EY names Kate Barton as new Global Tax Head in leadership reshuffle

Global professional services company EY has named Kate Barton as its new Global Tax Leader. The promotion of EY’s current Americas Vice Chair in Tax comes as part of a broader reshuffle, which sees EY also appoint Julie Boland as Regional Managing Partner US Central Region, Jad Shimaly as EY Canada Regional Managing Partner and Andy Cheung as EY Asia-Pacific Deputy Area Managing Partner.

Amid numerous global reforms in taxation, including possible changes to import taxes relating to Brexit, and the controversial US Tax Bill – which has handed a significant tax break to the wealthiest members of US society in the hope of stimulating spending – businesses around the world are keen to adapt quickly to the rapidly shifting landscape. As a result, tax consultants are preparing for a boost to business in 2018, as clients seek their advice on how best to interact with new tax rules.

Lately this has seen a number of appointments in large consulting firms, including the promotion by KPMG of Claire Angell, who recently became the firm’s Head of Tax for Energy, tasked with helping domestic and international businesses to navigate increasingly complex tax environments in the face of market transformations. Now, Big Four rival EY has appointed Kate Barton as its new Global Tax Leader, effective from the start of July 2018.

In Barton’s continued role as Senior Tax Advisory Partner, she works with a team of tax advisory partners across several priority global, domestic, state, and local accounts to solve clients' business problems. Having been a Partner with EY since 1996, Barton brings extensive experience in providing international tax services and working with large multinational companies to her new role.

Barton currently serves as EY America’s Vice Chair – Tax, overseeing the largest tax revenues in all EY areas, but will see this role elevated to a global remit with her latest promotion. As EY Global Vice Chair – Tax, Barton will also become a member of the EY global executive, the firm’s most senior body focused on the delivery of the EY Vision 2020 strategy. In this role Barton will lead the EY tax executive committee and oversee EY’s tax strategy and operations.

Having also been promoted in December, her predecessor Jay Nibbe takes on the role of EY Global Vice Chair – Markets, in Summer 2018. During Nibbe’s tenure as Global Vice Chair – Tax, he led the global Tax service line, which in the last financial year achieved US$8.2 billion in revenues.

Speaking on her new role, Barton commented, “We are in a transformative age in which tax functions have a mandate to reshape their future at the same time that C-suites are beginning to look for bold and creative operating models to drive business efficiencies. Organisations need to understand the impact of globalisation, legislative reform and technology transformation on their business operations, supply chains and capital structures.”

Mark Weinberger, EY Global Chairman and CEO, added, “Kate moves into this role at a critical time as many tax policies and rules are being modernised around the world. She brings strong experience having supported many large multinationals and the EY Americas Tax, which is at the centre of the tax reform being undertaken in the US at this time.”

Reshuffle

In addition to the appointment of Barton, EY has also announced two regional role appointments, which will all take effect on 1st July 2018. Andy Cheung has been repositioned as EY Asia-Pacific Deputy Area Managing Partner, and Jad Shimaly has been appointed EY Canada Regional Managing Partner, while Julie Boland has been placed as EY Vice Chair and Central Managing Partner in the US.

Ex-J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs Vice President Julie Boland is currently the Managing Partner of the Cleveland Office. She started her career in audit and has almost 30 years of financial and business management experience, having served a variety of EY clients. She succeeds Kelly Grier, who was recently named the EY US Chairman and Managing Partner and EY Americas Managing Partner-elect.

Jad Shimaly succeeds incumbent EY Canada Regional Managing Partner, Trent Henry, who has been appointed EY Global Vice Chair-elect – Talent. Shimaly is currently the Advisory Services Leader for EY Canada and has led the practice to double-digit profitable growth. Jad has extensive experience in IT-enabled transformation and performance improvement strategy.

New EY Asia-Pacific Deputy Area Managing Partner Andy Cheung has been appointed as the replacement of outgoing Pat Winter, who was recently named EY Asia-Pacific Area Managing Partner. A former PwC Senior Associate, Cheung is currently the EY Greater China Assurance Leader, and is an EY Global Client Service Partner and Senior Advisory Partner on a number of major accounts. He boasts more than 30 years’ experience and has served a wide spectrum of private and public companies in China.

Remarking on the reshuffle, Weinberger said of the rash of promotions, “These appointments reflect the quality, diversity and strength of the leadership at EY. I look forward to working with our new leadership team as we continue to make big strides on our purpose to build a better working world.”