Leading business and financial adviser Grant Thornton UK LLP has announced the promotion of two new partners in its audit team.
Jon Oakey, based in Gatwick, and Madeleine Malenczuk, based in Oxford, will lead in driving quality, building sustainable value, and developing talent across the South of England.
This investment in the region’s audit capacity highlights Grant Thornton’s commitment to the area’s business landscape and assisting SMEs across a broad range of sectors to capitalise on opportunities and overcome challenges.
In Jon’s new role he will lead Grant Thornton’s 75-strong Gatwick audit department and support the team’s growth and skills progression to ensure that it can provide the key capabilities required by businesses across the South East.
Jon began his career as a trainee at Grant Thornton 20 years ago and over this time has strengthened the Gatwick office’s reputation as an exemplar of audit quality. This progression illustrates how Grant Thornton’s culture nurtures the potential of employees, an attribute Jon is keen to further evolve and promote.
A key focus for Madeleine will be to manage and grow the Oxford office’s diverse portfolio of clients across the Thames Valley and Southampton. In her 20 years at Grant Thornton, Madeleine has undertaken secondments to the ethics department and technical team, giving her advanced capabilities to deal with technical issues and lead quality audits. This has enhanced Grant Thornton’s presence in a wide range of sectors including the region’s tech, health & life science and green industries as well as with many PE backed and international organisations.
As the regional People Lead for audit, Madeleine will be central to developing the team and ensuring a diverse, inclusive environment. Her experience in this area includes setting up audit offices in Belfast and the recent establishment of a back-to-work group for parents to best assist people during this time of their lives.
Jon Oakey, Audit Partner at Grant Thornton UK LLP, said: “It’s a fantastic privilege to be leading Grant Thornton’s South East audit department, which is full of incredibly talented and dedicated people. I’m looking forward to helping enhance the team and taking our highly supportive culture, which has been an important part of my own career, even further.
“Being based in Gatwick, the office has an in-depth understanding of the South East market, what’s important to business leaders and how they can be guided to achieve their objectives. This is a particularly exciting space, with a lot of growth and many innovative companies attracting a lot of PE investment. Grant Thornton is committed to ensuring that these businesses have the audit, tax, and wider advisory guidance they need right on their doorstep.”
Madeleine Malenczuk, Audit Partner at Grant Thornton UK LLP, said: “Grant Thornton has a long history in the Thames Valley and Southampton region, and we’re always investing in the team to ensure that it’s on hand and ready to help businesses. Grant Thornton revolves around its people, an ethos I’m eager to continue and reinforce for our existing as well as new team members.
“The region’s burgeoning market encapsulates a wide variety of sectors and specialisms, ranging from long established companies to new tech or life sciences spin outs. The region is also leading the way in another crucial field, with a lot of investment and R&D in the renewables market and ESG related products. In the Thames Valley and Southampton, it’s also important to be aware of international pressures and opportunities, with many local businesses eager to export, while overseas companies are interested in the ideas and expertise cultivated here.”
Martin Verrall, Practice Lead for Grant Thornton UK LLP in Gatwick, said: “Jon and Madeleine’s promotion to Partner is a real testament to their talents and I know they will both play a key role in the growth journey of many businesses across the South of England. Having both been with Granth Thornton since the early days of their careers, this announcement is a fantastic illustration of how Grant Thornton nurtures talent and enables colleagues to fulfil their potential. I know that Jon and Madeleine recognise the importance of mentoring the next generation and that they will be helping our audit teams boost the skills needed in today’s increasingly complex world.”
