Mark McRae, previously an audit director, joins the Glasgow office to focus on owner-managed businesses. He will help to manage relationships with investors, suppliers and funders. Managing director Richard Gibson said: "Mark has enormous experience of the owner-managed business sector."

Haines Watt plans to increase fee income by more than 50% to in excess of £7 million by 2014.

In recent months, it has hired former PwC partner Ian Durie to head corporate finance, Annette Menzies from French Duncan to lead business recovery and Marc Shenken from Deloitte as head of tax.