Financial appointments: BTG Tax, Barclays Corporate, Deloitte

International expert joins BTG Tax

BTG Tax has appointed international tax expert Kari Campbell in a drive to increase the depth of its overseas tax expertise. Her appointment links BTG Tax into WTS Alliance, the global network of tax firms in more than 90 countries, and complements BTG Tax’s existing international network and its existing offices in Cyprus and Australia. Mrs Campbell said: “The importance of international tax advice should not be underestimated with more companies than ever now having an international dimension to their business.  BTG Tax was the only firm I considered joining as I regard it as the only progressive independent tax practice in the UK.” Andrew Shaw, BTG Tax’s national managing partner, said: “Kari brings an increased international perspective and reach to our client offering and her appointment enhances our ability to operate across the globe.” Married with two young children, Mrs Campbell lives in Bromsgrove, and will be based in BTG Tax’s Birmingham office in George Road, Edgbaston. BTG Tax is part of the Begbies Traynor Group.

Barclays Corporate continues expansion

Barclays Corporate has recruited two new relationship directors to its expanding Midlands based team. Matthew and Andrew have taken up positions as Relationship Directors within the Birmingham Corporate Team, and will join the existing Barclays Relationship Directors specialising in providing finance solutions for the largest companies across the Region. Matthew Porter joins from BNP Paribas where he was responsible for running a portfolio of the bank’s largest corporate customers. He spent the previous 13 years at Fortis Bank.  Andrew Budenberg  rejoins the bank  following a spell with AIB Capital Markets, having previously worked for Barclays in the North West until 2007. Richard Craven, Head of Birmingham at Barclays Corporate said: “Barclays is committed to excellence in the large corporate sector and the wider corporate finance arena. Andrew and Matthew’s appointments are testimony to this and will enable us to develop our business further.”

Deloitte lays out pensions team ambitions

Deloitte says it plans to treble the size of its pensions advisory service practice within four years to provide services across three areas, including the funding of pension schemes, benefits strategy for employees and day-to-day pensions operations. Andrew Mewis, partner and head of Deloitte’s Pensions Advisory Group in the Midlands, said: “The plans will broaden our service capability across the Midlands. It’s an important move given the challenges faced by our clients, which range from dynamically reducing pension scheme deficits to ensuring companies’ pensions systems are capable of dealing with legislative changes.” Last year Deloitte launched the Pension Funding Partnership (PFP), which enables organisations to utilise their asset base to finance pension deficit obligations.