EY Scotland's Sue Dawe to take up UK board role

Sue Dawe, the head of financial services in Scotland for EY, has been appointed to the accountancy major's main UK board.

Sue Dawe will continue to hold her existing positions. Picture: Contributed

She will take up her new role from the start of September along with Christabel Cowling, as Eamonn McGrath and Alisdair Mann step down from the board. The new appointments will mean that five of the ten positions on the firm’s UK board will be held by women, “strengthening the diversity” of the senior leadership team, EY added.

Dawe joined EY in 1988 and was appointed head of the financial services practice in Scotland and Edinburgh office managing partner in 2016 – roles she will continue to hold in addition to her new position on the board.

She has been an audit partner since 2009 and has more than 25 years’ experience within the financial services sector, working with a large number of global organisations. Dawe is a member of Scotland’s Financial Services Advisory Board and the Scottish Financial Enterprise High Level Strategy Group.

Steve Varley, EY’s UK chairman, said: “Christabel and Sue bring a wealth of experience and insight to the UK board, having worked across a broad range of sectors and regions of the UK and advised an impressive list of clients.

“These appointments are a reflection of their skills and experience, but I’m also proud that we are adding to the diversity of our UK board, ensuring that we are able to draw on the widest spectrum of views.

“I’m confident that Christabel and Sue will further strengthen our leadership team and how we run our business.”

McGrath will be retiring from EY in December after 31 years as a partner and 41 years with the firm. He has been UK head of regulatory & public policy for the last three years.