Chris Hunter, Matt Smith and Michael Magnay are among Deloitte UK’s 80 new partners, in the firm’s largest-ever round of promotions – topping 2015’s 75. Deloitte now has 35 partners and 45 directors in Scotland.

Combined, the new partners and directors have more than 110 years’ experience with the firm, advising clients on a range of tax, risk and audit matters.

With over 14 years’ experience, Chris Hunter has a wealth of expertise in audit for the financial services and oil and gas sectors. Based in Edinburgh, Chris leads the firm’s audit service for a range of asset management and investment fund clients.

Matt Smith currently leads Deloitte’s tax depreciation team in Scotland and the North, advising businesses across the energy, resources, infrastructure and real estate sectors on the tax relief available for capital projects. During his 17 years with the firm, he has advised many of the region’s largest companies in these industries.

Having recently moved to Edinburgh to join Deloitte’s Scottish restructuring team, Michael Magnay has spent a total of 15 years with the firm across the North of England. Michael has a range of expertise in business turnaround, insolvency and corporate restructuring, including a 13-month secondment with a major clearing bank.

Steve Williams, Senior Partner for Scotland and Northern Ireland at Deloitte, said: “This latest round of promotions underlines our investment in, and commitment to, Scotland. It’s also a reflection of the strength, depth and quality of the people we have within the firm throughout the country.

“All of our new partners and directors have a real focus on developing their teams and demonstrate Deloitte’s values admirably. They are an inspiration to the people they work with and are strong role models for those coming through in the future.

“Between them, they have more than 110 years of experience providing the best possible advice to our clients, ranging from fast growing businesses right through to some of the largest organisations in the country. They have already made a huge contribution to the firm’s development and we look forward to seeing them play an even more active role in the years ahead.”

There were three director promotions in Deloitte’s audit and risk advisory practice: Kevin Johnson, Michael Caullay and Stephen Pratt. Kevin has been with the firm for 15 years, working with clients in the UK retail banking sector and leading Deloitte’s financial services finance advisory and securitisation assurance services in Scotland. Michael has been with the firm for nearly 12 years, while Stephen’s tenure with Deloitte is approaching a decade.

From the tax practice, Aberdeen-based Hazel Gray and Iain McDonald from the firm’s Glasgow office have also been promoted to director. Hazel is an integral part of Deloitte’s R&D tax team and has a wealth of experience in advising privately-owned and private equity-backed businesses on how to optimise the incentives available to them. Iain has been with the firm for more than a decade, specialising in treasury and international tax affairs for multinational and listed groups.

They are joined as directors by Ruth Campbell from the transaction services team, who has been with Deloitte since 2006. Ruth works predominantly with the firm’s corporate and private equity clients, both in the UK and abroad, and has a breadth of sector experience conducting due diligence, refinancing exercises, IPOs and bid support.