Introduction
May saw continued momentum in senior hiring and leadership reshuffles across professional services, with firms actively strengthening their capabilities in AI, digital transformation, tax, transactions, and risk advisory. A clear theme this month was the push into technology-led services, with significant investments in cybersecurity, data governance, and AI-enabled consulting, alongside sustained hiring in transaction advisory, performance improvement, and mid-market expansion strategies. Private equity-backed platforms continued to scale through both acquisitions and senior talent acquisition, while established firms such as the Big Four and leading advisory boutiques focused on reinforcing sector expertise and regional leadership. Overall, the month reflects an ongoing race for specialised talent as firms position themselves for growth in increasingly tech-driven, regulated, and competitive markets.
Key People Moves
Jeff Lusk joined Portage Point Partners as a Director dedicated to AI solutions, he joining from Amazon and will be focused on supporting AI build out for internal efficiencies and client solutions.
Rahul Gaur joined Portage Point Partners as a Managing Director in its Performance Improvement practice. He joins from KPMG US, where he most recently served as Managing Director and Co-Lead for AI Innovation.
RSM Ebner Stolz has announced the appointment of Nathalia Schomerus as Head of Data and Digital Services, effective in July. Schomerus joins from Legora and brings more than five years of experience in artificial intelligence, legal technology, and digital transformation to her new role.
Cooper Parry has strengthened its leadership team with the appointments of four senior professionals from PwC as the firm continues to expand its Audit, Tax and Assurance capabilities across the UK mid-market.
– Nick Hatton – Partner and Head of Transaction Tax. Hatton joins with more than 25 years of experience across PwC and EY, specialising in transaction tax and advising private equity clients.
– Arif Ahmad – Regional Market Leader for Yorkshire & North East and Audit Relationship Partner. Ahmad spent 28 years at PwC, including leading its Leeds office and overseeing operations across the North of England.
– Laura Bevan – Assurance Director. Bevan joins after 12 years at PwC, most recently leading Sustainability Services in Wales. She brings experience in ESG and assurance.
– Adam Waller – Regional Market Leader for the North West and Head of Tax Consulting. Waller joins from PwC to support the firm’s continued regional expansion and growth of its Tax Consulting offering.
EY Middle East has announced the appointment of Slim Ben Ali as Partner within its Financial Services practice, focusing on Risk, Regulatory and Treasury Transformation. Ben Ali joins from KPMG Lower Gulf, where he spent six years as Director in the Advisory Financial Services team. He brings more than 20 years of experience in financial risk management, treasury, investments and regulatory advisory to his new role.
Portage Point Partners has announced the appointment of Rob Rourke to its Board of Directors. Rourke joins after nearly 27 years at L.E.K. Consulting, where he most recently served as Managing Director and Vice Chairman of the Global Industrials Practice. Rourke brings more than 35 years of experience in strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and the industrials sector to his new role.
KPMG Germany has announced the appointment of Verena Scheibe as Partner within its Transaction Tax practice. Scheibe joins from Watson Farley & Williams, where she most recently led the firm’s Tax practice. At KPMG, Scheibe will focus on expanding the firm’s Transaction Tax advisory offering across the Energy and Infrastructure sectors.
Matt Fish has joined Bridgetown Research as their Managing Partner for Bridgetown-Polaris: a venture combining a proprietary AI research platform and backing from Lightspeed and Accel with specialized commercial due diligence and strategy. The firm has already recruited commercial due diligence teams and staffed offices in New York, San Francisco, and Bangalore.
KPMG UK has announced the appointment of Adam Hughes as Senior Manager. Hughes joins from Deloitte, where he spent more than five years, most recently as Senior Manager within Consulting.
KPMG has announced the appointment of Stephanie Kirk as Tax Managing Director. Kirk joins with extensive experience advising high net worth clients. She will support the development of the firm’s Family Enterprise practice and broader growth within its Tax offering.
Alvarez & Marsal has announced the appointment of Pranav Lal as Senior Director within its Global Transaction Advisory Group in Boston. Lal brings more than 11 years of experience in financial due diligence across software, technology and technology-enabled services transactions, including cross-border deals and carve-outs.
FTI Consulting has appointed Damon Yousefy as Senior Managing Director in its Transactions (Corporate Finance) practice in Dallas. He joins from Alvarez & Marsal and brings significant expertise in restructuring and bankruptcy tax. Throughout his career, he has advised on multiple multi-billion-dollar debt restructurings and complex corporate transactions.
FTI Consulting has strengthened its Cybersecurity, Data Privacy and Information Governance practice with the appointment of five Senior Managing Directors and five Managing Directors across the US. The hires bring expertise in cybersecurity, data privacy, AI governance, regulatory compliance and information governance.
– Akshay Dhawan – Senior Managing Director, Washington, D.C. Dhawan joins with more than 20 years of experience in cybersecurity and digital transformation, specialising in cloud security, compliance and AI systems.
– David Manek – Senior Managing Director, Chicago. Manek is a data privacy specialist with experience leading large-scale regulatory change and compliance programmes, including GDPR, CCPA and AI regulations.
– Matt McClelland – Senior Managing Director, Charlotte. McClelland brings more than 20 years of experience in information governance, data analytics and AI-enabled enterprise transformation programmes.
– Ankur Sheth – Senior Managing Director, New York. Sheth specialises in cybersecurity strategy, technology risk management and cyber transformation programmes.
– Colleen M. Yushchak – Senior Managing Director, Washington, D.C. Yushchak joins with more than 25 years of experience in data privacy, governance, regulatory compliance and technology risk.
– Mir Ali – Managing Director, Chicago. Ali advises organisations on information governance, data retention, data minimisation and third-party risk management.
– Emily Cohen – Managing Director, Chicago. Cohen brings nearly 20 years of experience in data privacy, regulatory compliance, forensic investigations and litigation advisory services.
– David Farber – Managing Director, Charlotte. Farber specialises in data privacy compliance, privacy technology implementation and global data protection frameworks.
– Matt Flora – Managing Director, New York. Flora has more than ten years of experience in cybersecurity governance, risk management and regulatory compliance.
– Kenric Tom – Managing Director, Miami. Tom focuses on data privacy, AI regulatory compliance and digital risk management, helping organisations develop privacy and governance programmes.
– Barrett Daniels – Managing Director and Head of the Operational and Technical Accounting practice, Accordion (New York). Newly created practice leadership role at the PE-focused finance consultancy. Announced 20 May.
– Rick Simonsen – Managing Director, Transaction Advisory Services, PKF O’Connor Davies. Senior hire strengthening the firm’s buy-side and sell-side diligence offering for PE and corporate clients.
Deloitte has appointed Robert Cullen as EMEA Lead for Technology & Transformation. He will move from his role as UK Managing Partner to oversee Deloitte’s technology, digital and AI transformation strategy across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Cullen has spent 28 years at the firm and will focus on scaling AI investment, strengthening regional integration and accelerating digital capabilities across EMEA.
Crowe UK has appointed Mitesh Patelia as its next Chief Executive, effective 1 July 2026, succeeding Nigel Bostock. Patelia has been with the firm for 18 years and currently serves as Head of Advisory and Chair of the Supervisory Board. He will take over leadership after a long internal career in corporate finance and advisory, while Bostock will remain at the firm as a partner following the transition.
Market Intelligence
Private equity-backed Fletchers Group has agreed to acquire the clinical negligence and Court of Protection teams from ?, adding 42 professionals across Nottingham, Oxford and Derby. The deal sees 21 clinical negligence lawyers join Fletchers Solicitors, while the Court of Protection team will integrate into EMG, its specialist private client division. The move is the latest in a series of acquisitions under Sun Capital ownership, which has driven significant expansion in the consumer legal market and increased EBITDA from £8 million to £37.9 million. Fletchers CEO Peter Haden said the additions strengthen the firm’s position in serious injury and Court of Protection work, expanding its national offering across complex client needs.