EY introduces its new NW senior partner

INCOMING EY North West senior partner Bob Ward has pledged to “take the company to the market” as well as growing the business when he fulfils a long-held ambition to return to the region.

Ward, 52, takes over the helm on January 1 from Simon Allport who has carried out the role since 2008.

The father of three – born at West Kirby on the Wirral before his father’s job took him as a youngster to Australia and South Africa and then South Croydon – lived in the North West for the first 15 years of his career, where he worked with a lot of medium sized corporates.

“I always wanted to be in the North West as a partner,” he told TheBusinessDesk. “But in 2001 I relocated to London with my family.

“My wife is from Bolton and my children have been brought up here.”

Ward paid tribute to Allport who is staying within EY business to unsure a “seamless transition”.

“Under Simon’s leadership, the North West has grown successfully,” said Ward. “The brand has become much stronger over the last few years.
 
“And we’ve been successful in bringing some younger audit partners and have brought in some new partners from Addleshaw Goddard to EY.”

In London, Ward’s specialism was largely in restructuring, but his remit will soon be much broader.

“My role will be very much a market facing one, a senior ambassador for the firm out there, building our brand and relationship with clients,” he continued.

“I will represent the firm and I will be working with all our business areas to make sure I take the firm to the market.”

Ward said the company was looking at growth opportunities using the North West as a regional base.

“We want to expand our advisory business, in infrastructure, and Government work as well as in data analytics.
 
“We’ve got more than 600 people in Manchester and Liverpool and we are looking to increase that in the next few years.”
 
Ward admitted that the challenges would be delivering on the growth plan.

“We want to make sure we do all of the things we do across the business, sometimes with competing tensions,” he went on.

“From a markets perspective I am aware our clients will have some challenges.”

And he alluded to the looming Brexit conundrum facing North West businesses and the company’s commitment to the recently-formed Northern Powerhouse Partnership.

“We want to develop together (with the businesses), maybe looking through more of a UK lens, Investing and growing the economy outside London.

“I can’t see how that won’t put us in a good place over the next five years. There is a good rationale for optimism.”

One of Ward’s key roles will be to help steer the move from its current North West headquarters at 100 Barbirolli Square in central Manchester to nearly-complete 2 St Peter’s Square where fit-out starts soon ahead of EY’s scheduled relocation in May 2017.

“The new environment will embrace flexible working, but take it will also take it a stage further,” said Ward.

“It is a completely new design, with new collaborative space as clients look for an overall proposition. A lot of what we’re doing is very much working in client teams.

“In terms of people – there are more than 550 people here in Manchester, but we won’t need 550 desks. It will be a new way of working.”

Meanwhile, Allport hailed the talent of the man coming in to take over the EY helm in the North West.

He said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed leading EY here over the last nine years and I am delighted that Bob has decided to take on this role.

“I have seen the region grow substantially during my time in this role and become one of the most dynamic regional economic areas in the UK.

“Our business is in great shape in the North West and I decided it is time for a change and to take on some new challenges. Bob is very well placed to help continue this growth for the North West in the years to come.”