Restructuring specialist joins Grant Thornton

BUSINESS adviser Grant Thornton has strengthened its partner group in the North West with the appointment of restructuring services partner Sarah O’Toole.

O’Toole, 40, joins from AlixPartners where she worked for more than 18 years and, in recent years, led the turnaround and restructuring services team in Manchester.

Carl Williams, North West managing partner at Grant Thornton said: “I am sure Sarah will be a great fit with us. She has great contacts and a wide network, having worked in the North West throughout her career.

“Our business is in great shape and we will soon be making further key appointments in our North West practice.”

O’Toole said: “I am thrilled to be joining the team at Grant Thornton. The opportunity to lead the restructuring services team in the North West is really exciting. Grant Thornton is a huge brand.”

“I am looking forward to getting started and working with the talented partner group as well as Jason Bell and the rest of the team. I am joining at a great time, the team has won a number of high profile cases in the last few months and this gives us positive momentum as we enter the last quarter of 2016.”

In her spare time Sarah enjoys spending time with her two young children as well as eating out and socialising with friends.

Meanwhile, the firm has today (Friday October 7) launched the Vibrant Economy Commission, which will guide the business and financial adviser’s efforts to build a vision for a vibrant economy.

The Commission, made up of leading names committed to action and change, will examine the challenges and opportunities facing UK business and society.

It will focus on tackling the issues affecting companies, cities, people and communities, and identify how growth can be more equally shared to allow the UK to reach its full potential.

Through a series of nationwide inquiries, the Vibrant Economy Commission aims to stimulate new ideas and actions that will shape a vibrant economy for Britain.

It will be co-chaired by Brompton Bicycle CEO, Will Butler-Adams and A Very Good Company founder, Natalie Campbell.

North West Commissioners are Manchester-based tech entrepreneur and adviser Claire Braithwaite of The Co-operative Group and Cheshire-based Nick Roberts, UK and Europe of engineering group Atkins.

Sacha Romanovitch, chief executive of Grant Thornton, said: “As a firm we’ve set a bold strategic agenda anchored in our purpose of helping to shape a vibrant economy, grounded in the belief that great businesses work holistically to contribute to the system on which their sustainable growth depends.

“Throughout the year we have launched a series of nationwide inquiries, convening people from the public, private and third sector to look at how we can achieve this.

“To add rigour to our work, I’m delighted to be able to announce the launch of our Vibrant Economy Commission made up external people, to oversee this work and to ensure the insights create lasting value for the UK economy.”