Mark Watson joins Lovewell Blake as Tax Partner

Lovewell Blake has announced the appointment of two new Partners following agreement to acquire some of Grant Thornton’s local tax and audit practice in Norwich.

Audit director Toby Wilson and tax director Mark Watson will join the partnership at Lovewell Blake, and the 34 staff currently based at Grant Thornton’s Kingfisher House office will also join Lovewell Blake, relocating to the firm’s Norwich offices at Broadland Business Park.

The move further strengthens Lovewell Blake’s position as a leading accountancy firm in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, and will bring the firm’s staff numbers to over 300, across eight offices.

“We are delighted to welcome Toby, Mark and their team to Lovewell Blake,” said the firm’s managing partner Colin Fish. “They bring senior expertise and experience which will further strengthen our high-level tax and audit offer to businesses operating in the region.

“This move cements Lovewell Blake’s position as market leader in this region, and as an integral part of the local economy.”

Darren Bear, Partner at Grant Thornton UK LLP, added, “Whilst the Norwich office has been a successful part of our business to date, we’ve determined its growth potential can be better achieved within another firm locally. We’d like to wish Toby, Mark and the team the best of luck for the future and thank them for the contributions they have made to Grant Thornton over the years.”

The announcement sees continued growth at Lovewell Blake, which in recent years has acquired Bury St Edmunds and Attleborough-based practice Howard & Company, Ely-based practice Youngman & Co, Needham Market-based practice Izod Bassett, and Ipswich-based Miller Wash Associates.