PwC Scotland promotes three new partners and six directors

Gillian Alexander

Gillian Alexander, who has been with the firm since 2001, will be responsible for the continued growth and development of PwC’s Financial Services audit practice, where she already manages a portfolio of major clients.

Ms Alexander’s appointment takes the number of female partners to seven, representing 24 per cent of the total Scottish partnership.

Tom Pulling

Edinburgh-based Tom Pulling will lead data and analytics in the Risk Assurance business, where he will have a key role leading wider technology engagements and will drive growth by helping clients exploit data and technology to solve business problems.

Craig French

Craig French, based in Glasgow, becomes a partner in the Tax practice, where he will lead and grow the large corporate tax team. He will also work with international businesses with a presence in Scotland.

PwC, which is 900 staff across Scotland, has also promoted six new directors in Scotland - half of them female. Matt Kaye and Lisa Sawyer work in the Audit practice; Iain Kirkpatrick in Risk Assurance; Sharon Blain and Gemma Buxton both work in Tax focusing on corporate tax and devolved issues, and global mobility respectively, and Graeme Williams sits within the deals corporate finance team.

Lindsay Gardiner, chairman of PwC Scotland, said: “This year’s partner and director promotions once again illustrate the strength and depth of the talent we have working for PwC in Scotland across all parts of the firm.

“We are investing heavily in our audit business, an additional £30m a year across the UK, and the admission of Gillian, Lisa and Matt to the partnership  demonstrates our commitment to our audit clients here in Scotland.

“With technology becoming such an integral part of helping us deliver for our clients, Tom’s experience in data and analytics will prove invaluable as we continue to grow in this vital area.

“Craig has considerable expertise in international and corporate tax which he will continue to bring to bear to our clients.”

PwC has admitted 69 directors to the partnership across its UK business. These partners, along with the 13 direct entry partners who joined the firm throughout the year, brings the total partner numbers to 944.

Partners have been promoted across all our lines of service with many focused on our growth priorities, including 22% with a focus on technology as the firm looks towards a digital future.

Dundee-born, Ms Alexander lives in Edinburgh with her husband and three children.

She said: “I am incredibly proud to be joining PwC UK’s partnership and excited to be part of the leadership team as we embark on the changes in how our audit practice operates, with a focus on continuing to perform robust, quality and challenging audits.”

Her role will include the external audit of insurance and asset management clients, while she will also lead the firm’s retail funds practice in Scotland.

Tom Pulling joined PwC as a graduate in Birmingham in 2006 and spent time in the Middle East before settling in Edinburgh, where he lives with his wife, two children and Basil the dog – who was rescued from the Dubai desert.

He said: “Technology is changing perceptions about what is possible across the business world, and data is very much at the heart of that. I am hugely passionate about being able to bring new solutions to our clients by making the most of data and analytics.  

“Being a partner will allow me to make data an even more integral part of our offer, and with the amazing people we have, I’m confident we can really make a difference.”

Craig French, who initially joined the firm in 2007, lives in Strathaven with his wife and two children.

He said: “I’m delighted to be joining the PwC partnership and look forward to working closely with our strong partner group in Scotland. We have an incredibly talented tax team across our Scottish offices and, as a partner, I am excited by the opportunity to further expand our large corporate tax offering in the region.