KPMG appoints Directors in Manchester and Newcastle

KPMG has made four Director appointments in the North. Chris Vaulks and Richard Cotterill named Director in the firm’s Newcastle office, while Debra Chamberlain and Christian Bower-Sloane have been promoted to the same role in Manchester.

The Big Four of the professional services industry have seen considerable movement among the Directorships of their North Eastern operations in recent years. Deloitte handed 25-year veteran employee Stephen Hall the top job at its Newcastle office in 2015, while EY appointed Mike Scoular the new leader for its North East financial services team last year, and former PwC Tax Director David Elliott was named KPMG’s Senior Office Partner in the region.

Now, KPMG has continued to boost its offering in the region with the promotion of two Directors to its Newcastle office. The appointments of Chris Vaulks and Richard Cotterill were accompanied by a further 17 promotions announced throughout the business.

Vaulks became a member of KPMG's audit team over ten years ago, after he arrived at the Big Four firm as a graduate trainee in 2007. Meanwhile, Cotterill joined KPMG's Birmingham office as a school-leaver before moving to London as part of the firm's M&A team. His promotion comes following a recent relocation to the North East, where he now leads the firm's energy lead advisory team.

David Elliott, Office Senior Partner for KPMG in Newcastle, said, "Newcastle is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK so it’s critical that we constantly invest in the talent and expertise that will continue to drive and support the region’s thriving business community. Chris and Richard are shining examples of the opportunities within KPMG and, as well as advising a growing and ambitious client base, their experience means they are well-placed to guide other members of the team on their own paths."

Nationally, KPMG operates from 22 offices across the UK with approximately 16,300 partners and staff. Elsewhere in its UK operations, KPMG has also appointed two Directors in its Manchester office. As the Northern Powerhouse project continues to draw investment to the North West, the firm has bolstered its offering in the region with the promotion of Christian Bower-Sloane and Debra Chamberlain.

Bower-Sloane joined the firm as a graduate trainee in 2007, and since then has been a member of KPMG's audit team, working across the firm's Manchester, Liverpool and New Zealand offices. Chamberlain also launched her career at KPMG as a graduate recruit, back in 2005, and has more than 14 years of experience in public sector audits for organisations across the health, housing and education sector.

Nicola Quayle, KPMG’s Manchester Office Senior Partner, remarked, "As the North West economy continues to grow, it's vital that we invest in the talent and expertise our clients rely on as they pursue their own ambitious growth plans. This latest round of promotions is testament to the depth available at KPMG. Christian and Debra's own, in particular, experience means they are well-placed to guide other members of the team on their own career paths."