Audit firm Grant Thornton appoints new boss after controversial exit of Sacha Romanovitch
The UK’s fifth-largest audit firm Grant Thornton has appointed restructuring partner Dave Dunckley as its new chief executive, following the ousting of previous boss Sacha Romanovitch.
Romanovitch, the first female boss of a large UK accounting firm, was ousted after an anonymous memo said to represent 15 partners was sent to the press criticising her “socialist agenda”.
According to a Grant Thornton spokesperson, the firm’s 200 partners were “overwhelmingly in favour” of Dunckley’s appointment to the role.
He beat one other candidate for the job, although the firm would not confirm who that was.
Dunckley said: “Our brand is the strongest it has ever been, and we will use this to continue to speak out on big themes that impact our industry and society, driving profitable commercial growth whilst ensuring that we continue to have a strong social conscience.”
Dunckley joined Grant Thornton in 1998, and was appointed as partner in 2007. He joined the firm's strategic leadership team this year.
Previous roles include global head of restructuring and head of transactions advisory.