KPMG UK has announced that Paula Holland will take on the leadership of its Aberdeen office, as Martin Findlay retires, following 31 years with the professional services firm.
She will take up the post of office senior partner from 3 April, leading 125 colleagues in the city.
Holland joined KPMG 21 years ago, moving north from Leeds to join the Aberdeen office in 2015, initially as a director, before becoming a partner in 2022.
She will be primarily focused on delivering audit quality, but will work with a senior leadership team consisting of fellow partner Deborah May (tax), deal advisory directors Robert Aitken and Robert Logue, and tax director Natalie Macfadyen.
The office leadership team also includes audit directors Daniel Crighton and Michelle Smarsh.
Holland takes on the role from Findlay, who joined KPMG on 6 April 1992 as a tax manager. He has led the Aberdeen office since 2016 and will leave the firm at the end of April.
“We have a growing office full of talented people with market-leading expertise which I feel privileged to represent,“ commented Holland. “A key priority for me is continuing our commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace, and creating challenging, dynamic careers for all our colleagues.”
Findlay said: “It’s been incredibly rewarding to lead the Aberdeen office and work with such a talented group of colleagues and clients in Aberdeen and across the UK, and I wish Paula all the best of luck in the role.
“I’m proud to have helped set up our new base in Marischal Square in 2020, we’re now seeing the full benefits of it being realised, with colleagues fully embracing hybrid working and using our new space in ways which suit their working patterns.”
James Kergon, office senior partner for Scotland at KPMG UK, added: “Paula is a talented leader and ideally placed to take our Aberdeen office into a new era.
“We’ve seen significant growth in the local market under Martin’s excellent leadership, including continued support for clients who are navigating their energy transition paths on the journey to net zero.”
Separately, the AAB Group has announced its largest promotion round to date, with the appointment of four new partners, a new managing partner and four existing partners taking on additional responsibility as business unit heads.
Four directors with a combined tenure at AAB of more than 56 years have been promoted to partner from 1 April.
In the Aberdeen office, Lynn Wilson has been appointed corporate tax partner, Stuart Petrie as business advisory group partner, and Jill Walker as private client partner, while Gunhild Dam has been promoted to the role of private client partner in the Leeds office.
The Leeds office will also welcome James Hunt as managing partner. Hjoined the firm as a graduate and now succeeds Chris Jones, who will continue to support clients in the role of senior partner.
Since the investment from August Equity in October 2021, AAB has more than doubled both revenue and headcount across the UK and Ireland. This growth has prompted the group to develop the next generation of leaders with the appointment of four new business unit heads.
Paula Fraser becomes head of private client in the Edinburgh office; in Aberdeen Lauren McIlroy becomes head of virtual finance function and Gordon Steele becomes head of corporate finance, while David Purse is promoted to head of payroll and employment taxes in the firm’s London office.
Group chief executive Graeme Allan commented: “We are an extremely ambitious firm, and I am thrilled that we are delivering unmatched opportunities for our people.
“We remain committed to investing in the talent across our business to further enhance the awesome client service we deliver day in, day out for businesses and individuals.”
AAB now employs more than 750 people in 10 locations across the UK and Ireland.
Don't miss the latest headlines with our twice-daily newsletter - sign up here for free.
