Member Article

Grant Thornton boosts Thames Valley and Southampton team with two partner appointments

Grant Thornton UK LLP has appointed two new partners to supercharge its growth in the Thames Valley and Southampton region and provide even more support for the area’s thriving business community.

Andy Wood and Sophie Murton joined the leading business and financial adviser’s Thames Valley and Southampton team in September as Private Capital Audit Partners.

Prior to his new position, Andy Wood was Head of Ethics and Managing Partner for Grant Thornton in Yorkshire and the North East. During this time, Andy grew the team and reshaped the firm’s approach to ethics, while also enhancing the profile, market share, and client base of Grant Thornton’s North East office.

Following a recent relocation to Reading, Andy will provide advanced support for companies both locally and nation-wide, with a particular emphasis on private capital investments. A key aspect of his role will be to continue his work developing Grant Thornton’s people-focused culture and the capabilities of its people.

Joining Grant Thornton in September, Sophie Murton brings more than 20 years’ experience to her new position. In her previous Director role, Sophie developed extensive expertise providing audit and assurance services, working with large companies in the complex capital market space. Sophie is also committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the workplace and is an advocate for both gender equality and working parents.

Based in Southampton, Sophie understands the regional market and has worked closely with many of the area’s capital market teams in preparations for exits, business restructurings and refinancings. Key aspects of Sophie’s new position will include providing insights and guidance to private equity backed businesses while helping Grant Thornton further grow in the region, creating a supportive and inclusive culture to develop new and existing talent.

Norman Armstrong, Practice Leader for Grant Thornton in the Thames Valley and Southampton, said: “Welcoming Andy and Sophie to Grant Thornton’s team in the Thames Valley and Southampton (TVS) area is an exciting and really important moment. Not only do these appointments highlight our commitment to growing in this region, but they both have significant expertise and capabilities which will further enhance our multi-disciplinary offerings to the local market.

“What’s more, the experience Sophie and Andy have in developing teams and curating rewarding, people-focused environments is going to further enrich the culture at Grant Thornton for existing talent and new joiners. I’m very proud of the TVS Audit team, which has seen rapid growth lately to be one of the largest outside London. Operating from our locations in Oxford, Reading and Southampton, it has a significant focus on private capital backed groups, bringing substantial value to our clients through our concentration of expertise, capability, and audit quality.”

Andy Wood, Audit Partner at Grant Thornton in the Thames Valley and Southampton, said: “This new role is a great opportunity for me to take the lessons I’ve learned leading our firm in Yorkshire and the North East for the best part of a decade, and applying it to fresh challenges alongside Grant Thornton’s hugely talented team in the Thames Valley and Southampton area.

“The team here has grown rapidly, which is a testament to their expertise and the confidence that local business leaders have in their ability to help them take their companies to the next level. I can’t wait to get stuck into my new role and help drive this forward to further build the business, its people, and capabilities, to ensure that it fulfil its incredible potential.”

Sophie Murton, Audit Partner at Grant Thornton in the Thames Valley and Southampton, said: “I’m really looking forward to working with Grant Thornton in the Thames Valley and Southampton region. This is a great opportunity to develop the business further, while building new internal and external networks as well as being a role model ‘part time working mummy’ to others.

“The whole team has already really impressed me with its supportive, inclusive culture and commitment to quality and progress. This positivity shines through the business and is reflected in its people and the confidence that clients have in the ability of Grant Thornton to deliver. I’m excited to be bringing my expertise into this mix, as I know that my understanding of the market and experience creating a supportive workplace dynamic really complements the environment that has been established.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by John Robson .