Raft of senior appointments at big four firm in Manchester announced

The Manchester office of accountants KPMG has announced the appointment of four new practice leads.

Damien Margetson, Elizabeth Meadowcroft, Nisha Sharma and Laura Smart will lead KPMG’s forensic, value creation, technology and enterprise offerings.

Damien Margetson returns to Manchester to take on the role of head of forensic in the North West, after a nine-year stint in London leading the firm’s risk analytics practice

He will work closely with businesses across the region to help them transform their approach to managing regulatory risk and support them in moments of crisis.

Elizabeth Meadowcroft, a director in KPMG’s deal advisory practice, has been appointed to lead the firm’s in-deal value enhancement proposition across the regional market.

She is a synergy, integration and separation expert, performing rapid value assessments for private equity and corporates, identifying upsides and implementing performance improvements.

She has advised on major transactions with clients including Anglo American, ASDA, Blackstone, Britvic, British Airways, CapVest, Cinven, SuperGroup, Tangerine Confectionary and United Biscuits.

Nisha Sharma is a director in KPMG’s corporate finance team, where she specialises in mergers and acquisitions for technology, media and telecommunications businesses, having recently advised on LDC’s management buyout of Mandata Holdings and the sale of Giacom Limited to Livingbridge.

In her new role as head of technology in the North West, she will use her expertise to support the region’s growing community of tech businesses, from start-ups to more established companies.

Nisha replaces Graham Pearce, who now leads KPMG’s technology sector M&A offering nationally.

Tax director Laura Smart has been appointed to lead KPMG’s enterprise team in the North West.

Taking over the role from audit partner Stuart Burdass, she will use her 20 years’ experience at KPMG to lead a multi-disciplinary team tasked with giving privately owned companies, including fast-growing innovative businesses, private equity backed businesses and family businesses access to the tools and finance they need to grow.

The specialist appointments come as Geraldine Hooi, Christopher Middlehurst, Heather Garret, Sam Legge and Claire Edwards are promoted to director in KPMG’s Manchester office.

Nicola Quayle, office senior partner at KPMG in Manchester, said: “Elizabeth, Damien, Laura and Nisha’s skills and sector knowledge perfectly demonstrate the depth of specialist expertise we have at our disposal in our growing Manchester office, and across the North West, to support businesses.

“We have also made another significant round of promotions throughout KPMG, recognising the outstanding talent of our people and their contribution to supporting the North West’s business community.

“The vibrancy and strength of the region continues to build, with multinational companies now regularly choosing it as their UK base.

“We have growth ambitions to match, which is why we are investing in the very best emerging and experienced professionals.”