Gurpal Ahluwalia to become BDO deal advisory leader

Accounting and advisory firm BDO has announced Gurpal Ahluwalia as the firm’s new Head of Deal Advisory and Strategy. Ahluwalia will be taking over the leadership of BDO’s Deal Advisory and Strategy business, succeeding Peter Hemington who has been in the role for a decade.

Commenting on his appointment, Ahluwalia said, “It is an absolute privilege to be taking on this key role within our firm. BDO is set for exciting times, as we continue to go from strength to strength. Locally and globally, we have immense talent in M&A and the broader advisory space. I feel immensely lucky to take over the reins from Peter.”

Global advisory and audit firm BDO has been growing rapidly over the last year. The firm led on £31.2 billion of deal activity in 2022, spanning a number of sectors including technology, real estate and financial services. As the firm’s new Head of Deal Advisory and Strategy, he will look to help the firm continue this growth – amid rising demand in the healthcare and life sciences sectors in particular.

Ahluwalia has a background in strategy advice in the life sciences sector, and practised as a surgeon while making numerous publications in peer reviewed journals. Moving into the consulting sector, he also served as a key member of the healthcare practice at the Boston Consulting Group, before joining KPMG to help lead healthcare and life sciences strategy.

He has led the Commercial Due Diligence and Strategy function at BDO since it was started five years ago. He advises clients in the pharma, biotech, medical technology and healthcare industry.

The appointment will be finalised at the start of July 2023, when Ahluwalia takes over from the previous deals head, Peter Hemington. Having held the role for a decade, Hemington will remain as a Partner with the firm and will take on a leadership role focusing on developing BDO’s Consulting business.