Professional services firm, Grant Thornton continues its commitment to servicing client’s demands by announcing two new partners to respond to growth in client needs. The appointments, which comprise one internal promotion and one external hire, reflect the significant and continued growth experienced by Grant Thornton Ireland over the past 10 years. The company currently employees over 1,450 people in seven offices across Ireland.
Announcing the appointment, Michael McAteer, managing partner at Grant Thornton says: "I am delighted to announce that Amanda Ward has joined the Grant Thornton team and Brian has been promoted to the Partner group internally. Whilst we all work through Covid-19 together, we need to prepare for what life post Covid-19 and post Brexit will bring, both the challenges and the opportunities. It is important for Grant Thornton that we have the talent to partner with our clients to focus on overcoming those challenges and making the most of the opportunities.
The challenges we all face in the current environment will mean firms will have to be more innovative
"The financial services market in Ireland has seen exponential growth over recent years and we expect to see that growth continue, with varied focus across regulation, digital transformation and expanding geographies and portfolios. With the expansion of the team and our focus on all aspects of a business we know we will be prepared to get our clients’ ‘Back to Better.'"
Amanda Ward, newly appointed partner to Grant Thornton’s Financial Services Advisory team says: “While clearly we are living and operating in extraordinary times, in many ways this may also lead to an acceleration of trends we have seen over the past few years in terms of digitalisation and innovation in financial services. It remains an essential sector to the functioning of the economy and we will have to adapt rapidly to the changing customer preferences and working environment. The move to contactless payments is one example where the sector reacted quickly to increase limits and make it easier for customers to make payments, however the sector will have to review all their operations to support both remote customers as well as remote workers.
"Risk and compliance will remain high on the agenda and with the move to remote services for customers and accommodating remote working of employees, firms will need to review their controls and business procedures to ensure they remain fit for purpose. Equally I would expect most firms are using this time to re-evaluate their business model and reconsider their strategy, which is likely to lead to a significant amount of restructuring as well as positioning themselves for growth in a dramatically changed business environment.
In a year where everyone has suffered their own individual challenges I feel honoured to be able to contribute
"The challenges we all face in the current environment will mean firms will have to be more innovative and furthermore refocus their operations to meet the rapidly changing needs of their clients. This presents opportunities for companies to really challenge themselves in way they do things and come up with creative solutions to reengineer their business. I really look forward to working with our clients through this journey.
"I had experience of working with Grant Thornton in my previous role. It is an innovative and ambitious organisation and I was attracted to the opportunity to be part of its growth and to help it diversify into new sectors, bringing strong business values and service delivery to match the demands and rightly high expectations of clients. Grant Thornton’s brand and values are facets I have respected as a client over the past few years, and I am excited to be on board and part of a great team that will take these to the next level.”
Brian O’Sullivan, previously a director in our Financial Services department, has been promoted internally to partner as part of an exciting new joint initiative between the Grant Thornton US and Irish firms, whereby when the current travel restrictions permit then Brian will be based in New York and will operate across the Grant Thornton US Audit and Advisory teams, further strengthening and developing international relationships and reach for the Irish firm.
“Having originally started with Grant Thornton as part of our graduate programme I am extremely proud to have joined the partner group and in a year where everyone has suffered their own individual challenges I feel honoured personally to be able to contribute to the continued growth of the firm.
"The current economic landscape is like nothing that the sector or world as a whole have experienced before. Businesses that have maintained their position, continue to grow, or are best placed to rebound will be those that have used this period most effectively for research, innovation and evolution in a time of unprecedented change. Our clients have had to be resilient, agile and adapt rapidly to understand and address new issues. As their advisors it was key for us to do likewise.
"In a world where business travel volumes have never been lower but digital working capabilities have never been stronger, I am excited to continue with the enhancement of the connectivity and collaboration between our US and Irish firms. The embedding of my role within the US partnership group will further strengthen our service offering by bolstering our local presence in the US, enhancing insight capacity into emerging markets, expanding our resource offering and bringing the power of our global experience, breadth of services and personnel to support all of our clients, both existing and new.
"I am delighted to have started in this role and hopefully for everyone we can all get back to a position where the pandemic gets under control and it is safe for everybody to get back to travelling freely but sensibly and meeting family, friends and colleagues sooner rather than later!”
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About Grant Thornton
Grant Thornton is Ireland’s fastest growing professional services firm. With more than 1,450 people in seven offices across Ireland and a presence in more than 130 countries around the world, we bring you the local knowledge, national expertise and global presence to help you and your business succeed – wherever you’re located. We deliver solutions to all business challenges. Clients choose us because the breadth of financial and business services they need is available, delivered innovatively and always to the highest standards. At Grant Thornton we are committed to long term relationships.