Introduction
July saw continued investment in senior talent across the professional services sector, with firms announcing a range of leadership appointments, partner promotions, and strategic hires. Transaction advisory and M&A remained key areas of activity, with firms strengthening capabilities across private equity, financial due diligence, healthcare, technology, and transformation services. Firms also continued to expand leadership teams and specialist practices, reflecting growing demand for expertise in digital transformation, operational improvement, and increasingly complex transactions. These moves highlight the sector’s ongoing focus on developing experienced leaders to support clients through evolving market conditions and changing client requirements.
Key People Moves
Portage Point Partners have appointed Mike McDonald as Senior Director within their Transaction Advisory Services practice. Formerly Director, Deal Advisory at KPMG US, McDonald brings more than 12 years of experience in healthcare M&A, financial due diligence and transaction advisory, advising private equity sponsors and strategic buyers on buy-side and sell-side transactions across healthcare services and technology.
Deloitte have appointed Dana Aboura as Director. Formerly Director at PwC Middle East, Aboura brings experience in forensics, compliance and advisory services, having previously held senior roles at PwC and Protiviti Middle East Member Firm.
Alvarez & Marsal have appointed Michael Casey as Senior Director within their Global Transaction Advisory Group in Chicago. Formerly a Director in Deals – M&A Transaction Services at PwC, Casey brings more than 11 years of experience in financial and accounting due diligence across the software and technology industries, advising private equity and corporate clients on platform and add-on acquisitions, carve-outs and public-to-private transactions.
MCG Capital Advisory have appointed Dan Budynas as Director within their M&A Advisory team. Formerly a Deals Director at PwC in Boston, Budynas brings more than 12 years of experience in accounting and M&A advisory, with expertise in financial and accounting due diligence, primarily across the software and technology sectors.
FTI Consulting have appointed Stefan Spaulding as Senior Director within their People & Transformation practice in London. Formerly Principal – Marketing, Communications, Product & Sales at Robert Walters, Spaulding brings experience advising organisations on senior appointments, talent strategy and workforce planning across the UK, Europe and Australia. In his new role, Spaulding will focus on leadership capability, organisational design, talent retention and workforce transformation, with particular focus on private equity sponsors and their portfolio businesses.
CBIZ have appointed Evan Schauder as Managing Director within their Transaction Advisory Services practice in Atlanta. Formerly a transaction advisory professional, Schauder brings experience advising clients on buy-side and sell-side transactions, as well as supporting private equity and private businesses on M&A-related matters.
Alvarez & Marsal have strengthened their Iberia leadership team with the appointment of three Managing Directors: Emilio Capela, Javier Gazulla and João Currito.
– Capela joins the Digital Transformation Services practice, bringing more than 20 years of experience in digital transformation, growth and operational efficiency, with a focus on Generative AI.
– Gazulla joins the Tax practice with more than 25 years of experience in tax structuring, international taxation, M&A transactions and restructuring.
– Currito joins the Infrastructure & Capital Projects team, specialising in asset optimisation, operational risk management and improving operational performance across multiple sectors.
People Promotions
Deloitte have promoted Manisha Gangwani to Director within their Financial Advisory practice. Gangwani has led complex valuation and M&A engagements, supporting clients on transaction-related advisory matters throughout her time at the firm.
PwC Cyprus have promoted Christina Kyriakou to Director within their Deals practice. Kyriakou has been with PwC Cyprus for almost eight years, having previously held the role of Senior Manager. She brings experience in lead advisory, M&A and transaction support services, including financial due diligence, valuations and business plans.
KPMG US have appointed Chris Marston as Vice Chair, Advisory. Marston has been with KPMG for more than 30 years, most recently serving as US Leader for Government and Healthcare. He has previously led KPMG’s Infrastructure, Government, and Healthcare (IGH) line of business and its Federal Advisory practice, bringing extensive experience in advisory services, market strategy and transformation.
Alvarez & Marsal have appointed Kacey Coles as Managing Director and Software & Technology Co-Leader within their Transaction Advisory Group. Coles has been with Alvarez & Marsal since 2007 and specialises in pre- and post-transaction financial due diligence, supporting private equity, strategic and corporate clients on transaction-related matters including EBITDA analysis, financial statements and value opportunities.
EY have appointed Paolo Lobetti Bodoni as Global Business Consulting Leader. Lobetti Bodoni has been with EY since 2007, most recently serving as Europe West Business Consulting Leader and previously as Consulting Leader – Italy, where he led the firm’s Consulting service line. He brings extensive experience in strategy, business consulting, digital transformation and customer management, having previously held senior roles at Accenture.
PwC Middle East have admitted Rand Qutub to the Partnership within their Deals practice. Qutub has spent 15 years at PwC and specialises in Transaction Services, including sale and purchase agreements and negotiation support.
EY have admitted Rohit Rajkumar to the Partnership within their Strategy and Transactions practice. Rajkumar has more than 15 years of experience, specialising in financial due diligence for private equity clients across sectors. Previously a Director at EY, Rajkumar has also held transaction advisory roles at KPMG, where he focused on financial due diligence for private equity, venture capital and corporate clients.
EY have promoted Emmalina Cohen to Partner within their Private Equity practice. Cohen will continue to lead the firm’s HR & People pre-deal team, advising clients on people-related opportunities and risks throughout transactions. She brings experience supporting private equity clients on transactions strategy and execution, with a focus on people-related due diligence.
PwC UK have promoted Danielle Quinlan to Director within their Audit practice. Previously a Senior Manager, Quinlan has spent more than ten years with the firm and specialises in financial audits and non-financial assurance engagements, with particular expertise in ESG assurance and supporting fast-growth technology businesses.
Deloitte Middle East have promoted Muhammad Owais to Audit Director within their Audit & Assurance practice. Previously a Senior Manager, Owais has more than 12 years of experience with Deloitte, leading statutory audits and assurance engagements across sectors including financial services, insurance, energy and telecommunications.