Mark McRae ’a valuable addition to team’

Published on 02/07/2012 00:00

Accountant Mark McRae has made the move from RSM Tenon’s Glasgow offices to those of rival Haines Watts.

A specialist in owner-managed businesses, he has previously been a director with Deloitte and a partner with PKF. McRae, who was audit director at RSM, will take up the role of business services director at Haines Watts.

Managing director Richard Gibson said: “Mark has enormous experience of the owner-managed business sector and will be a valuable addition to our growing team … Mark is well placed to lead the expansion of our business in that area.”

Haines has been expanding as demand for business services grows, and this is its fourth senior appointment in the last seven months – late last year ex-PwC partner Ian Durie joined to head up the corporate finance department; Annette Menzies joined from French Duncan in March to lead a new business recovery department, and Marc Shenken was appointed as the firm’s head of tax in May.

From one island service to another

Ferry manager veteran Stuart Garrett is moving from the Isle of Man to Aberdeen to run the sea links to the Orkney and Shetland islands. Services giant Serco’s NorthLink Ferries is taking over the Scottish Government contract to operate the crossings, and has hired Garrett as the business’ managing director.

Garrett, who has worked in the European ferry industry for more than 25 years, is leaving the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, the oldest continuously operating passenger shipping company in the world.

He is a regular on the Northern Isles, where his wife has family connections, but plans to base himself in Aberdeen.

He said: “Having worked in the ferry industry for many years and spent a significant amount of time in the Northern Isles I look forward to ongoing engagement with the local community as we make some exciting enhancements to this vital lifeline ferry service.”

Gold medal goes to Russian émigré

An EDINBURGH-BASED trainee accountant for professional services firm KPMG who has only been in the UK for four years has won the highest accolade available in her industry.

Mariya Semenkovich, from Aleksandrov in Russia, studied at Edinburgh University for a year before completing her professional qualifications from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland, winning the “Gold Medal” for the highest score in her year.

Semenkovich, who joined KPMG in August 2009 and is now an audit assistant in the financial services team, said: “The move from Russia was daunting, but Edinburgh’s position as one of Europe’s leading centres for financial services has meant I have been able to develop my career to a high standard.”