Managing Partner to retire after 44 years

When John Wilkinson’s career began, England had just won the World Cup at Wembley, and The Beatles were putting the finishing touches to what was to become the legendary Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album.

Mr Wilkinson, the managing Partner at Smailes Goldie Chartered Accountants, which has offices in Hull and Barton-upon-Humber, has seen plenty of economic upheavals in his 44-year career.

Mr Wilkinson, who became a partner in 1975, has dealt with all aspects of finance, accounting and tax matters.

He has guided the business into the internet age.

In recent years, he has specialised in employment issues, wealth management and retirement planning.

For 35 years, he was the partner responsible for personnel matters.

Mr Wilkinson said he remained “firmly committed to the firm” and, while responsibility for his clients has been passed to other partners, he will continue to support them in a consulting capacity.

Mr Wilkinson added: “I feel very lucky to have been a part of the firm’s development.

“I am also extremely proud of the achievements made in the last 14 years while I have been managing partner, in particular building the firm into one of the leading practices, not just in Hull and the Yorkshire region, but the UK.”

Ian Lamb has been appointed Smailes Goldie’s new managing partner.

Mr Lamb trained and qualified at Smailes Goldie and became a partner in 1983, at the age of just 25.

He specialises in complex tax planning issues for all types of businesses.

Together with fellow partner Jeremy Allison, he has built up a team of corporate finance specialists within the Smailes Goldie practice.