Watson steps up to top Yorkshire job for EY

Mr Watson is an assurance partner and leads the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards programme in the UK.

He replaces David Buckley who is standing down after five years to concentrate on his roles advising some of the firm’s largest national clients and leading EY’s transaction support team in the region.

Mr Watson said: “David’s outstanding leadership of the firm in Yorkshire is made all the more impressive having coincided with such a challenging period for businesses in our region.

“In the improving economy, we are planning for continued growth after a strong performance to our June 2014 year-end, which was helped by the IPOs we completed and other transaction work for clients in Yorkshire and Humberside.

“Our clients are targeting opportunities around the world as their markets improve and we are geared up to help them make the most of these.

“We are also investing in our fast-growing financial services practice, and building our local government and healthcare advisory teams in response to fresh challenges and opportunities facing client organisations in these sectors.

“The Yorkshire and Humberside region is a strategically important market for us as a firm and the UK economy as a whole.”

Mr Buckley said: “It has been an honour to lead our Yorkshire practice and such a talented team of professionals. Stuart is an excellent leader and the ideal choice to spearhead the practice’s expansion over the coming years.”