BlogEY Manchester Partner takes on national leadership role

EY Manchester Partner takes on national leadership role

Sam Woodward, a Partner at EY’s Manchester office, has been appointed National Markets Leader to the company’s Transactions Advisory Services (TAS) business as the firm also continues to grow its transactions and restructuring team in the North West.

Sam Woodward has succeeded Adrian Bowne as National Markets Leader for TAS and also joined the firm’s UK TAS leadership team.

Sam joined EY in 2008 and was promoted to Partner in 2011. He will continue to work from EY’s Manchester office, servicing restructuring clients in the local market, as well as taking on this new responsibility.

Sam has extensive experience in advising corporate clients, debt providers and financial sponsors. His experience includes restructuring advisory, accelerated M&A and formal insolvency assignments, ranging from privately owned businesses to multinational public listed companies.

The new role coincides with continued investment in EY’s TAS team in the North West, as activity levels remain high for the team.

Last month, Alex Williams and Richard Barnes – both members of the North West TAS team, were promoted to Associate Partner.

Alex works in the restructuring team based in Manchester and has more than 20 years’ experience at EY, working with underperforming businesses and their stakeholders across a range of sectors including real estate, manufacturing, retail and healthcare, both in the UK and abroad. A former deputy leader of Trafford Council and a fellow of the British American Project, Alex also serves on the Advisory Committee of the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.

Richard leads EY’s corporate finance infrastructure team in the North and focuses on advising public and private clients on complex infrastructure programmes including structuring business cases, funding and financing, and advising on all stages of the procurement process. He has been with the EY since the late 1990s and started his career in Manchester before working in London and across the Middle East and finally returning to Manchester in 2016.

Sam Woodward said: “EY sees a large part of its future growth coming from the regions and that’s why we are investing in our regional teams. In the North West we’ve benefited from senior hires and promotions across our TAS team in transactions, corporate finance, valuations and restructuring, which not only signal the volume of activity within this region but also underline our commitment to further growing our footprint in the North West market.

“My recent National Markets appointment also demonstrates EY’s recognition that the senior leadership team needs to include those who can give insight and perspective on what’s happening across regional markets to ensure EY remains responsive to the business landscape across the whole of the UK.”

Latest

Squire Group joins BFA as franchise sector growth continues

LEICESTER, UK – May 29, 2026 – Squire Group has officially joined the British Franchise Association, further strengthening its involvement in the UK franchise...

The Signal Crisis Is Why Your Online Ads Feel So Weird — and Manchester Businesses Are Feeling It Too

You buy a coat from a Northern Quarter boutique online. Done. Sorted. But for the next three weeks, every website you visit is absolutely...

Medium‑Sized Businesses Reassess SharePoint as Governance Gaps Emerge

London, UK – 28 May 2026 — Rising search interest around SharePoint best practices is drawing attention to a recurring challenge for medium‑sized organisations: how...

JVR Consultancy highlights the operational complexity of rail supplier compliance requirements

Compliance advisory firm JVR Consultancy is encouraging organisations operating within the UK rail sector to take a more structured approach to supplier assurance and...
Subscribe to our newsletter
Business Manchester will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.
Don't miss

Man City vs Aston Villa LIVE Pep Guardiola names final Man City XI and makes sweeping changes

Manchester City welcome Aston Villa to the Etihad Stadium for the final day of the Premier League season and Pep Guardiola's final match in...

Enviro Waste Management Boosts Efficiency with Fleet Changes to Reduce Fuel Use

Enviro Waste Management has rolled out new operational changes aimed at improving efficiency and lowering fuel consumption, including the removal of unnecessary overnight dustcart...

Eight Engines wins Production Company of the Year at Prolific North Champions Awards 2026

Manchester-based video production company Eight Engines has been named Production Company of the Year at the Prolific North Champions Awards 2026, marking a landmark moment for...

JVR Consultancy highlights the operational complexity of rail supplier compliance requirements

Compliance advisory firm JVR Consultancy is encouraging organisations operating within the UK rail sector to take a more structured approach to supplier assurance and...

More News

Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month Marks the Start of Two New Charity Partnerships for Mobility in Motion

During Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, Mobility in Motion has announced that it has formed new partnerships with Steel Bones and Finding...

Surprising ways you might be putting your phone at risk

We use our smartphones for everything. Checking traffic, catching up with friends, browsing the sales… they’re our instant source of information. But these devices also provide...

5 Essential health and safety tips for UK workplaces

If you want to keep a UK workplace safe and legally compliant right now, you need to focus on five specific pillars which are...