PwC and RSM add Sinead Leahy & Maya Buchanan to UK team

PwC has appointed Royal Bank of Scotland veteran Sinead Leahy as Partner in the firm’s UK Pensions Consulting business. RSM has appointed Maya Buchanan, formerly at KPMG and Deloitte, as Director in its risk assurance service line in Manchester.

Sinead Leahy

Sinead Leahy joined the Royal Bank of Scotland in 1995, rising through the ranks to become Deputy Head of UK Corporate Risk Solutions. In 2015, he took on the role of Head of FI Relationship Management and Alternative Asset Distribution at the bank, before which he was Head of UK Pension Solutions from 2006. 

In his new role at PwC, as Partner in the firm’s Pensions Consulting business, Leahy takes responsibility for leading the firm’s advisory in strategy and implementation to trustees of large defined benefit schemes. 

Raj Mody, PwC’s Global Pensions leader, says, “Sinead’s knowledge and experience is a great addition to our pensions practice. We have seen significant growth over the last three years fuelled by the growing demand for our wide range of services, independent advice, and technology-enabled approach." Looking ahead, Mody says that PwC intends to continue to add high calibre recruits to the firm's team. "It will allow us to meet the increasing demand we are seeing in the market for pension fund asset consulting.”

Leahy says that he is “delighted” to be joining the Big Four firm. "The need for pension funds to be able to access independent advice could not be greater. PwC’s market position alongside its leading Skyval analytics platform is an appealing combination for the next stage of my career.”

Maya Buchanan

Prior to joining RSM, Maya Buchanan worked at manufacturing company Scapa for five years, in her most recent role as Head of Group Risk & Assurance. She was previously at accounting and consulting firm KPMG, where she worked for a year as a Senior Manager. Earlier in her career she work at Deloitte for more than 12 years, in her final role as Senior Manager.

Buchanan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting & Financial Management from University of Sheffield and a Post Graduate Certificate, Audit, Management & Consultancy from Birmingham City University.

In her new position at RSM, as Director in the firm’s risk assurance segment in Manchester, Buchanan will support the firm in growing its portfolio of corporate clients across the region.

Jill Jones, RSM Regional Managing Partner for the North West, says, “Risk assurance is becoming increasingly more important as the nature of business becomes ever more complex. Maya’s extensive knowledge will help our clients navigate and protect themselves in an ever-changing landscape, and it’s great to have her on board.”

Commenting on her appointment, Buchanan says, “RSM is a forward-thinking firm that has a growing corporate client base and extensive international network which complements my experience perfectly. I’m looking forward to drawing on my in-house, practice and sector experience to support a variety of corporate clients to add real value in a challenging market.”