PwC names 22 partners in first intake since tax scandal
The firm has made its first appointments since 2023 to help deliver on its governance and accountability commitments.
PwC has appointed 22 partners in the first round of promotions since news of it leaking government tax information to clients surfaced at the start of 2023.
Among the new partners was chief executive Kevin Burrowes, who had his partnership transferred from the UK in July last year, the big four firm said on Monday.
Burrowes said the partners would be leading their teams in delivering PwC's “commitments to change”, a list of governance reforms adopted by the firm after the Switkowski review found its culture placed the pursuit of profit above ethics.
“We are proud of our progress to date, but acknowledge that comprehensive and lasting transformation does take time,” Burrowes said.
“Our new partners are committed to leading their teams to deliver on our vision and commitments.”
PwC said “significant” actions taken to date included the endorsement of an industry leading governance reform package, an overhaul of the firm’s risk management processes, and enhanced consequence management framework.
The partners would also play a leading role in realising PwC’s vision of becoming “the professional services firm, built on the highest ethical and professional standards with integrity at our core”, Burrowes said.
Out of the 22 new partners only two are lateral hires, with PwC, once the largest of the big four firms, now the smallest in Australia.
The slim intake pales in comparison to the 67 announced during its last intake at the start of 2023, which the firm touted as the largest January partner intake in its history.
It brings PwC’s total partner count to 650, while Deloitte has around 1,025, roughly split between equity and non-equity partners, having added 66 new partners effective June 1.
EY has added 45 partners mid-year, down from 82 it appointed in 2023, bringing its total to 738. Last week, KPMG also announced an intake of 52, down from 94, bringing its partnership cohort to 682.
PwC’s new partners are:
- Angeline Young - Sydney
- Anna Donoghoe - Newcastle
- Belinda Cogswell - Sydney (new to firm)
- Cameron Carter - Sydney
- Charlotte Boulogne - Sydney
- Claire Benton - Perth
- Claire McKenna-Blake - Melbourne
- Damian Munafo - Melbourne
- Daniel Levin - Melbourne
- Elspeth MacKenzie - Sydney
- Jessica Lane - Sydney
- Lindsey Ruster - Perth
- Lior Prigan - Sydney
- Mair Hodge - Perth
- Manuel Kapsis - Sydney
- MJ Oosthuizen - Sydney
- Peter Nearhos - Brisbane (new to firm)
- Tamarin Willmot - Brisbane
- Tim Robertson - Melbourne
- Tracey Henderson - Melbourne
- Vinay Mahajan - Melbourne
- Jordan Yen - PNG
PwC said 55 per cent of the partners were female, while 23 per cent were from a non-European diverse cultural background.
“This group will help drive multidisciplinary support to our clients, helping them to navigate disruption, including technological, AI, economic uncertainty, skills shortages and rapidly-changing societal expectations,” Burrowes said.
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