Southampton: BDO’s team goes from strength to strength

Accountant and business advisory firm BDO LLP is continuing its investment and focus on top talent with the promotion of Steve Hoon and Helen O’Kane to partner in the Southampton office as of July 6.

Steve Hoon has a wealth of experience advising businesses on all tax matters with a strong focus on corporation and shareholder tax issues.

Hoon commented on his appointment: “The strength and breadth of our 60 plus tax team and quality of our clients is unrivalled locally. In my role as partner, I’m excited to be able to play a key role in the future of BDO in the central south and the continued development of our team. I really enjoy being able to deliver commercially focussed advice to such a variety of companies – start-up businesses, serial entrepreneurs, private-equity investees as well as large corporates.”

Jane Mulholland, head of tax, BDO Southampton added: “As the leading adviser to mid-market companies in the region, BDO is keen to invest in the best quality talent so we can continue to meet the needs of businesses at a time of great change and uncertainty.”

Helen O’Kane is a senior member of the office’s leading corporate finance team and a previous winner of the region’s Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year at the Solent Deals Awards. Under her leadership the Southampton M&A team has completed nine deals in the past 18 months including acquisitions, business sales and fundraising. In her new role as M&A partner she will continue to focus on delivering successful deal completions for clients but also on growing the team’s reach across the region.

O'Kane commented: “Having been in M&A for over 20 years, in my new role as partner I look forward to continuing to help local businesses and management teams achieve their strategic goals and contributing to regional growth and investment. The Southampton M&A team has grown considerably in the past two years, and we enjoy supporting companies across all sectors and growth phases to successfully complete transactions.”

Malcolm Thixton, lead partner at BDO Southampton concluded: “We have had another strong year with 8% growth in the past 12 months locally and have added a number of significant and internationally-focused companies to our client base. We believe that a ‘new economy’ is needed post Brexit which makes the most of the UK’s talents, skills and entrepreneurial spirit. I’m delighted to welcome our new partners to a first-class team that will be using its experience and knowledge to support the central south in this over the coming years.”