Forvis Mazars announces new UK CEO
Forvis Mazars has today (Nov 18) announced James Gilbey as its next UK CEO, following a vote by the firm’s UK Partners.
Effective 15 February 2025, Gilbey will be responsible for leading a team of over 3,300 people across 14 offices with a remit to lead the firm for a four-year period.
Gilbey succeeds Phil Verity who has held the position since 2012. James will be able to build upon the momentum created by the new global Forvis Mazars network created in June 2024.
“I am incredibly excited to be taking up this role, and for the support from the Partners in my vision for the firm. To lead the firm in which I started my career in 24 years ago is a privilege and honour, and something that fills me with enormous pride,” said Gilbey.
“Our partnership model puts us in the best possible position to deliver growth for our business and exceptional service to our clients. That commitment, allied to a belief in our people and a desire to invest still further in them and their capability, gives me great confidence that we can continue to stand Forvis Mazars apart from its competitors both large and small.”
Gilbey has worked across both audit and advisory, having qualified as a chartered accountant after starting his career at the firm. As a Partner at Forvis Mazars, James has specialised in independent expert forensic accounting and valuation evidence and has led its Advisory business for 4 years, also serving on the UK Executive Board during this time.
“I am absolutely delighted to see James being elected and endorsed by his peers; he will be an outstanding CEO for the UK firm. It has been a pleasure to have worked closely with James over many years and I know he will lead the firm to even greater success in the future,” said Verity.
Mazars, which ranked 10th in Accountancy Age’s 50+50 rankings in 2023, reported a fee income of €2.8 billion for the 2022/2023 financial year, marking a 13% increase compared to the previous year. Mazars’ revenue split is approximately 43% from audit services and 57% from non-audit services. Meanwhile FORVIS reported annual revenue of $1.7 billion for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2023. This revenue places FORVIS among the top accounting firms in the US.
On June 3, the firm announced the formation of a new two-firm network with US firm Forvis. With a projected $5 billion global network, Forvis Mazars is not just another partnership but the largest new entrant in the global rankings in decades.
Read Accountancy Age’s full interview with Phil Verity here.
