Grant Thornton starts auditing push with key appointments
Leading mid-tier auditor begins a new assault on the traditional dominance of the Big Four by promoting two senior staff members
Business and financial adviser Grant Thornton today announced the double
appointments of Steve Maslin to the role of head of external professional
affairs, and Phil Crooks as the new head of assurance.
Maslin has led the firm’s assurance practice for the past six years and will
now drive the firm’s efforts to increase its presence in the UK public interest
audit market, while working with the Grant Thornton International organisation
on its plans to increase global public interest audit revenues by $1bn.
His promotion also includes a position on the newly-founded global assurance
advisory committee of the Grant Thornton International organisation and work as
chair of the joint audit committee of the CCAB. He continues to represent the
firm on public policy groups such as the Audit Quality Forum, European Contact
Group and Global Public Policy Committee.
Maslin said: ‘I am delighted to accept this role at a crucial time for the
audit profession. The publication of the FRC’s Oxera report, back in April, has
triggered a process of change, with the market showing clear signs of
dissatisfaction at audit concentration, and with audit committee chairs and
share owners making greater calls for more choice.
‘Described in the Oxera report as the firm outside of the Big Four with the
highest recognition among audit committee chairs, Grant Thornton – thanks to its
leadership of the AIM audit market and position as the firm with the highest
number of listed audit clients outside of the Big Four – is ideally placed to
offer the market the greater choice it demands.’
Of his own appointment, Crooks said: ‘My experience of having worked closely
with Steve over the past couple of years will ensure that there is continuity in
the delivery of our assurance services to clients.
‘Taking on the key role of ensuring audit quality compliance, one of my key
objectives will be to help further develop the firm’s audit services to public
interest companies while ensuring ever greater investment in training for our
staff.’