RSM announces Mike Thornton as new Yorkshire and North East regional managing partner

Leading audit, tax and consulting firm RSM UK has appointed Mike Thornton as its new regional managing partner for Yorkshire and the North East. 

In his new role, Mike will continue to strengthen and grow the regional business, and in addition to his office managing partner role in Leeds, will oversee offices across the region including Newcastle and Hull. 

Mike joined RSM in 2015 as an audit partner, following four years as a finance director at a medical device manufacturer. Using this industry expertise, he was appointed national head of manufacturing at RSM in 2016, a role he continues to fulfil, overseeing a network of multi-disciplinary partners to provide compliance and business advisory solutions for manufacturing businesses facing industry challenges. He was appointed as Leeds office managing partner in November 2020, leading a team of 300 staff and 20 partners who focus on supporting the middle market. 

As regional managing partner, Mike will focus on building on the strong momentum in Yorkshire and the North East, bringing together the wide breadth of solutions that RSM delivers for clients. The region has undergone significant growth over the years, with record numbers of trainees joining in the last 12 months. Across the region’s three offices in Leeds, Newcastle and Hull, he will be responsible for leading 34 partners and 520 staff.  

He will succeed Alex Tait who has held the regional managing partner role for three years and will be taking on a new leadership role in the firm as national head of risk and governance, to strengthen the firm’s wider consulting advisory solutions. 

Mike Thornton, regional managing partner in Yorkshire and the North East at RSM UK, said: ‘I’m honoured to be leading our North East and Yorkshire team as regional managing partner. I’ve already had the opportunity to work with an exceptional team across a wide range of sectors and service lines in Leeds, and I look forward to working more closely with our Newcastle and Hull offices. It’s exciting to take on this new role and drive forward our long-term growth plans, by encouraging collaboration, continuing to invest in our people and providing a premium service to our middle market clients.’

Alex Tait, former regional managing partner in Yorkshire at the North East at RSM UK, added: ‘I have enjoyed nearly thirty rewarding years at RSM, seeing the continual progress of the firm in achieving its growth ambitions, especially in our Scotland, Northern Ireland, North East and Yorkshire offices. I am therefore delighted to see Mike succeed me in stepping up to the role of regional managing partner for Yorkshire and the North East. His experience as office managing partner saw him successfully lead the Leeds team during the pandemic – navigating challenges while continuing to build on the existing success of the office. I’m looking forward to seeing Mike grow our regional business and under his stewardship, I am confident that our Leeds, Hull and Newcastle teams will go from strength to strength.’