Profile: Digby Jones, KPMG Birmingham

July can’t come soon enough for KPMG Birmingham. Currently a senior partner at solicitors Edge & Ellison, Digby Jones will see the summer in with KPMG’s corporate finance team. One of the Midlands’ leading businessmen, Jones, 42, has both the experience and personality that make him a popular choice to strengthen the team. Richard Boot, head of KPMG corporate finance in the Midlands, explained: ‘Digby’s track record as a deal-maker and a deal-leader is second to none – he is one of only a handful of people with the right mix of key qualities.’ Building on his knowledge of the US corporate set-up, Jones will contribute to the development of the national standing of KPMG’s corporate finance capability.

After three years with Edge & Ellison, Jones stresses he will not be practising law of any description in his new role. ‘Nobody could have enjoyed the challenge of leading a firm like Edge & Ellison more than I have done. We achieved so much in a relatively short time. The opportunity arose to leave the law and develop something different and this appointment at KPMG is an exciting beginning of a second career. I will be returning to the work I love best – corporate finance – with one of the best teams in the UK,’ said Jones. The vice chairman of West Midlands CBI, taking over for a two-year term as chairman in November this year, enthused: ‘These are exciting times for professional firms able to provide a complete business advisory service, and as the merchant banks neglect large sectors of the plc market, well-resourced teams can make the difference.’