EY’s partnership hits 700+ following 90 new partner appointments
The Australian partnership of professional services firm EY has crossed the 700 mark over the past year, with the addition of 90 new recruits and promotions – more than a third in consulting.
Professional services firm Ernst & Young has celebrated its bumper crop of 90 new partners over the past financial year, pushing its total Australian partnership headcount above the 700 mark. The figure represents an almost 30 percent increase on the 2020/21 financial year intake, and includes a roughly even split of appointments and promotions, with the bulk being members of EY’s rapidly consulting practice.
Altogether, 33 of the new partners belong to EY’s consulting division, with a further 21 from the firm’s Strategy & Transactions business including eight with EY Port Jackson Partners.
Nineteen of the new partners are members of EY’s Tax and Law practice, while just 17 serve in Assurance, with the firm currently exploring a split of its audit and consulting lines.
“The addition of 90 partners in this year, up from 70 in 2021 demonstrates the continued strong demand for our services as we focus on delivering long term value for our clients, people and society,” commented EY Oceania CEO and regional managing partner David Larocca. “All are outstanding people, with great values who will make a significant contribution to the firm, our clients and our people over many years to come.”
The 2021/22 partnership intake – which rises to 103 when including fellow Oceania practices in New Zealand and Fiji – has seen the Australian firm’s total number reach 709, with the latest cohort raising the partnership’s female representation to 31 percent. “I am proud of the progress we continue to make to build a diverse partnership and inclusive firm,” said Larocca. “There is more work to be done but we have a strong foundation and great momentum.”
Larocca also made special mention of the six new partners who had joined the firm via its recent acquisitions, including project management consultancy Cadence Australia (Matthew Gralton, Todd Murphy and David Riddell), boutique disputes resolution and forensic accounting firm Axiom Forensics (Michael Potter and David Mullins), and international customer transformation consultancy Blackdot (Marty Nicholas).
Other headline recruits in recent months include Terry Sweeney, a former global director of IBM Health Watson who joined following a CEO role of the Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre, and inaugural AustCyber chief executive Michelle Price. EY Port Jackson Partners also this year recruited former Transport for NSW secretary Rodd Staples, while ex-Grattan Institute CEO John Daley joined the strategy consultancy last year.
In terms of those crossing from rival Big Four firms, Matthew Pieroni and Vanessa Domaschenz, joined from the Deloitte partnership (the former after more than two decades), while Leonie Costello returned to the firm after five and a half years as a partner with Deloitte Digital. Maree Mamo, Louise Lovering, and Len Nicita all crossed from KPMG’s partnership, while Diana Quinn and Jason Knott joined as partners from PwC.
Professionals who have received internal promotions according to the AFR include:
Consulting
Brian Collins (Intelligent Automation; Sydney, joined 2015)
Clement Soh (Cyber, Mining & Metals; Perth, joined 2002)
David Lyons (Advisory; Brisbane, joined 2010)
Felicity Kate Potter (Financial Services; Sydney, joined 2016)
Heath Tennant (Cybersecurity; Melbourne, joined 2017)
Ian Laslett (Digital Transformation; Canberra, joined 2018)
James Hickey (Technology and Digital Operations; Brisbane, joined 2007)
Matthew Charlesworth (Customer Performance; Sydney, joined 2006)
Meena Parekh (Consulting; Melbourne, joined 2013)
Nigel Jansz (Wealth Asset Management; Melbourne, joined 2020)
Nischith Kashyap (Data and Analytics; Perth, joined 2014)
Portia Cerny (Financial Services; Sydney, rejoined 2019)
Sam Cutri (Financial Services; Sydney, rejoined 2020)
Yi Fang Chua (Cybersecurity; Melbourne, joined 2014)
Richard Katter (Agribusiness; Brisbane, joined 2014)
Strategy & Transactions
Abi Paramaguru (Port Jackson Partners; Sydney, joined 2018)
Andrew Croll (Transaction Diligence; Sydney via London, joined 2014)
Bernadette Joice (International Tax; Sydney, rejoined 2012)
Celine Luke (Energy Transition; Melbourne, joined 2020)
Colby O’Brien (Turnaround & Restructuring; Melbourne, joined 2010)
Fiona Hutchings (Analytics; Melbourne, joined joined 2019)
Geoffrey Lang (Strategy and Execution, Sydney, joined 2019)
Graeme Plato (Port Jackson Partners; Sydney)
Kendrick Tan (Financial Services; Melbourne, joined 2008)
Richard Esteves Mills (Social Infrastructure; Sydney, joined 2017)
