The Midlands, with its focus on hi-tech engineering, can be an economic driver of UK recovery according to the man who has taken over as chief executive of accountants Crowe Clark Whitehill.
Crowe Clark Whitehill, which has its Midlands office in Oldbury, has announced the appointment of David Mellor as chief executive effective from Monday, July 1.
And he has paid tribute to the work of the Oldbury office under managing partner Johnathan Dudley in establishing Crowe Clark Whitehill as the “go to” firm for high growth SMEs in manufacturing in the Midlands.
“I believe the seeds of growth are in hi-tech manufacturing with smaller firms with strong intellectual property leading the way.
“The new Patent Box regime, Research and Development tax credits and the fact that the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is looking at enterprise zones again are all indicators that this Government may be on the right lines in promoting the right sectors of the economy to lead us out of recession.
“Johnathan Dudley, who heads up our Midlands office, is also the national lead on manufacturing.
“The Midlands office has developed a highly successful Midlands Manufacturing Network and also the COFA Network for law firms – both great ideas that have been taken up by Crowe Clark Whitehill nationally,” he said.
New rules were introduced last year by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority requiring all firms of solicitors to appoint Compliance Officers for Finance and Administration (COFA), which prompted Crowe Clark Whitehill to launch its COFA Network.
In November last year the Midlands office of the national audit, tax and advisory firm was named “Professional Services firm of the Year” at the prestigious Black Country Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards.
“These are all powerful indicators that the Midlands and Crowe Clark Whitehill’s Oldbury office are well placed to lead the regional growth outside of the south east that must be the true indicator that recovery is underway and established,” said Mr Mellor.
Nationally, Mr Mellor replaces Andrew Pianca, who stands down after almost a decade as chief executive.
He takes on the chief executive’s role after several years as London office managing partner and head of the firm’s corporate business team.
“I am honoured that Crowe Clark Whitehill’s partners feel I am the right person to lead the firm. Our firm rarely trumpets its successes, preferring to focus on delivering quality services to our clients and contributing to knowledge in our key markets,” he said.
Crowe Clark Whitehill is one of the top ten audit firms in the UK, offering tax, audit and advisory services with five areas of focus: corporate business, not for profits, pension funds, professional practices and private clients.
The firm was recently named Auditor of the Year – Large Firms at the 2013 FD’s Excellence Awards, and has been decorated with a number of awards over the past year, including AIA Accountancy Firm of the Year.
Mr Mellor said: “As a firm we are proud of our tradition, quality and independence. We are the UK member firm of Crowe Horwath International, a top ten worldwide network of accountancy firms and along with our network, we have strategies to maintain and consolidate our position in the market.
“I would like to thank Andrew Pianca for his inspired leadership in recent years.
“Unlike some of our competitors we have planned for succession in our firm over several years and we look forward to continuing success while remaining committed to our cultural values.
“Andrew said in an interview a while ago that he wanted his legacy to be to leave an energetic group of younger partners keen to continue developing the firm, and in this I think he has succeeded.”
He believes that the firm’s core values of integrity and long term relationship development have never been more important at a time when the country faces tough questions about austerity, economic recovery and the morality of tax policy.
David Mellor is a tax practitioner by background and an Oxford graduate, who has risen quickly through the profession, with a professional focus on business tax, M&A and cross border matters. He believes the future for all businesses, large and small, lies in performing on the international stage, with advisers capable of helping them achieve success.
He believes Crowe Clark Whitehill is well-placed to support these aspirations.
“We are a national firm first and foremost, with the capability to call on our international network and to deliver a personal quality service to our clients,” he said.
He has recently been co-opted to the council of the ICAEW and is a member of the board of Crowe Horwath International.
Andrew Pianca becomes chairman of the firm and was elected chairman of Crowe Horwath International in January 2013. Having stepped down as chief executive, he will return to client work as a partner in the firm’s not-for-profit unit.
