Grant Thornton UK LLP is pleased to announce that Imogen Joss, a current Independent Non-Executive (INE) in the firm’s Partnership Governance Board (PGB), will take on the role of Chair from 1 April 2021. Imogen will take over from current Chair Ed Warner, who will be leaving the firm’s PGB having served the maximum term possible in accordance with the firm’s membership agreement.
The firm will also welcome Laurie Benson onto the PGB as an INE, who will work alongside fellow current INEs Deena Mattar and Chair-elect Imogen Joss to oversee governance at the firm. Formed of a rotating committee of Partners and INEs, the PGB serves as the ultimate governance oversight body within Grant Thornton UK LLP, with the INEs helping to influence key decisions independently from the firm’s executive leadership. Grant Thornton is the only major firm to retain an independent Chair in this role.
since 2016 and served as an INE for a number of years prior. Imogen Joss joined the PGB in 2017 as an INE and Chaired the firm’s remuneration committee. in 2016 and Chairs the firm’s risk and audit committee and its ethics board. Laurie Benson joins Grant Thornton bringing extensive experience from across the media, technology, public and third sectors to the role.
Dave Dunckley, Chief Executive at Grant Thornton UK LLP, commented: “We very much would like to thank Ed for his service both as an independent non-executive and board Chair over the past 10 years and welcome Imogen’s appointment. She will undoubtedly provide us with the same high levels of diligence, challenge and support as Ed has over the years, whilst also bringing her own perspective and experience to the role.”
Imogen Joss added: “The past four years on Grant Thornton’s Board have given me a unique insight into the firm’s distinct culture and values, which I believe truly sets it apart from its peers. I’m delighted to be taking on the role of Chair and working with the firm as it continues to go from strength to strength.”
The announcement comes as Grant Thornton finalises its 2020 annual results. Having completed its year-end on 31 December 2020, the firm expects to show broadly flat revenue, with an increase in underlying profitability compared to 2019, when its accounts are finalised.
Whilst the onset of the pandemic resulted in the firm making adjustments to its earlier forecasts and some of its operations, the resulting underlying trading performance provides further indication of the firm’s strong foundation and strategy grounded in Talent, Quality and Value. The firm enters 2021 with renewed vigour for the year ahead, and a strong pipeline of new opportunities and continued business across its primary service lines.
Dave Dunckley continued: “Whilst 2020 has not been without its unique challenges, I’m immensely proud of how our people have adapted to the ever-changing environment and pleased that the investments we’ve maintained in our people and technology allowed us to continue providing high levels of service to our clients throughout the year. Our overriding strategy in coping with the pandemic was, and remains, to protect our people, our clients, our firm and our communities; and our trading performance throughout 2020 is testament to the agility of our people in delivering this. Whilst some difficult decisions were taken early in the pandemic, such as not to make use of the Government’s Furlough scheme and asking some of our people to reduce their contractual hours and pay over the early summer months, we are proud that our better-than-expected performance has allowed us to repay those individuals in full and maintain investments in our processes, technologies and people that enable us to enter 2021 on a strong footing and competitive position to further support our clients.”
Throughout the year, Grant Thornton welcomed 13 new partners to the partnership and over 300 graduates and school leavers joined the firm in the past six months. The firm’s 2020 Annual Report, with audited financial statements, will be published in the coming months. For further information on how the firm is supporting its clients throughout the pandemic, please follow .
Independent Non-Executive biographies:
Ed Warner: Ed is an investment banker, who has a wealth of experience from his years as CEO at the IFX Group and of Old Mutual Financial Services (UK). Ed is also chairman of derivatives exchange LMAX, Air Partner PLC, and two listed investment companies.
Imogen Joss: Imogen spent her executive career in the fintech arena as Commercial Director of the London Stock Exchange and latterly President of two divisions of S&P Global. She brings global experience to the boards that she serves plus a strong commercial, client and talent-focused agenda while specialising in Remuneration Committee work on both listed and non-listed boards. She currently serves on the boards of five organisations across advisory services and fintech, as well as being Chair of the firm’s Remuneration Committee.
Deena Mattar: Deena is an experienced FTSE 250 finance director with nine years of experience as an executive on a plc board, an excellent knowledge of the city and a first-class reputation among institutional shareholders and buy-and-sell side analysts. She has ten years as a non-executive director (and, in some cases, audit chair) of a number of boards both listed and unlisted, and also Chairs the firm’s Risk and Audit Committee and Ethics Board.
Laurie Benson: Laurie is an experienced Non-Executive Director and Global Business Leader with P&L experience in the US and EMEA and was recently listed on the 100 Women to Watch report as part of the Hampton-Alexander report on FTSE Boards. She previously held a successful career as a media executive, including roles at Time Magazine and Bloomberg. She now applies her extensive operational experience and expertise in changing consumer behaviour, digital media and technology as a Non-Executive Director with a portfolio of roles including a UK regulator and a national charity.