Top-20 accountancy firm Wilkins Kennedy announces the appointment of William Payne as new Senior Partner from May 2018.

He replaces David Fenn who has held the post since May 2011andwho has firmly established the firm in the ranks of the UK’s top-20 accountancy practices, growing its turnover from £28million to over £50millionin that period.

Looking to the future, William Payne said: “It is a privilege to be elected as Senior Partner of a firm with a heritage that can be traced back nearly 140 years. We are a full-service accountancy and advisory firm with a strong regional presence, but our business has always been founded on the strength of our client relationships and our loyal and talented staff. None of that will change, but responding to the changing needs of our clients, digitalisation and technology will all have a significant impact on the way our services are delivered in the future, and I am excited about tackling the challenges and opportunities that await us.”

David Fenn, who will initially become COO and resume a more client-facing role, said: “William and I have worked closely for many years. I am sure that his vision for the firm’s future, combined with his general business experience, will enable him to take it confidently into a new chapter of growth and success.”

William Payne has been a partner at Wilkins Kennedy since 2003. He holds directorships at several public and private companies, and is also the firm’s Ethics Partner.