Mazars adds Grant Thornton team to its office in Poole

A team of around ten professionals from Grant Thornton based in the south coast of England have moved over to rival Mazars. The carve-out sees the team, under the direction of partner Stephen Mills, transfer from Grant Thornton's Southampton office to Mazars's Poole office.

While the majority of carve-outs between accounting and consulting firms tend to be hostile moves, the transfer between Grant Thornton and Mazars has been completed in good harmony. Grant Thornton's strategy in the region, served by its office in Southampton, sees it shift its focus on a different client base, and as a result it has decided to offload clients that are unaligned to its new approach. "The development is in the best interests for our firm's ongoing strategy while ensuring clients receive the best and most appropriate engagement", explains Louise Evans, Grant Thornton's Regional Managing Partner for the South.

The move sees Stephen Mills, an adviser with more than 15 years' experience as a partner, move to role of Managing Partner at Mazars' base in Poole. Mills returns to familiar terrain – he trained with Grant Thornton in Poole after joining the firm in 1992. He moved with the Grant Thornton team to Southampton in 2007 and became Managing Partner of the Southampton arm in December 2009. "I'm happy to be moving back to Poole where I began my career, and look forward to the many advantages that returning here brings for both myself, my team and clients", says Mills.

Mills brings along with him a client base and a team of at least eight members, adding significant capacity to Mazars's presence in Poole. Mazars' local team has been growing in recent years – to accommodate for the growth the accountancy and consultancy recently moved into new its new offices in Merck House (formally opened on 17 October). "It is a really exciting time as Mazars are continuing to invest and I am really pleased to be part of the south coast growth story", says Mills.

Mazars currently is the only top ten accounting services firm with an operation in Poole. Grant Thornton says it its Southampton office will remain operational.

Lesley Fox, a Partner at Mazars in Poole, says she is delighted with the addition, and further states, "It reaffirms our commitment and on-going investment in the area and are pleased to be welcoming someone of Stephen's high caliber."

Evans concludes by remarking that she, looking back, is pleased about the close working collaboration with Mazars, which has ensured a smooth transition of clients ‎and people to the local office in Poole. "We wish Stephen and the new team at Mazars the very best."