Grant Thornton UK appoints CDO to lead £500 million transformation of client experience through digital
David Gartside joins Grant Thornton’s Strategic Leadership Team as Chief Digital Officer (CDO) to accelerate digital innovation and market-leading, technology-enabled client solutions
Leading business and financial adviser Grant Thornton UK today announces the appointment of David Gartside as CDO. David joins the firm’s Strategic Leadership Team (SLT) on 1 April, underscoring Grant Thornton’s commitment to innovation as it delivers its £500 million, multi-year investment to reshape client experience through digital and redefine professional services for the modern era.
With more than 25 years’ experience as a senior technology leader, David brings a strong track record of delivering large-scale, enterprise-wide digital transformation, strengthening technology governance and driving measurable business impact across global organisations. In his new role, he will lead Grant Thornton UK’s digital strategy, championing the use of AI, data analytics, automation and modern digital platforms to reshape how teams collaborate with clients and deliver insight rich, connected services.
David’s remit spans digital innovation, enterprise technology and data strategy, ensuring the firm continues to set the benchmark for ‑technology enabled client service and operational excellence across audit, tax and advisory.
David joins Grant Thornton from McKinsey & Company, where he was a leader in the Technology Ecosystem, guiding the firm’s transition to a GenAI-powered client delivery model and overseeing its proprietary knowledge platforms. Prior to this, he was Product Solutions Leader at Google, shaping strategy and designing tools for its HR and legal systems. Earlier in his career, David was a Partner at Accenture, serving as Global HR and Talent Practice Lead and advising Fortune 500 C-suite leaders on the adoption of emerging technologies and modern digital practices.
His appointment follows Grant Thornton’s recent announcement of a £500m multi-year investment to transform its client experience, putting people, data and digital tools at the heart of an altogether better way of working with clients.
Malcolm Gomersall, Chief Executive Officer at Grant Thornton UK, commented:
“David’s appointment is a significant step in delivering the experience our clients expect. His expertise in building modern, intuitive digital strategies will help us create more connected, seamless interactions and better equip our people to support clients in the moments that matter most. We’re delighted to welcome him to the leadership team.”
David Gartside added:
“Grant Thornton has a bold and compelling digital vision, and I’m thrilled to be joining at such a pivotal moment. Technology is fundamentally changing how professional services are delivered. I’m looking forward to working with colleagues across the firm to launch and land the digital capabilities that will define the next phase of Grant Thornton’s growth.”
Today’s announcement builds on recent Strategic Leadership Team appointments of Frederik Vinten as Chief Commercial Officer and Abigail Fisher as Chief People Officer, as well as 25 equity partner appointments so far in 2026 as Grant Thornton continues strengthen its leadership and advance its ambitious growth plans.