Headhunters bring Lee to Stoy Hayward
Clark Whitehill’s self-assessment expert Mark Lee has been headhunted by Group A rivals BDO Stoy Hayward.
Lee, who has been at the New Street Square firm for ten years, is due to join Stoys’ professional practices group, headed by Simon Bevan, in mid-October after he has worked out a six-month notice period. He is the second Clark Whitehill partner to defect to Stoys this month – fellow tax specialist Shirley Mitchard started on 1 May.
The high-profile move is a major coup for Stoys, which has been looking to expand its PPG for several months to meet growing demand particularly from the Big Six. One source estimated Lee’s fee income to be between #500,000 and #700,000 a year.
Stoys’ managing partner Adrian Martin said: ‘We are delighted that Mark has chosen to join us and are looking forward to him coming on board.’
Clark Whitehill audit and marketing partner Zahir Fazal said Lee’s departure was a blow: ‘Mark has decided that his career is best served elsewhere.
It’s entirely amicable. We are sorry to see him go.’
Lee, who has won widespread media coverage for the firm, has been forbidden to talk to the press during his notice period.
Fazal explained: ‘Once a partner has resigned, we would prefer other people to speak on behalf of the firm.’
