Perceptions of Liverpool behind reality, says McDonnell
DESPITE the Capital of Culture year and the remoulding of its city centre, Liverpool still suffers from a negative public image, according to one of its most senior professionals.
David McDonnell, 66, who has spent more than 45 years working in the city, is retiring as global chief executive of accountancy firm Grant Thornton in December.
He told TheBusinessDesk he had seen major changes across the city over those years but felt that many outside the city still don’t understand its full potential.
Mr McDonnell qualified with the accountancy firm’s Liverpool office in 1961 and was made partner in 1972. He became UK chief executive in 1989, before being made international chief executive in 2001.
Throughout that time he has always maintained an office in the city he clearly loves, and continued to lives in Grassendale.
Mr McDonnell said: “There have been huge changes in the city. The built environment and cultural activities, and places to live have all improved; particularly the economy of the city has seen a true renaissance.
“I grew up professionally in the Liverpool office. The business community in Liverpool was very entrepreneurial then, and still is. The city has matured and become more commercial.
“Now we’ve got a city that’s smaller than it was 40 years ago but now it has a real buzz with a much improved environment.
“The public perception of Liverpool has not yet caught up with reality. It will take time. But also, it’s a UK phenomenon, it’s not international. Outside the UK Liverpool has always had a good reputation – it is the strongest UK city brand outside London.”
He said he is confident that he leaves the firm on its strongest footing within Liverpool than ever before, adding that its move to newly refurbished office space in the Liver Building is a statement of confidence.
“It shows we believe there is a bright future in Liverpool. We don’t feel it’s appropriate to downsize this office and focus on Manchester, as some firms have done. We have made a commitment to the city,” he said.
Meanwhile, the city itself will continue to maintain a strong influence over the firm, even after Mr McDonnell’s departure.
“Liverpool has produced a disproportionate amount of leaders within Grant Thornton. It’s very first UK CEO was a Liverpool partner. The firm has only had five UK CEOs in its history and two have come from Liverpool,” he said.
“I always saw Liverpool as a microcosm of what we should be doing nationally. The way the Liverpool office judged what clients wanted and its culture was something I tried to translate. So it had a significant impact on and played a major part in shaping the firm.
“That influence will continue as it’s built into the DNA of the firm now.”
