joined KPMG nine years ago as a partner to lead the firm’s tax practice in the region and has since been instrumental in its growth and success alongside that of our clients in the region.
In his current role David advises a wide variety of clients, reflecting the region’s diverse corporate community. The majority of his portfolio comprises privately owned businesses, including PE backed and family firms and David leads KPMG’s regional Enterprise offering, which tailors KPMG’s range of services across audit, tax and advisory, to the needs of private businesses.
In addition he works closely with listed companies and the UK interests of overseas owned businesses, with clients from a wide variety of sectors including mining, manufacturing, retail, financial services and property and construction.
David will continue to run KPMG’s tax team in the North East, while Mick Thompson will continue to work with audit senior partner Nick Plumb, serving the needs of the firm’s large and varied audit client base.
Speaking of his appointment to Office Senior Partner, David Elliott said: “Having played an active role in this vibrant, regional economy for many years, I am delighted to lead one of the area’s most prestigious firms. The excellent KPMG team based here on the Quayside and our superb client portfolio makes the North East an exciting and rewarding place to work.
“There’s a great deal going on within KPMG and we need to maintain the momentum of our Enterprise focus alongside our continued commitment to the public sector and listed company arenas, and ensure those leading the region’s organisations know of our appetite to work with them. In terms of projects, we are increasingly calling on an unrivalled combination of technology and colleagues to support clients addressing cyber security, IT transformation, customer experience issues, and of course the impact of the Brexit vote.”
Chris Hearld, KPMG’s North Region Chairman, added: “David is North East through and through, with a longstanding reputation in the regional market. The success he has delivered for our tax practice, developing deep specialisms, for example in capital allowances, innovation reliefs and incentives and M&A tax, plus his energy and appetite for client service makes him a superb fit for this market critical role, driving our strategy for further profitable growth in the future.
“After a hugely successful, multi award winning tenure as our leader in the region I’m pleased we will continue to benefit from Mick’s tremendous work for a further year as he manages an orderly handover to David and continues to lead on some of our key audit clients, including Greggs and Renew, which will be invaluable at a time when the audit market is more dynamic than ever.”
KPMG’s Newcastle office is 150 strong, led by a partner and director group of 12 senior professionals. It contributed significantly to the firm’s recently announced 15% revenue growth across its Northern practice. The office has recently retained the Hargreaves Services Plc, Home Group and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust audits, as well as audit and taxation services for Opsec Security Group in competitive tenders. The M&A team advised on some of the region’s most significant transactions, including Kitwave Wholesale Group, North East Convenience Stores, ZyroFisher and Kids 1st, contributing to the win of the Corporate Finance team of the year award at the Dealmakers event.
