BDO appoints three new Independent Non-Executives

Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP has appointed three new Independent Non-Executives (INEs) - Eamonn McGrath, Jane Guyett and David Matthews - as the firm continues to focus on quality, trust and audit firm governance.

Eamonn McGrath has spent more than 30 years as an audit partner at EY, most recently on the firm’s Board and in senior policy and regulatory roles. He holds non-executive positions at property consulting firm Henry Riley LLP and Cranmer Court Tenants.

Jane Guyett, who was awarded a CBE for her services to the economy in 2020, 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 was the President and Chair of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) in 2020/21. Prior, he spent almost 40 years 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.

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. The new appointments also precede the departure in summer 2022 of non-executive Jeff Randall following five years with the firm. Russell King, who was appointed in 2017, remains as an INE at BDO.  

Following the transition, BDO will have four permanent INEs in position. This is one more than is required by the Audit Firm Governance Code (AFGC) and in support of BDO’s focus on increasing INE involvement across a greater number of governance bodies at the firm. BDO 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.

The INEs will maintain full visibility of the business – a key principle set out in the AFGC – through their involvement in BDO governance bodies, including among others the Public Interest Committee (PIC) which will now be Chaired by Eamonn.

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.”

He adds: “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.”

ENDS

Note to editors

Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP provides integrated advice and solutions to help businesses navigate a changing world.

Our clients are Britain’s economic engine – ambitious, entrepreneurially-spirited and high-growth businesses that fuel the economy. 

We share our clients’ ambitions and their entrepreneurial mind-set. We have the right combination of global reach, integrity and expertise to help them succeed. 

BDO LLP

BDO LLP operates in 18 offices across the UK, employing 6,500 people offering tax, audit and assurance, and a range of advisory services. BDO LLP is the UK member firm of the BDO international network.

BDO’s global network

The BDO global network provides business advisory services in 167 countries, with 97,000 people working out of 1,728 offices worldwide. It has revenues of $11.8bn. 

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Laura Cairns
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07814 500 799
laura.cairns@bdo.co.uk

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