Toner to oversee corporate finance

Accountant Angela Toner is making a triumphant return to Scotland after a successful stint south of the Border.

Not only did she establish a corporate finance division for Baker Tilly in the north of England, she also gave birth to her first child a year ago.

Toner, originally from Cupar in Fife, has returned to the firm's Scottish offices after spending the past seven years in Newcastle.

Taking the title of corporate finance partner, she will now split her time between Edinburgh and Glasgow, while still overseeing the firm's corporate finance activities in North-east England. Toner, who retained her home in Edinburgh throughout her English placement, said she is delighted to be back in Scotland full-time.

Fellow accountant Richard Slater has also been on the move. He has joined Deloitte as a partner and head of its Scottish pension practice.

Pensions expert Slater, who will be based in Deloitte's Edinburgh office, has more than 20 years of industry consulting experience and previously led PricewaterhouseCoopers' pension practice north of the Border. He also managed PwC's regional investment consulting business and advised on pioneering investment approaches, including some of the first liability transfers involving insurance companies.

Slater, who lives in East Lothian, said: "I'm excited about my new role with Deloitte and I'm especially looking forward to working with this very talented team to develop further our pension advisory offering across Scotland."

Another experienced professional, Chris Howard, has joined Saracen Fund Managers, the Edinburgh-based investment management company, as sales director.

The firm recently re-launched its website and is looking to further improve communications. Howard, who has 20 years' experience in the industry, joins from Insynergy Investment Management, where he was responsible for marketing the fund range.

Previously, he worked with River and Mercantile Asset Management, and Spring Capital Partners.