Praxity, the world’s largest alliance of independent accountancy firms with a combined turnover of its participating firms in excess of $3.2bn, has announced the appointment of Graeme Gordon to the newly created role of Executive Director. Graeme will have responsibility for implementing Praxity’s strategy; working with participating firms on the development of international business for them and for leading in the recruitment of new firms.
Graeme is a chartered accountant and prior to joining Praxity was Managing Director and Senior Tutor of Emile Woolf Group, the international training and development firm. He was also previously Group Finance Director of a technology company listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Graeme has extensive international experience including in Europe, Russia, North America, the Far East, the Indian Sub-Continent and the Middle East. Before becoming a chartered accountant Graeme served as an officer in the Royal Navy. He is a member of the Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and currently President of the Thames Valley Society of Chartered Accountants.
Outside of work, Graeme is an avid sports fan and has twice completed the New York City Marathon. He is also producer for the ‘Chiltern Shakespeare Company’ which stages an annual play in an Open Air Theatre at Hall Barn Estate, Beaconsfield.
In addition to Graeme joining Praxity, and in line with the Praxity’s constitution, the participating firms have elected a new Chair and Vice-Chair.
Bill Fingland has retired after his three year period as Chair of the alliance, and his place is taken by Jos van Huut, Senior Partner at Mazars in the Netherlands. Jos has moved up from the position of Vice-Chair to Chair for the next three-year period to the end of 2012. At the same time, Rick Anderson, Chairman of Moss Adams, the eleventh largest accounting and consulting firm in the United States, has been elected Vice-Chair.
Welcoming Graeme to Praxity, Jos van Huut said ‘We are delighted that Graeme, with his breadth of management experience and deep knowledge of the international accountancy profession, has chosen to join Praxity. He is the ideal candidate as it moves to build on its success in the first phase of its development’.
Graeme added ‘I am honoured to have been chosen to help drive Praxity forward to achieve its outstanding potential in the coming years. It is a unique international accountancy organisation with a modern structure designed for the 21st century. I am really looking forward to working with the participating firms to help build their international work and profile’.
Jos van Huut also placed on record Praxity’s gratitude to Bill Fingland for his vision in helping to create the alliance and for his tremendous energy and commitment in his period as founding chair.