David Challenger, a Partner at leading independent accountancy practice Watts Gregory LLP, has been elected President of the UK200 Group.
David, Specialist Services Partner at the Cardiff-based business, took over the key role on January 1, 2012, and becomes the organisation’s first Welsh based President. He will serve in the role for the next two years.
Members of the UK200 Group, a community of quality assured accountancy firms and lawyers with over 150 UK offices offer a full range of services to business and personal clients providing a viable alternative to the very large accountancy firms – but delivered locally and at a lower cost.
David Challenger said: “There is going to be quite a bit of change over the next few years. The group, like every other business, has to meet changing circumstances and we will be looking again at our five year strategy.
“We need to ensure that we are delivering what our members want and that we raise the profile of the group whilst maintaining quality assurance. This is key to our future.
“We want the group to move forward with active involvement of our members. It will always be a numbers game – we need critical mass and to extend our presence in areas like Scotland and south-west England – but UK200 must continue to be a quality driven organisation.”
David, who hails from Stourbridge in the West Midlands, worked in industry before moving to the then Ernst and Whinney in 1978. He joined Watts Gregory LLP five years later.
He now specialises in business support and strategy, change management and continuous improvement.
The UK200 Group, which was formed in 1985, ensures each of its members has national and international coverage, emulating the offering from the “big four” firms, but allowing them to maintain their own identity.
Watts Gregory LLP, based at the Cardiff Gate Business Park, has been a member of the UK200 Group since 1988.
