Deloitte announces Jo Ahmed as new Practice Senior Partner for the North West

Deloitte has appointed Jo Ahmed as Practice Senior Partner for the North West, heading up a combined team of over 1,350 people working with private, public sector and international clients at a time of significant opportunity for the region.

As the new Practice Senior Partner, Jo will oversee the firm’s continued growth across the North West. A particular focus will be on driving programmes across the practice on climate and sustainability, in addition to supporting the continued growth of sectors in areas such as digital, cyber, private equity and real estate. This will include developing and strengthening international relationships to unlock new, sustainable opportunities for the region and its communities.

Jo first joined Deloitte in 2004 as a senior manager and has over 25 years’ experience in advising businesses on managing global workforces. Alongside the new role of Practice Senior Partner, Jo heads up the firm’s regional Global Mobility practice, advising a vast range of clients on the complex challenges of managing cross-border employment structures.

Jo is a founding Board member and Deputy Chair of the award-winning Manchester India Partnership. She is a regular speaker on international markets as Honorary Consul of Japan in Manchester, representing the Embassy of Japan in Greater Manchester. Jo recently travelled to Japan alongside Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as part of a delegation to strengthen regional ties with Japan and set out opportunities for future global collaboration in areas such as decarbonisation as well as enhanced academic collaborations between Greater Manchester and Japan universities.

This appointment follows the promotion of four new partners across the region’s audit and assurance, tax, and legal teams last June, which took the number of partners across the North West practice to 67. In the coming months, Jo will be helping to deliver key projects such as the opening of the new Manchester 100 Embankment office, Deloitte’s latest office to be designed for the future of work and hybrid working.

Jo Ahmed, Practice Senior Partner at Deloitte North West, said: “I feel incredibly privileged and excited to be taking on the role of Practice Senior Partner for the North West region. I am honoured to be leading such a large and talented team who are passionate about the region’s heritage and capabilities and are ambitious about its future growth.

“During my time with Deloitte, I have witnessed the immense strides the region has made in terms of new development and regeneration. Sustainability is vital to ensuring a future which is both ambitious and viable. My focus will be on continuing to help drive forward this momentum for a sustainable future in the North West and wider society.

“I look forward to further strengthening the region’s global partnerships and connections to unlock innovative and ambitious opportunities to help the region reach its full potential. I’m looking toward to a year of bold progression including our exciting office move and other key projects continuing to carve out Deloitte’s legacy within the region.”

Jo will take over the role from Andy Westbrook who is stepping down as Practice Senior Partner after six years. Westbrook has successfully led the North West practice through a substantial period of growth in both headcount and revenue. Westbrook spearheaded a number of new market offerings, and developed local talent through annual promotions at all levels, meaning Deloitte’s North West business is well positioned to continue serving its clients and the wider community.