Business and finance adviser Grant Thornton has boosted the senior management and leadership team at its East Midlands office in Leicester with the appointment of Mark Pashley as Tax Director.
A well-known tax expert in the East Midlands, Mark will lead Grant Thornton’s regional tax team that specialises in advising dynamic businesses and individuals.
Mark joins Chris Frostwick, Mustafa Abdulhusein, Tom Copson, and Owen Butler as part of the office’s Senior Leadership team.
The new role heralds Mark’s return to Leicester and the East Midlands after three years working in London and the South East.
Mark was previously partner at East Midlands firm PKF Cooper Parry, where he was head of its Capital Allowances team for almost five years, and Tenon Group in Nottingham (formerly BDO East Midlands), where he was Head of Tax for ten years. He was also previously with Coopers & Lybrand in Leicester, and independent chartered accountants Clayton & Brewill in Nottingham.
“A leading tax professional, Mark has extensive knowledge of the tax issues facing businesses and individuals, with more than 20 years’ specialist experience,” comments Chris Frostwick. “He has that rare combination of excellent financial skills and business nous, with insight, empathy, professionalism and a passion to help businesses achieve growth. Mark’s experience and ability in all areas of income, corporation and capital gains tax are second-to-none.
“We are delighted to have tempted him back to the East Midlands to take-up this important role in Leicester and be part of our senior leadership team.”
He adds: “Mark’s appointment is an important step in our plans for the business in the East Midlands, as we continue to invest in all areas and in line with our growth plans. Our leadership team is now even stronger and brings together business skill and financial knowledge to support our clients, and steer the practice towards 2020.”
Commenting on his appointment, Mark adds: “This is a great opportunity to be part of a professional, respected organisation, to work with ambitious, quality clients, and with the support of a talented team. I am looking forward to working closely with East Midlands clients again, and delivering the best tax advice to support their plans. Furthermore, as a member of the practice’s senior team, developing the business, team and regional office, plays to my strengths and presents the opportunity to utilise my experience.
“The East Midlands has a great number of dynamic businesses and entrepreneurs operating in a range of sectors, each with different economic opportunities and challenges. They need good advice, and particularly reliable tax advice to help them meet their aspirations. This is a fantastic opportunity to take a proactive role in this thriving regional market.
“Old fashioned business understanding is still vital to their sustainability,” he adds, “and I am looking forward to being back in the region, working with dynamic and ambitious companies, and being part of firm that supports creating a vibrant economy.”
Later this month, Mark is to lead the launch of Grant Thornton’s Top 200 East Midlands Report 2017, at a series of events across the region. Now in its fifth year, the Report highlights the 200 fastest growing companies run and managed from the East Midlands, and is the region’s only in depth study of the growth, performance and percentage rise in the profitability of businesses.
Mark explains: “With a detailed analysis of the financial performance of the region’s 200 fastest growing companies, the Report creates a unique snapshot of the health of the East Midlands economy, ranking the companies based on profit growth over a three-year period.
“This year sees a new format for the Report’s events that will enable us to discuss the local business landscape and economy, and coming just over a week after the General Election, will no doubt give an opportunity to discuss the result, its impact, and other issues such as Brexit.”
Grant Thornton is one of the world’s leading organisations of independent audit, tax and advisory firms. It has its East Midlands office in Leicester, where it has approximately 160 staff providing business and financial advice across Corporate and Personal Tax, audit and assurance, employer solutions, corporate finance, and sustainability, to organisations across the East Midlands.
