Senior leadership appointment in KPMG’s North West Corporate Finance team

KPMG UK has bolstered the leadership of its North West Corporate Finance practice with the appointment of a new partner.

Based in Manchester, Ben Taylor joins the existing leadership group of Christian Mayo, Nisha Sharma, Mark Booth, Nicky Leonard, and Will Griffith.

The enhanced leadership structure was said to reflect KPMG’s continued investment in locally led deal advisory capability across the North West, with Liverpool headed up by managing director Mark Booth, and a clear sector-led focus supported by senior partners and directors across the region.

Ben Taylor joins the North West Corporate Finance team with more than 15 years’ experience at KPMG, having previously been a partner within the firm’s Yorkshire & North East M&A practice.

He has advised on a wide range of mid-market and large-cap transactions and brings extensive experience supporting founder-owned, private equity-backed and corporate clients, including acting as lead advisor to Sheffield-based student accommodation provider, UniHomes, on its recent investment from Macquarie Capital and its exit and reinvestment from LDC.

In his new role, Taylor will work closely with the North West senior leadership team to support clients across Manchester and the wider region, contributing to the continued development and expansion of KPMG’s Corporate Finance offering.

Nisha Sharma, partner, will remain focused on the technology, media and telecoms (TMT) sector across the North West and the wider North.

In a further update, Declan Littler has joined as corporate finance manager. Previously a transaction services manager at Dow Schofield Watts, Littler brings seven years of financial advisory experience, having also held roles at PwC, Bank of America and Zambrero.

The appointments bring KPMG’s North West Corporate Finance team to 20, including a six-strong senior leadership group, reinforcing its position in the region.

The team was recently named Corporate Finance Team of the Year (Large) at the Insider North West Dealmakers Awards, alongside national recognition in the UK Dealmakers Awards programme.

Christian Mayo, head of Corporate Finance in the North at KPMG UK, said: “These appointments further strengthen our leadership team across the North West and demonstrate our continued commitment to investing in senior, locally based expertise. Ben’s appointment in Manchester, Mark’s leadership of Liverpool, and Nisha’s ongoing sector focus ensure we are well positioned to support clients across the full breadth of the regional market.

“We are also delighted to welcome Declan, whose experience further adds to the depth and capability of our Corporate Finance team.”

Ben Taylor, partner in the North West at KPMG UK, added: “The North West is one of the most dynamic and ambitious deal markets in the UK. I’m excited to be joining the Manchester team at a time of strong momentum and to be working closely with colleagues across the region to support clients through their growth and transaction journeys.”