Deloitte targets growth businesses with dual appointment

ENTREPRENEURS are to be targeted by Deloitte after the advisory firm reappointed Caroline Muir and Jim Higgins to bolster its offering for growth businesses in Scotland.

Ms Muir joins from Johnston Carmichael, where she was Deputy Head of Tax. With a focus on tax strategy and risk management, particularly around overseas expansion, Ms Muir previously spent 11 years at Deloitte.

Mr Higgins joins from Coleby Associates, a bespoke firm advising the family offices of ultra-high-net-worth individuals. He previously spent five years at Deloitte between 2002 and 2007, and has re-joined the firm to bring his expertise to the tax affairs of its most complex clients.

Garry Tetley, who leads Deloitte’s Private Markets tax team in Scotland, said the appointments of enhanced its ability to offer a full suite of services to entrepreneurs and growth businesses. “Jim and Caroline’s return also demonstrates the strength of the firm’s offering to senior professionals,” he said.

Ms Muir added: “A number of progressive and genuinely innovative businesses are emerging in Scotland, particularly from Edinburgh’s tech scene. We only see that continuing and growing, with the skills and community of people now developing across the country.”

Opportunity North East grows team

OPPORTUNITY North East (ONE) has appointed two directors to its executive team. Peter Cook joins ONE as director of food, drink and agriculture and Magnus Nicolson has been appointed as director of life sciences. Both bring extensive experience within the sectors to their new posts.

ONE is a private sector led and funded company that launched in December with £50m in funding. Backed by many leading figures, including Sir Ian Wood, it is the private sector partner in the Aberdeen City Region Deal alongside Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council.

Both Mr Cook and Mr Nicolson will work with the respective sector boards, ONE’s chief executive Jennifer Craw and its main economic leadership board to broaden and diversify economic activity in the region by identifying and investing in projects of scale and impact. This will include developing business plans and partnerships across the private and public sectors, leveraging co-investment opportunities and leading their own teams of project managers and support staff.

Murray makes move to partner after 15 years at WJM

GRAHAM Murray has been promoted to partner at legal firm Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie (WJM). He initially joined the firm in 2001 as a trainee.

As a solicitor and chartered financial planner at WJM, Mr Murray is one of the only solicitors in Scotland to hold this qualification.

He is also a qualified trust and estate practitioner and manages investment portfolios on behalf of a range of clients with specialist expertise in advising charities and third sector organisations.

The first partner to be promoted from the firm’s senior associate career path, WJM chief executive Liam Entwistle said of Mr Murray, “He is an excellent example of WJMs ability to grow and nurture its own talent, and to provide them with an excellent platform to carve out their own business.”