Praxity Celebrates Departing Leaders
Praxity would like to take the opportunity to thank some outgoing leaders at member firms for their incredible contribution, both to the Alliance and to the industry at large. In this edition of HUB Lite, we bid a fond farewell to David Gorton, Partner at PM+M, UK, and Randy Mowat, Partner at MNP, Canada, who will be leaving their roles for new opportunities.
David Gorton, PM+M
After 10 years of service in the role, along with 33 years as an Auditor all in, PM+M Partner David Gorton is stepping down.
In his time at the firm, he has played a key part in developing the firm’s vision and creating a clear direction with sustainable growth and commitment to its core values. He has also been the firm’s international liaison partner which has involved him visiting various Praxity firms and building strong links around the globe.
Most recently, David has been ethics leader and head of compliance at PM+M, dealing with matters pertaining to professional regulation, legal frameworks and anti-money laundering. In addition, with David’s help, the firm has developed and implemented strategies that promote ethical practices, foster inclusion, and celebrate diversity.
As well as his role within PM+M, David has invested his time, energy and vision into a board role at Blackburn Youth Zone and the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce. These roles have allowed him to pursue his passion for supporting young people alongside business and economic development in Lancashire.
Jane Parry, PM+M’s managing partner says “David is one of a kind, with his vision, intellect and energy. He has made a tremendous difference to PM+M and also our local community and businesses. We wish him every success in the next stage of his life”.
David is stepping away from PM+M, citing a commitment to fresh ideas both for himself and the firm. He is putting his opinions into action by making space for new people to move forward in the firm’s succession plan -
“When I started, I was the succession plan! I was the youngest partner, and now, though I don’t feel old, I’ve been a key part of the team who have overseen the development and promotion of the next generation of partners.”
David’s significant contribution to PM+M is mirrored by his level of influence in the Praxity Alliance, with his face being a familiar one at Praxity Conferences. He cites the conferences as being a great opportunity for taking home actionable business ideas, with fellow member firms being more friends than competitors –
“Rather than simply having a directory of names, I actually know this person and can hold a conversation about what their daughter is studying at university, how their family is doing etc, and as such neither one of us would ever let down each other’s client. Whether that’s in Hong Kong or San Francisco, I know the specific person at each firm to handle the speciality and what their expertise is. That’s incredibly powerful.”
Bringing the management team to conferences, David suggests, is a great way to show them what the world looks like outside of their own firm, with strong and focused ideas coming out of group sessions and informal discussions.
Apart from his commitment to good stewardship and a clear pathway for talent, David is also known as the “Peter Pan” of Praxity, bringing energy and personality to events. If a dancefloor is empty, whether at a Brussels hotel or a New Orleans jazz bar, his has always been a 6’ 4” frame ready to lead that charge.
A proud Lancastrian, David’s next move is most likely to focus on companies that make physical products in the local area -
“I want to find companies that are fun to work with! The Burnley cluster is the third biggest aerospace industry in the world, and I would love to get involved with businesses that actually make things, such as engineering firms and manufacturers.”
The resonance of David’s influence on PM+M, as well as in the Praxity Alliance, is deeply felt and will be hugely missed. He leaves PM+M in excellent health and with clear direction. We would like to take the opportunity to wish him well in everything he does next.
David at the at the Praxity Global Conference 2022 in New Orleans
Randy Mowat, MNP
Randy Mowat, Senior Vice President of Marketing at MNP, is stepping away from the role after 26 successful years with the firm. From joining the founding office in Brandon, Manitoba in 1997, much has changed at the firm, with the marketing department winning numerous national and international awards under his stewardship.In his time at the firm, he has played a key part in developing the firm’s vision and creating a clear direction with sustainable growth and commitment to its core values. He has also been the firm’s international liaison partner which has involved him visiting various Praxity firms and building strong links around the globe.
Helping build a marketing culture at MNP is one thing that Randy cites as a huge achievement, with strategic and sophisticated approaches to marketing rising under his leadership –
“There has been tremendous change in the marketing of professional services firms over my 26 years. This is due to technology advancements, especially in data analytics, data base management, web site hosting platforms and lead generation strategies. Marketing is now “at the table” in all high growth firms, and that’s great to see!”
Randy’s professional achievements are numerous, winning Marketer of the Year in 2014 as well as contributing to firm-wide goals and strategies. In 1997, MNP’s marketing department constituted a grand total of one person. Today, there are 113 across Canada, with each one contributing to the success and growth of the firm. He is co-author of the book Updating Your Marketing Strategy, a past chair of the United Way and a past chair of the Canadian 4-H Foundation Board – two organisations that provide support, guidance and scholarships to young people across the country.
Randy has been influential within the Praxity Alliance too, having been involved in Praxity’s own visual identity creation, as well as being a regular traveller to the conferences. Meeting North American leaders at the Association for Accounting Marketing conventions in the USA, as well as travelling to Australia to present to William Buck, were particular highlights, and Randy will clearly miss many aspects of his important role at MNP –
“I will miss the challenge of developing strategies and approaches that go on to achieve firm wide goals. I will miss the office environment that is high energy and fun and I will miss the people I have on our team – who are very long-term teammates – and miss the leadership committees I have sat on for a long time. But I think the thing I may miss the most is saying I am a Partner at MNP. That will be strange not to be able to say that.”
Randy’s contributions during his time with MNP have been numerous and far reaching, according to Jason Tuffs, Chairman and CEO, MNP.
“As one of MNP’s longest tenured Partners, Randy has been a pioneer on many fronts during our firm’s growth journey,” says Tuffs. “Randy helped to catapult the MNP brand onto the national stage here in Canada, which has been a huge factor in our success over the past three decades. During this time, he also carried that torch as a tremendous brand ambassador for MNP with Praxity, building strong working relationships with many firms around the world. He’s left a legacy he should be proud of.”
At the end of a long and distinguished career, it can be difficult to make the adjustment to other people shouldering responsibility, and to get used to the idea of no longer needing to work every day. Along with spending time with his family, including a new grandchild, relocating to a new Province will bring challenges and excitements of its own. Randy has overseen enormous changes in the industry in his time, but remains confident that his work will continue beyond his leadership –
“I am confident our leaders in our firms will continue to encourage young people to enter the profession and invest in the evolution and platforms that will be presented to us, and provide support people need to take over the stewardship of our firms.”
We’d like to sincerely thank Randy for all his work in making marketing a key part of the Accountancy industry’s strategic thinking, and for never hesitating to lead by example within the Praxity Alliance.