Senior appointments bolster KPMG’s Midlands team

Professional services firm KPMG UK has made five senior appointments within its Midlands team. 

After nearly 30 years with the firm, Stuart Sewell has been appointed as the new head of M&A for the region.

A stalwart of the Midlands M&A community, Stuart will lead KPMG’s regional team, advising corporates and shareholders across the Midlands on their growth strategies and corporate finance transactions.

Stuart’s appointment follows a busy time for the team in the region who have completed and exchanged transactions of £500m in the last quarter of 2024, with notable deals including the sale of Wardell Armstrong to SLR Consulting, the sale of Clifton Packaging to Carton Pack and a high-profile healthcare private equity investment.

Richard Dwight has been appointed Head of Transaction Advisory Services for the Midlands, working within the firm’s Deal Advisory business.

Part of the team for more than a decade, Richard will lead KPMG’s support for corporate clients, private equity and owner managed businesses across the region in the delivery of M&A transactions.

Meanwhile, Nikki Davies has become the firm’s head of KPE (Private Enterprise) Audit for the West Midlands.

After more than two decades at KPMG supporting clients in providing external audit, financial reporting and accounting advice across a broad range of industries, Nikki will now spearhead KPMG’s audit practice locally.

She will continue to work closely with management teams and shareholders on acquisitions, disposals and transactions.

Part of KPMG UK’s Advisory team, Louise Scott-Worrall becomes Infrastructure Government and Healthcare lead for the firm’s public sector clients, including in education, local government, housing, health, transport and infrastructure.

Alongside Louise, Bharat Bhushan has been appointed as the region's leader for the Financial Services Sector.

A seasoned technologist, Bharat has worked with clients in the sector for over two decades and in his new role, he will ensure that the firm’s clients and sector are supported holistically across the region.

Andy Bostock (pictured), Birmingham office senior partner at KPMG UK, said: “The Midlands has a strong foundation for business success, and while economic headwinds and uncertainties remain, 2025 promises to be a year of opportunity for businesses right across the region. 

“Our latest Private Enterprise Barometer found that, despite current challenges, the vast majority of private firms in the Midlands were confident about their growth prospects heading into the new year.

“With the economy going through a crucial period of transition, it’s important that businesses are able to access a full range of advisory services to help them as they pursue growth – organically and through M&A.

“These leadership changes further enhance our on-the-ground presence in the Midlands as we continue to play our role in supporting those ambitions.”