Deloitte promotes seven staff in Wales to director level

Professional advisory firm Deloitte has appointed seven new directors in Wales as part of its annual round of promotions.

Simon McNamara, Alex Mooney, Bhavik Patel, Alice Viles and Adam Wareham have all been promoted to director level within the firm’s tax and legal practices. Moreover, Ian Edwards and Jamie Garland have been promoted to directors within the firm’s enabling functions team.

In addition there have been 187 promotions throughout Deloitte’s Welsh practice. The firm has also welcomed eight new apprentices through its apprenticeship Brightstart scheme, which is run in partnership with Cardiff and Vale College and a further 18 entry level apprentices.

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Ian Howse, senior partner of Deloitte in Wales, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone who has achieved a promotion this year and to recognise our seven colleagues who have been promoted to director. They will play a significant role in the continued growth of Deloitte’s business in Wales across a range of disciplines.

“The Welsh economy is going through a transformation process, with energy transition, the digital economy and new and emerging technologies playing a role as the industrial base is being reimagined and reinvigorated. Deloitte has been in this market for over 100 years, and I believe we have the power to drive this transformation and continue to make a real and positive impact on our people, our clients and wider society in Wales.”

Deloitte employs more than 1,600 people in Cardiff and over 30 in Port Talbot, providing professional services to clients in the region and further afield, as well as accommodating the firm’s centralised business operations. Deloitte’s Cardiff office is the largest office in the UK outside of the firm’s London headquarters.

Deloitte, in partnership with Cardiff and Vale College, has to date awarded over 150 apprenticeships at its Cardiff delivery centre. This has enabled opportunities outside of traditional accountancy or consultancy roles for people who may not previously have considered a career within professional services.

The firm is also considering moving to a new headquarters building in Cardiff. It is undertaking a review of its property requirements - set against its net zero targets and wider adoption of hybrid working practices since the pandemic.

The Cardiff office of property advisory firm Savills is advising the firm on its property strategy, with one outcome potentially bringing all its operations under one roof, which would require around 40,000 sq ft.

Leases on its three existing office sites all expire in early to mid 2025. Its general practice team is located in 19,000 sq ft at the 5 Callaghan Square office building in the city centre. Its delivery team also occupies 44,000 sq ft at the Fusion Point Two office building, also in the city centre.

The firm, through its delivery team, did operate out of around 40,000 sq ft of space at the 6 Park Street building close to Cardiff Central Station. However, at the start of the pandemic it mothballed the site.