New Partners for Grant Thornton Financial Services Advisory

Grant Thornton has bolstered its Financial Services Advisory practice with two new partners: Alex Ellerton and David Morrey. Ellerton will provide retail market clients with expertise on emerging regulatory requirements, while Morrey will provide his subject matter expertise in a wide range of conduct matters to the firm’s clients. Both new hires join from rival BDO.

Prior to joining Grant Thornton, Alex Ellerton was a Partner at BDO for five years, starting at the firm in 2011. Previously, from 2006, Ellerton worked at Bovill, where he served as a Principal, and between 2000 and 2006 he worked at Deloitte, in his final role as a Senior Manager.

In his new role as Partner at Grant Thornton, Ellerton will leverage his more than 15 years of experience in regulatory advisory services to clients of the professional services firm. His focus will be on the retail market, for which he will provide emerging regulatory requirements support as well as being a go to expert for 'Skilled Person' work at the request of the regulator.

Ellerton says that he is “excited” to be joining Grant Thornton's growing regulatory practice, as the financial services industry finds itself in a state of change as technology and regulatory rules facing banks come to impact the retail market. He adds: “Regulation is crucial in ensuring trust and integrity in our financial markets and will continue to be a main focus for both traditional and challenger brands. I am looking forward to working with Grant Thornton's growing client base to successfully tackle the practical issues this creates.”

Prior to joining Grant Thornton, David Morrey was also a Partner at BDO. Previous to which Morrey was a Partner at Kingston Smith Consulting, from 2007 to 2012, heading up the firm’s FS Risk and Risk Assurance Services. Morrey joined Aviva in 1999 where he worked for almost eight years, in his last role at the company he was the Global Audit Director in its Investment Management practice. Morrey worked at EY between 1997 and 1999 as a Senior Manager at the firm’s Risk Consulting practice. He holds a Law degree from the University of Leicester and is an ACA from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Morrey joins the firm as Partner, offering clients his wide ranging expertise in matters related to conduct in the wholesale market and retail issues within the wealth management, advisory and lending sectors. He further provides 'Skilled Person' advice on regulator instigation as well as supports firms on how to respond to regulatory investigation.

Commenting on his new challenge, Morrey says: “The conduct and culture practices within financial services has never been under more scrutiny, despite recent misperceptions that it could be falling off the regulatory agenda. Setting the right tone within organisations – both from a cultural and compliance perspective – is essential to the sustainable growth of companies and needs to remain a key focus for the sector.”

Jon Sperrin, Head of Financial Services Regulatory at Grant Thornton says: “I am delighted to have both Alex and David join our team. Their combined experience strengthens our existing team and ensures we are continuing to deliver excellent services to our financial services sector clients.”