Deloitte names new regional head
THERE will be a new head of Deloitte in the region following the decision by Les Platts to take early retirement in May 2008.
Mr Platts (54) leaves his position of practice senior partner, North East at the end of May, handing over the leadership of the firm's Leeds and Newcastle offices to fellow audit specialist Geoff Taylor.
The retirement will mark the end of Mr Platts' 33-year career with the firm, the last six of which have been spent as practice senior partner responsible for the Leeds and Newcastle offices. During this time he oversaw the integration of the Deloitte and Andersen practices.
“I decided some time ago that I was ready for a change and now we have selected the right successor I am looking forward to a completely new direction,” commented Mr Platts.
“I am not currently intending to take on any full time roles after retirement and certainly won't be working for another accounting firm, but I am looking forward to taking on new business and non-business challenges on a part-time basis.
“Geoff is a talented leader who has spent most of his career in the region with both Deloitte and Andersen. He handles some of the firm's most important relationships and he's the ideal candidate to take the firm forward,” he added.
Mr Taylor, 53, will leave his role as head of the firm's audit & advisory practice in the UK regions shortly but the process of handover from Mr Platts will start immediately.
“I take the reins of the North East practice from Les following a period of sustained growth that has outpaced the market, as well as the rest of the firm, and it's a very strong platform for further progress,” commented Mr Taylor.
“The Yorkshire region, and in particular Leeds, has built an enviable position as the professional services capital outside London and we are well placed to maintain our role in further growth of the sector here.
“We anticipate double-digit fee growth again this year, with particularly strong progress in financial services and renewed focus on retail and the public sectors, we are expecting to continue to out perform the market across Yorkshire and the north east,” he added.
Mr Taylor has spent the majority of his career working in the North East, moving from Manchester to Newcastle in 1984. Apart from a spell in London, he has been based in Leeds since 1990.
Since the integration of the former Deloitte and Andersen practices in 2002, Mr Taylor has been responsible for the UK region's audit and advisory practice but has continued to work with many clients in the Yorkshire and the wider North East region.
He lives near Wetherby and is married with two sons. He enjoys sport as a spectator, horse riding and has an interest in wine.
