Anna Anthony appointed as EY’s UK Financial Services Leader

EY has today appointed Anna Anthony as its new UK Financial Services Leader, effective 1 January 2021. Anna takes over from Omar Ali, who has led the UK Financial Services business since 2015 and has taken a new role as EY’s EMEIA Financial Services Managing Partner for Client Services, responsible for market activity across Banking, Insurance and Wealth & Asset Management for 18 countries, including the UK.

Anna is currently EY’s EMEIA Financial Services Tax and Legal Leader, a position she has held since January 2015, in which she has consistently achieved strong and sustained growth. Prior to this role Anna led the UK Financial Services Tax practice. In her new role Anna will lead over 200 partners and 4,500 staff with responsibility for some of the firm’s largest clients globally. As well as her new leadership responsibilities, Anna will continue to focus on her portfolio of clients.

Anna will be the first female financial services leader for the UK firm, and will join the EY UK LLP Board. Anna retains her role on the executive board of EY’s EMEIA Financial Services business.

Commenting on Anna’s appointment, Hywel Ball, UK Chair at EY, said: “I am delighted that Anna is going to lead our financial services business. Anna brings fantastic experience to the role, having led our financial services tax business both here and across our EMEIA region. This is a crucial moment in time for UK business as we work through the challenges presented by COVID-19, look to a post-Brexit environment, and consider how all sectors can counter climate change. Financial Services will be integral to helping the UK economy tackle those challenges and I am thrilled that Anna will be joining the UK Leadership Team as EY supports clients through these changes.”

Marcel van Loo, EMEIA Financial Services Leader at EY, comments: “It is with great pleasure that we are appointing Anna to head up our UK financial services business. Anna has long demonstrated strong leadership and has overseen sustained growth for our EMEIA financial services tax and legal practice; qualities and skills which I am confident she will bring to this new role.

“Anna will build on Omar’s legacy of transformation and growth. Under his leadership over the last five years, the UK business has supported clients through a raft of unique and unprecedented challenges, achieving market leading growth. I have no doubt that Anna will build on these foundations and lead our financial services clients through this transformative age.”

Anna Anthony adds: “I’m delighted to be taking on this role and picking up the mantle at such a challenging and critical time for the financial services industry. Our UK financial services business has gone from strength to strength, and I am excited to lead such a high performing and talented team. As we navigate through COVID-19 and fast approach the end of the Brexit transition period, there remains significant uncertainty within the current business landscape. However, there is clarity around the future we are looking to create, and it is an exciting time to be helping clients grow their businesses in increasingly sustainable, diverse and innovative ways. I look forward to leading our financial services business as we drive real progress in our industry.”

Anna joined EY in 2004, becoming partner in 2008. In addition to her role at EY she is a Non-Executive Director for the International Business and Diplomatic Exchange, a non-profit organisation providing leadership in promoting international trade and investment flows. Anna is a qualified chartered tax accountant and studied law at Cambridge.