Global advisory network Nexia appoints Matthew Howell as its new CEO

Global accounting and consulting network Nexia has appointed Matthew Howell as its new CEO, given responsibility for overseeing a business with recent annual revenues in excess of $5 billion.
In a rare move for the accounting and consulting industry, Howell has been appointed Nexia’s new chief executive from outside the company; rarer still, he hasn’t been directly involved in the industry for the past decade.
Stationed in London, Howell joins the top ten global firm from his most recent role as interim chief of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), having left RSM’s UK branch as its head of marketing back in 2014.
Prior to RSM. Howell spent the best part of a decade at Deloitte, latterly as regional director of clients & markets for Central Europe based out of Prague, but after an eighteen month stint at RSM back in England he hasn’t been involved in the advisory industry since. Most of that interim period was served as UK & Ireland managing director of chartered surveyors industry body RICS.
“We are thrilled to welcome Matt as our new CEO,” stated Philip Mandel, chair of Nexia’s international board since late 2023. “His exemplary leadership and deep understanding of membership organisations, combined with his extensive experience in the accounting profession, make him uniquely qualified to lead Nexia into its next chapter of growth and innovation.”
According to Nexia, Howell was instrumental in driving an ambitious transformation program, delivering a new operating model, and strengthening stakeholder engagement during his past year at CIPS. The industry body has a membership tally of 65,000 procurement professionals, while RICS, where Howell earlier spent seven and a half years until 2021, boasts 80,000 international members.
“Having spent the past eleven years in leadership roles with membership organisations, I am excited to get back into professional services,” Howell said. “With over 230 firms in 120 countries and expertise in supporting middle-market organisations, together we will continue to elevate our members and the profession through innovation, inclusivity and an unwavering commitment to delivering value.”
Nexia Australia
While Nexia has in recent years sat within the top ten largest global advisories of its kind, roughly on par with the likes of Baker Tilly and Crowe Global (albeit on a list now being challenged by the merger of Forvis and Mazars), the network’s Australian branch is placed a little bit lower in the local pecking order, sitting just outside of the top dozen with revenues of around $140 million.
“Nexia Australia extends its congratulations to Matthew Howell on his appointment as new global CEO,” the local branch said, having recently lost its Brisbane team to Moore. “This appointment is a wonderful development for our network. We are excited to welcome Matthew and look forward to benefiting from his vast experience as we continue to deliver our value together.”