BDO appoints three new Independent Non-Executives
BDO has installed three new non-executives as part of its ongoing commitment to audit firm governance. Jane Guyett, David Matthews and Eamonn McGrath have taken up the roles.
With pressure still building on the UK’s auditing watchdog to address the number of accounting scandals toppling British companies, leading auditing firms are looking to demonstrate greater levels of accountability and transparency in their organisations. BDO is Britain’s fifth largest professional services firm, and was the first large accountancy firm to appoint a non-executive back in 2008, two years prior to the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) introducing its first AFGC. Now, it has announced a string of new independent non-executive (INE) appointments, as the firm looks to focus on quality, trust and audit firm governance.
Matthew White, Senior Partner at BDO, commented, “Good governance, quality, independence and ethics have never been so important to us as a firm, to our regulators and to public markets more broadly.The quality of candidates during the recruitment process has been phenomenal; our profession should be proud of the talent we are attracting. Combined, our INEs bring exceptional experience in audit, regulatory matters and operational excellence. They too will bring the diversity of character and challenge that we embrace.”
Eamonn McGrath becomes an INE with BDO having spent more than 30 years as an audit partner at EY. Most recently he sat on the Big Four firm’s Board and in senior policy and regulatory roles. He holds non-executive positions at property consulting firm Henry Riley and Cranmer Court Tenants.
Jane Guyett meanwhile takes up the INE role having been awarded a CBE for her services to the economy in 2020. She joins BDO with extensive experience in highly-regulated sectors, notably financial services and investment banking, including as Chief Operating Officer for Bank of America Securities. She has a broad portfolio of non-executive roles including at Royal London Group, UK Government Investments and London Stock Exchange Group companies: London Clearing House and Banque Centrale de Compensation.
David Matthews finally arrives having been the President and Chair of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales in 2020/21. Prior to this, Matthews also enjoyed a 40-year spell at KPMG, including as an audit partner responsible for some of the KPMG’s largest global audited entities and latterly as a member of its UK Executive Committee and Board.
As the trio arrive, two other INE members are departing. In line with best practice governance models, Simon Figgis has stepped down from his INE role at BDO following more than eight years in position. Meanwhile, in summer 2022 fellow INE Jeff Randall will exit, following five years with the firm. Russell King, who was appointed in 2017, meanwhile remains as an INE at BDO.
Speaking on the appointments, White added, “While we welcome Jane, Eamonn and David, my thanks also go to our departing INEs Simon and Jeff. Their outstanding contribution and valuable perspectives have had a huge impact on our business.”