Deloitte appoints John Kent Partner in IFRS advisory practice
Deloitte has picked up IFRS expert John Kent as a new Partner. Formerly of Big Four rivals KPMG, Kent was most recently employed by HSBC, and brings more than 19 years of sector experience to Deloitte’s Banking and Capital Markets team as its new co-leader.
Prior to joining Deloitte, John Kent worked at HSBC as a Director within the firm’s Asset and Structured Finance working as the Global Head of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). His experience in IFRS extends for fifteen years, covering a period of his more than 19 years at KPMG, where he rose to the role of Associate Director.
Kent brings his extensive IFRS experience to the new role as Partner and co-lead of the banking IFRS advisory practice. Demands will be made on his specialisation, related to financial instruments and structured transactions; although the role will also draw on his wider experience in practical, regulatory, and commercial matters pertaining to client facing bank relationships.
Commenting on the appointment, Rob Topley, Head of Banking Audit at Deloitte, said, “John is a terrific addition to our partnership and his leadership of our Financial Services Accounting Advisory Practice will enable us to provide ever greater support to major banks, insurers and other financial services firms in applying and implementing complex changes in accounting.”
Kent said of his new appointment, “I look forward to joining a market leading firm with the breadth and depth of capabilities of Deloitte and using my banking experience to deliver IFRS advice and solutions that are relevant to our financial services clients. IFRS will continue to present challenges for banks and insurers – both directly as new accounting standards for financial instruments and insurance contracts take effect, and indirectly as the foundations for evolving regulatory capital and solvency requirements. I look forward to helping banks and insurers both implement the new IFRS rules and address the incremental capital effects of the new rules.”
Over the past month, KPMG have made a range of high profile appointments in the firm’s organisations. Earlier, also within KPMG’s financial wing, Judd Caplain was installed as the global head of banking and capital markets. Meanwhile, in the UK, Clair Angell was promoted to head of tax in the firm’s energy practice, and KPMG also appointed Euan West as the new head of its Liverpool office.