Grant Thornton Birmingham promotes three “rising stars” to director roles

THE Birmingham office of accountancy and advisory firm Grant Thornton has promoted three of its staff to director level.

Maria O’Donnell has been promoted to associate director in the firm’s advisory team where she will work alongside Midlands’ team head Geoff Davies and co-associate director Barry Moss to run the office’s corporate finance operation.

Experienced in recovery, due diligence and lead advisory roles, O’Donnell recently led the Grant Thornton team advising Warwickshire-based Harris & Sheldon Group on the sale of fishing equipment manufacturer Hardy & Greys and subsidiary Hardy Advanced Composites to US-headquartered Pure Fishing.

James Cook is a new director in the firm’s public sector assurance business, heading up the team’s work with NHS clinical commissioning groups and the fire service. Clients include commissioning groups in Staffordshire, Herefordshire and Shropshire and the West Midlands Fire Service.

Cook began his career as a nursing auxiliary in the NHS before pursuing a career in accountancy and has extensive experience in both the NHS and local government. He is working closely with clients across the public sector as they continue to face unprecedented financial challenges.

Fellow new director Becky Eagle joined Grant Thornton’s audit team in 2012 where she works closely with a growing range of mid to large organisations across the Midlands.

Her new role will see her build further on the firm’s business relationships as it extends its client portfolio, particularly in light of the recent Competition Commission announcement on public company audit, which aims to drive greater innovation and competition in the market.

Dave Munton, regional managing partner at Grant Thornton, said: “Maria, James and Becky epitomise the talent, commitment and diligence which Grant Thornton seeks and nurtures in its people.

“They each demonstrate sector-specific understanding combined with the high quality technical skills to help clients achieve their goals. There’s no doubt that they are among the firm’s growing band of rising stars and I’m delighted with their thoroughly well-deserved promotions.”