Grant Thornton adds two experts to economic consulting team

Maureen Paul and Joel Strange have joined Grant Thornton as economics consulting directors. According to the head of economics consulting at Grant Thornton, the appointments will “help to further the growth of the business”.

Schellion Horn, who is also a partner with Grant Thornton, added, “We are excited to welcome Maureen and Joel to the team as we continue to extend our services into new areas. Our vision for economic consulting has always been to provide a full-service offering, working closely with colleagues firmwide to offer regulatory, competition and dispute services across all the main economic segments. They are both experts in their respective fields and bring with them a wealth of knowledge that will help to further the growth of our business.”

The UK Grant Thornton member firm is led by over 200 partners and employs over 5,000 professionals. The business and financial advisory firm established its economics consulting team two years ago. Both new hires will report to Horn, as they work to expand the offering amid a difficult time for the UK economy – which has been stagnating amid a prolonged period of heightened inflation.

Maureen Paul is a former senior civil servant with significant analytical and policy experience in economic regulation, gained working with UK regulators. She most recently worked as the chief economist and head of the economics community at Ofgem. She will now lead the team’s focus on energy economics, working on regulation and policy including those relating to renewables and net zero. Her clients will include large corporate and government organisations. 

Paul commented, “The opportunity to be part of Grant Thorton’s growing economic consultancy practice and leading the energy economics unit is the sort of challenge that I have relished and thrived on throughout my career. I love that the firm’s culture actively supports work life balance in meaningful ways and values diversity.” 

Joel Strange meanwhile is an economist specialising in infrastructure and international trade. He regularly supports corporates, regulators, governments and their legal advisors. He advises in the areas of strategy, policy, regulation, competition, pricing and economic impact, including in an expert witness capacity. He has advised clients in the UK, continental Europe, Australasia and the Middle East. In his role at Grant Thornton, Strange will work with corporate and government clients, focussing on the provision of economic advice in the infrastructure sector, alongside leading the growth of the firm’s services relating to trade economics and economic evaluation and impact.

Strange noted, “I believe the Economic Consulting team at Grant Thornton offers something unique to both its team members and clients, mixing dexterity and pragmatism with the reach and diverse skillsets of the wider firm both in the UK and across international markets. I was drawn to the firm by its focus on people and promoting an inclusive environment where everyone has opportunities to thrive.”