BDO appoints Henry McClintock and Martin Veitch in New Zealand

Two of BDO’s largest offices in New Zealand have installed new managing partners: Henry McClintock in Wellington and Martin Veitch in Christchurch.

The New Zealand network of professional services firm BDO has begun its year under the guidance of two new office managing partners, with Mark Bewley handing over to Henry McClintock in Wellington and Martin Veitch taking over the mantle in Christchurch from Warren Johnstone.

Bewley and Johnstone step down after eight and twelve years in their respective roles overseeing two of the local network’s largest branches.

A member of the Wellington executive and head of BDO’s national not-for-profit sector practice, Henry McClintock moves into the top role after joining the local firm’s Audit & Assurance division in 2012 from WHK, which around the time was rebranding to Crowe. Originally from the UK, where he studied law at the Nottingham Trent University, McClintock also spent time at London-headquartered UK outfit haysmacintyre.

McClintock takes over from Mark Bewley, who has led the Wellington firm since the start of 2016 and previously served as national head of audit for BDO New Zealand and merged predecessor Horwath, altogether spending more than two decades between the two. With further expertise in governance, risk management and M&A due diligence, Bewley will now turn his attention back to audit work.

“After Mark’s remarkable tenure as managing partner, he will be leaving behind a legacy of exceptional guidance and strategic vision that has greatly contributed to our firm’s success, as well as BDO nationally,” the firm stated. “We are so grateful to him for all his hard work and know that he now looks forward to focusing on the audit team and providing exceptional service to our clients.”

BDO has also undergone a changing of the guard further south, with Martin Veitch taking the reins in Christchurch after Warren Johnstone’s thirteen-year tenure as boss. Serving clients with a particular focus on the construction sector, Veitch has been a partner with BDO for almost a decade and a half, holding a number of local and national senior leadership positions over that time including his current role as NZ head of advisory.

Johnstone meanwhile steps down after having guided BDO in Christchurch through a period of significant growth, with the firm having doubled in size since his appointment. A near three-decade veteran of the firm, Johnstone will like Bewley now focus on the local audit business while continuing as a member of BDO’s national board, where he currently serves as deputy chair. He will also support Veitch through the transition.

A network of independently-owned firms, Wellington and Christchurch are two of BDO NZ’s largest members, with roughly 15 partners apiece. The largest, Auckland, with three outlets and around 30 partners, has been led by Jugdis Parbhu since the start of 2021. Meanwhile, BDO’s Southern Lakes & Central Otago branch has extended its partnership numbers to seven after recently bringing in international tax expert Benjamin Walker from Deloitte.