Begbies’ Mark Fry takes VP role at IPA

REGULATOR AND LICENSOR of insolvency practitioners the Insolvency Practitioners Association has named Begbies Traynor partner Mark Fry as its deputy vice-president.

He is national head of restructuring and insolvency at Begbies Traynor and will take up presidency at the professional body in April 2014. He will succeed FRP Advisory partner Charles Turner at that time. The current president is Ernst & Young's Patrick Brazzil.

Fry (pictured) has more than 20 years' experience in the insolvency market with particular expertise in handling high profile football club restructuring and collapses, including Southampton and a Championship side.

He also worked on the restructuring of Bournemouth which was one of the first clubs to exit administration using a combined Company Voluntary Arrangement, where a portion of the debt is repaid over a contracted period of time, and liquidation model. He has also worked on the collapse of airliner SilverJet and FTSE 100 company Sage's reseller BDE Group.

"The IPA plays a vital role not only in raising standards within the insolvency profession, but also in widening knowledge and understanding of the value of the work of insolvency practitioners," he said.

"I have enjoyed a long relationship with the IPA and it is a real honour to be elected as deputy vice-president. It's important that those with first-hand knowledge in insolvency practice play an active role in working within the professional bodies that shape policy."

Fry was originally a partner at Taylor Gotham & Fry, a corporate recovery specialist, which was acquired by Begbies Traynor in 2005. He is currently a CEO of BTG Mesirow Financial Consulting, Begbies Traynor's joint venture with American business Mesirow Financial Consulting as well as partner at the firm.