Tax Specialist, David Mellor, gets CEO job at Crowe Clark Whitehill
Leading accountancy firm Crowe Clark Whitehill has announced the appointment of David Mellor as chief executive from 1 July 2013. Mellor replaces Andrew Pianca, who stands down after almost a decade as chief executive.
Mellor, who takes on the chief executive’s mantle after several years as London office managing partner and head of the firm’s corporate business team, commented:
“I am honoured that Crowe Clark Whitehill’s partners feel I am the right person to lead the firm. Our firm rarely trumpets its successes, preferring to focus on delivering quality services to our clients and contributing to knowledge in our key markets.”
Crowe Clark Whitehill is one of the top ten audit firms in the UK, offering tax, audit and advisory services with five areas of focus: corporate business, not for profit, pension funds, professional practices and private clients. The firm was recently named Auditor of the Year – Large Firms at the 2013 FD’s Excellence Awards, and has been decorated with a number of awards over the past year, including AIA Accountancy Firm of the Year.
Mellor says:
“As a firm we are proud of our tradition, quality and independence. We are the UK member firm of Crowe Horwath International, a top ten worldwide network of accountancy firms and along with our network, we have strategies to maintain and consolidate our position in the market.”
“I would like to thank Andrew Pianca for his inspired leadership in recent years. Unlike some of our competitors we have planned for succession in our firm over several years and we look forward to continuing success whilst remaining committed to our cultural values.”
“Andrew said in an interview a while ago that he wanted his legacy to be to leave an energetic group of younger partners keen to continue developing the firm, and in this I think he has succeeded.”
Mellor believes that the firm’s core values of integrity and long-term relationship development have never been more important, at a time when the country faces tough questions about austerity, economic recovery and the morality of tax policy.
David Mellor is a tax practitioner by background and an Oxford graduate, who has risen quickly through the profession, with a professional focus on business tax, M&A and cross border matters. He believes the future for all businesses, large and small, lies in performing on the international stage, with advisors capable of helping them achieve success. He believes Crowe Clark Whitehill is well-placed to support these aspirations, saying:
“We are a national firm first and foremost, with the capability to call on our international network and to deliver a personal quality service to our clients. ”
Mellor has recently been co opted to the council of the ICAEW and is a member of the board of Crowe Horwath International.
Andrew Pianca becomes chairman of the firm and was elected chairman of Crowe Horwath International in January 2013. Having stepped down as chief executive, he will return to client work as a partner in the firm’s not for profit unit.