Nexia appoints Brent Goldman as new Australian chair
Accounting and advisory firm Nexia has appointed Sydney-based corporate advisory partner Brent Goldman as its new Australian chair, succeeding Mal Di Giulio after six years in the role.
A three-decade industry veteran, Goldman has been with Nexia for a relatively short period of time, relative at least to Di Giulio, joining the firm in Sydney in 2014. Prior to that, he was a partner at BDO in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Di Giulio, appointed chair in March of 2020 and immediately tasked with helping to steer the firm through the Covid-19 crisis, continues on his role as managing director of Nexia’s business in Perth, where he has spent more than three decades.
“Mal has laid strong foundations for the network during his time as chair through a clear national strategy and improved alignment across our firms,” Goldman said. “My focus will be on building on that momentum – driving disciplined growth, strengthening integration across the network, and ensuring we deliver a consistently high-quality and personalised experience for our clients.”
Goldman kicked off his career in 1995 in the audit division of then BDO Kendalls, before later shifting into corporate finance and spending a decade with BDO in London, where he was appointed partner within its transactions services team. He returned to Australia with the firm in 2010, where he spent two years as a partner ahead of joining Nexia in 2014.
Leading the corporate advisory team in Sydney, Goldman’s expertise and client work focuses on a range of transaction-related services, including valuations and independent reports, financial modelling, buy- and sell-side M&A, due diligence, IPOs, and private fundraising, covering the corporate, private equity, and financial services spheres.
In addition, Goldman chairs Nexia’s sustainability and ESG committee, having for the past eighteen months led the development of the firm’s national ‘responsible business’ strategy, as well as the expansion of its service offerings in the segment in response to growing client demand as regulatory requirements and sustainability reporting obligations continue to rise.
As chair, he will be tasked with shaping the next phase of Nexia’s development in Australia, where, ranked at 14th on the AFR’s annual accounting list, the local firm sits slightly down the pecking order as compared to its top ten international organisation. His priorities include tapping into the collective capabilities of that global network, as well deeper integration across local members.
This expands on Nexia’s 2023–2027 national strategy which focused on greater alignment and building the firm’s market presence and brand recognition, work led by Di Giulio, who will remain a member of the board. Di Giulio has been a leader with Nexia and its predecessor in Perth since 1994, which was in 2023 named as the global network’s international ‘firm of the year’.
“It has been a privilege to serve as chair and work alongside our firms across A/NZ during a period of important strategic development,” Di Giulio said. “Brent brings deep experience and a strong understanding of our network along with a clear commitment to client service, and I’m confident Nexia Australia is well positioned under his leadership to continue its progress and growth.”
Chair appointments
Nexia joins a number of other lower mid-tiers who have handed over Australian chair duties during the past year or so, including Mark Muller at HLB Mann Judd and Greg Travers at William Buck. Grant Thornton also welcomed Andrea Waters as its new chair last year, while Nexia’s Sydney branch recently recruited legal expert Amber Matthews to take over as chief executive.
