Powell gets PwC senior partner nod
Former administrator of MG Rover becomes head of the UK's largest audit firm
Former MG Rover administrator Ian Powell has been appointed senior partner of
PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Powell, the firm’s head of advisory, has won the four-man race to succeed
Kieran Poynter, the firm’s partners were told at 1pm today.
The result is something of an upset. Insiders had suggested that Richard
Collier-Keywood, the firm’s head of tax, and Glyn Barker, managing partner for
clients and markets were the front runners. But it is thought the 52-year-old
Powell put in a strong performance at the firms’ hustings, winning over the
partners.
Powell is said to be very ‘affable’ with one partner saying: ‘He would be a
great guy to be marooned on a desert island with. He’s just a jolly nice chap.’
A fan of West Bromwich Albion, Powell joined the firm in 1977 and has been a
partner since 1991.
An economics graduate, he worked on high-profile restructurings such as
Marconi, ntl and Drax. He is married with four children and a member of the
ICAEW.
‘I’m delighted to be elected by my fellow partners to lead the firm. As the
market leader our firm’s focus will be to use the enormous range of our skills
to bring real benefit to our clients and our people, and to show responsible
leadership in everything we do,’ Powell said.
‘The opportunity to lead our thriving business is hugely exciting and I look
forward to building on the great work done by Kieran Poynter in developing trust
and confidence in our firm,’ he added.
Poynter said: ‘Ian will be taking the reins at a time of great opportunity
and when the firm is in excellent shape to take advantage of those
opportunities. Ian’s energy and vision are reflected in an outstanding track
record and I have every confidence that he will lead this great firm to even
greater things.’
The
three
other candidates were Richard Sexton, the head of assurance,
Collier-Keywood, and Barker.
An independent body, the Electoral Reform Society, was responsible for
handling the vote, the firm said.
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Powell takes over on July 1.
Further Reading:
Africa
veteran leads field in PwC boss contest