Jeremy Newman to chair TGS Global

Ex-BDO International CEO and Audit Commission chair takes role at newly formed network TGS Global

TGS Global was jointly founded by Top 100 firm Taylorcocks and France-based firm Soregor. It was officially launched in Paris in November 2012 and currently operates out of 41 offices in 18 countries.

Newman (pictured) has been appointed as non-executive chairman with immediate effect. He was previously managing partner of top ten firm BDO between 2001 and 2008, and then served as chief executive of BDO International, the fifth largest international network by fee income.

He is currently chairman of the Audit Commission, which he is helping to wind down following the government decision to farm out local audits to private firms, saving the government an estimated £100m per annum.

Newman also chairs the audit and risk committee for the Crown Prosecution Service, serves as chairman of trustees to a local primary school, and is a trustee of a number of private charitable trusts.

He was named 36 in Accountancy Age‘s 2013 Financial Power List of the most influential people in the profession.

In 2011, he served as a consultant to RSM Tenon when the old management stepped down following the discovery of accounting errors. Newman stepped down when new management was appointed to the listed firm later the same year.

Newman said: “If TGS Global had wanted to replicate what was there in the market place already, I would not have been interested because it is something I have already done. I got involved because it is something new and I am confident it will grow and develop.

“If you had asked me a year ago if there would be companies like this setting up a global accounting network, I would not have predicted it. It just shows I can be wrong.

“I can’t recall any network which has been set up primarily to proactively help clients, rather than in response to client needs. TGS Global understands that its clients need to think globally and can show by its own actions how its clients can make the most of international opportunities.”