Professional services firm PwC has appointed six new industry leaders in what the firm says is a demonstration of a merit-based approach to senior promotions rather than the ‘boys club’ one of old.
As it continues in its efforts toward cultural reform following the firm’s government tax breach scandal, PwC has appointed a number of new industry leaders, with CEO Kevin Burrowes describing the process as the “end of the boys’ club” of captain’s picks.
“I’ve already announced that senior roles and positions inside PwC will be merit-based,” Burrowes told the AFR. “It won’t be me (making the decisions) in a ‘boys’ club’ approach. “That’s something I successfully introduced at PwC in the UK, and it works really well. It’s about merit, it’s about partners putting themselves forward. That will bring different voices into the room, it will bring different challenge into the room.”
The news come shortly after PwC’s independent report into governance and culture placed significant emphasis on the almost unchecked power wielded by those in CEO role and other internal power politics.
The refreshed promotion-approach has seen the appointment of six new industry leaders with varying levels of experience within PwC and based in four different states.
Louise King becomes TMT boss out of Sydney after nearly two and a half decades at the firm, while Guy Chandler has been appointed Energy, Utilities and Resources industry leader after joining the firm in Brisbane in 2018 upon PwC’s acquisition of insolvency outfit PPB Advisory.
Down in Melbourne, Brian Man has will lead the firm’s Retail and Consumer practice (a role he appears to have held before, alongside serving as national CX consulting lead) after rejoining the firm for his third stint at the start of 2019, while over in Perth trust and risk partner Nicola Lynch takes over as national health and education industry leader. Lynch has been with PwC since 2009, with an earlier career stint spent between Mazars and PKF.
Also in Melbourne, Barry Trubridge becomes financial services sector leader less than a decade with the firm, bringing earlier leadership experience at RBS and ANZ following a career start at KPMG in London. Meanwhile, Sydney-based company veteran and former deals deputy managing partner Troy Porter has been appointed national private equity leader, having been with the firm for close to thirty years, including a secondment with the UK branch.
Indeed, international experience is a common theme among the new appointees, with most hailing from or spending significant time abroad – giving the impression that while merit-based, there is also an element of breaking up long-established local networks.
The new leaders will report to recently-appointed Clients and Markets national managing partner Tom Gunson, who is a long-time colleague of Burrowes as mutual former members of PwC’s UK partnership.
Sourced from Consultancy.com.au