KPMG duo Katsouris and Ashbrook promoted to Partners

KPMG has added two new Partners as part of its latest round of promotions in the North West. Both Jessica Katsouris and Grant Ashbrook have ascended to the rank of Partner, alongside nine promotions to Director at the Big Four firm’s Manchester outfit.

Amid a period of disruption for the regional industry in England’s North West – with new technologies, the Brexit vote and global geopolitical dynamics ushering in considerable change – KPMG’s presence in the region has been undergoing a period of transition, as the firm gears up to assist and advise clients in the face of economic uncertainty. October saw Nicola Quayle promoted to the rank of Senior Partner, and made the new head of the firm’s Mancunian office, succeeding Jonathan Holt, who was himself promoted following almost 25 years at the firm to Head of Financial Services UK.

Now, the Big Four professional services group has named two new Partners in its Manchester office. Jessica Katsouris has been promoted to the role within the audit practice after building up her expertise in financial services over the past 19 years. Jessica trained at KPMG in Bristol before joining Credit Suisse in Zurich, within its group consolidation team. In 2004, after three years at Credit Suisse, she returned to KPMG, joining the financial services team in Manchester.

Grant Ashbrook, who also makes the grade for Partner, was recruited by KPMG in 2002, and has more than 15 years' experience as a transfer pricing specialist within the firm's tax team. During his career with KPMG, which includes a year’s experience working in China, Ashbrook helped to implement supply-chain and tax packages for multinational companies across Europe, the US and Asia.

Chris Hearld, KPMG's North region chairman, said of the pair, "Their experience and skillset demonstrate the specialist talent we have in the North of England to support the needs of the local business community. They now join a partner group in our thriving offices in Liverpool and Manchester, which have been bolstered by an impressive intake of graduates, school leavers and apprentices.”

Katsouris and Ashbrook are joined by nine director promotions in KPMG's Manchester office. Helen McCourt, Elizabeth Meadowcroft and Nisha Sharma have all been promoted to director in the KPMG's deal advisory practice. Ryan Ballantyne, Adrian Wills and Christopher Hardman are now tax directors and Andrew Stone, Matthew Jackson and Andrew Trasler have become directors within the firm's restructuring, advisory and management consulting practices respectively.