HLB Mann Judd appoints Mark Muller as new Australasian chair
Accounting and consulting firm HLB Mann Judd has appointed assurance & advisory senior partner Mark Muller as its new in Australasian chair, taking the reins from long-time leader Tony Fittler.
Based in Sydney, Muller has led HLB Mann Judd’s local assurance & advisory division for more than a decade and a half, and altogether spent over 30 years at the firm after graduating with a business accounting degree from UTS in 1991.
Muller succeeds company stalwart Tony Fittler, who has held the chair role since 2010 after first becoming a partner back in 1989. Fittler will remain with the firm as a senior tax partner in HLB’s Sydney office, which is now led by Steve Grivas.
Muller said he looks forward to working alongside HLB’s member firms to lead the company into its next phase of growth; “Our profession is changing rapidly, and the challenges facing businesses are increasingly complex. My priority is to champion initiatives that drive innovation, raise the bar on quality, and create tangible value for our people and the clients who trust us.”
HLB described Muller as having played a pivotal role in shaping the network’s technical capabilities and audit approach as a champion of digital innovation over the past ten-plus years, including as lead auditor for significant public-private infrastructure partnerships, major construction and resources clients, and numerous well-known charities.
“Combining deep business acumen with a collaborative leadership style, Mark consistently fosters strong stakeholder relationships that drive strategic outcomes,” Muller’s company bio states. “His unwavering commitment to technical excellence ensures high-quality, compliant, and forward-thinking solutions across complex financial and operational environments.”
Mark Muller
Having worked with clients in Australia, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, Muller is also now a member of HLB International’s executive committee, contributing to the strategic direction of a global network which today generates in excess of $6 billion in annual revenues as the world’s eighth largest accounting and consulting organisation of its kind.
Locally, HLB is made up of twelve independent member firms across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, with coverage in every Australian state capital together with outlets in Wollongong, Newcastle, and more recent additions in Lismore and Robina. The firm also continues to grow, last year transitioning Cutcher & Neale’s audit team in Newcastle into a full member and adding A Plus in Perth.
HLB acknowledged Fittler as a cornerstone of that growth since 1984, with Fittler stating; “It has been a privilege to serve as chair and work alongside such a dedicated and talented team across our network. Seeing the association grow has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m confident that under Mark’s leadership we will continue to thrive, innovate, and deliver value to our people and clients.”
