BDO chooses its next Senior Partner

BDO LLP has today announced that Simon Bevan will become its new senior partner, taking over from Dermot Mathias who will retire from the firm in October 2010.

This announcement follows a formal election process held during July 2010.

Simon will continue to be a client facing partner with responsibility for partnership governance issues. The role of senior partner at BDO has been changed and he will be independent from the general management of the firm and will advise the firm’s leadership in a non-executive capacity. The firm will continue to retain its two external NEDs.

Simon is currently an Audit Partner in London, specialising in working with Professional Service Firms. He has been at BDO since 1981 and was made a Partner in 1988, since when he has worked with some of the firm's highest-profile clients. He has been involved in the firm's management and is current Chair of its Audit Committee. Externally, he is Chair of the Association of Partnership Practitioners, a 400-member multi-disciplinary body. 

He will continue to maintain an extensive involvement with clients, while fulfilling the governance, ambassadorial and pastoral roles required of the Senior Partner.

Dermot Mathias has been the senior partner of BDO since 2004 and will remain in post until he retires at the end of September.

Dermot joined the firm in 1973 and qualified in 1976. He was made partner in 1980 and after a period in management consultancy, joined the Corporate Finance group, becoming Head of Corporate Finance in 1990. In addition to being an active corporate finance partner, he has been involved with the firm’s strategic development and management for the last fifteen years, serving on the Leadership team for nine years and Partnership Council for four years before being elected as senior partner. Dermot is Chairman of BDO International’s Policy Board and has played a major part in the development of our international organisation.

Simon Michaels, managing partner, BDO LLP commented: “I am delighted to announce Simon Bevan’s appointment as senior partner. He has already made a huge contribution to BDO’s success and I look forward to working with him in the next exciting phase of BDO’s development. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Dermot Mathias for his hard work, contribution, advice, energy and commitment as he retires from the firm in October. With 37 years’ service at BDO under his belt, we’ll miss him.”

- Ends –

Notes to Editors

About BDO

BDO LLP, a UK limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales under number OC305127, is a member of BDO International Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, and forms part of the international BDO network of independent member firms. A list of members' names is open to inspection at our registered office, 55 Baker Street, London W1U 7EU.  BDO LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority to conduct investment business.

The combined fee income of all the BDO Member Firms was US$5.026 billion in 2009. The global network has 1,138 offices in 115 countries and more than 46,000 partners and staff provide business advisory services throughout the world.

BDO is the brand name for the BDO International network and for each of the BDO Member Firms.

BDO Northern Ireland, a partnership formed in and under the laws of Northern Ireland, is licensed to operate within the international BDO network of independent member firms.