Leeds – Leading global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) has chosen Leeds as the third key location for regional office expansion in the U.K., supporting business leaders in Yorkshire and the North East. 

The new office, based at the heart of Leeds city centre, will be headed up by former KPMG restructuring partner Jonny Marston, who joins as a Managing Director. Mr. Marston has nearly 20 years of experience helping a diverse range of firms in the area from commercial solutions to operational and financial issues. He has advised on several high-profile turnaround projects in Yorkshire, working with both local small owner managed SMEs, as well as large multinationals. Former PwC Director Lyn Vardy, who brings decades of local restructuring experience, joins the growing Leeds team at the same time.

Marston and Vardy join as companies across the region face significant uncertainty and are looking for hands-on support with issues relating to performance improvement or financial distress. A slow-down in the U.K. economy, unpredictable currency rates, and potential impact of Brexit on the labour market are affecting firms across retail, casual dining, food manufacturing and construction alike, calling for greater contingency planning, stakeholder management and sourcing of alternative funding solutions.

Jonny Marston, Managing Director at A&M Restructuring practice in Leeds said: “Leeds is a diverse hub for business and is one of the foremost centres of fast-growing small businesses in the U.K. But it’s important that these businesses can be proactive in delivering stakeholder value in light of a shrinking economy when margins are coming under increasing pressure. We are committed to growing a team of specialists in Leeds, from experienced advisors to graduate talent, who can advise the local market in the long-term but have the global capabilities and expertise to draw upon as needed.”

Mark Firmin, Managing Director and U.K. Head of Regional Restructuring, said: “The Leeds opening marks a key milestone in A&M’s regional expansion strategy, following the launch of our Manchester and Birmingham offices over the last 12 months. We are experiencing high demand for our services in the regional market place, given our ability to provide hands-on advice and respond quickly to clients’ needs without the constraints of audit conflicts”.

Jonny and Lyn are best placed to grow our team in the region and, with their combined local expertise and knowledge, we’re looking forward to supporting Yorkshire’s businesses in navigating a period of fundamental change.”

Lyn Vardy brings nearly 30 years of restructuring experience helping businesses of all sizes, particularly privately-owned businesses and their stakeholders. Previously, Mr. Vardy was a Director at PwC and was instrumental in building their mid-market restructuring practice across the North and developing its new sector channels.

A&M’s offering in Leeds includes the full range of Restructuring, Turnaround and Insolvency services. The firm also applies its operational know-how to corporate performance improvement and transformation projects.

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About Alvarez & Marsal

Companies, investors and government entities around the world turn to Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) when conventional approaches are not enough to drive change and achieve results. Privately held since its founding in 1983, A&M is a leading global professional services firm that provides advisory, business performance improvement and turnaround management services.

With over 4,000 people across four continents, we deliver tangible results for corporates, boards, private equity firms, law firms and government agencies facing complex challenges. Our senior leaders, and their teams, help organizations transform operations, catapult growth and accelerate results through decisive action. Comprised of experienced operators, world-class consultants, former regulators and industry authorities, A&M leverages its restructuring heritage to turn change into a strategic business asset, manage risk and unlock value at every stage of growth.

To learn more, visit: AlvarezandMarsal.com. Follow A&M on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

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Ingrid Valk, Ellen Johnson - Headland Consultancy PR, +44 20 3805 4822