Grant Thornton Ireland announces 12 new partners across advisory, tax and audit
BELFAST and DUBLIN, March 13, 2026: Grant Thornton has announced the appointment of 12 new partners to its advisory, tax and audit practices across the island of Ireland. Their appointments come at a period of exceptional growth and transformation for the firm, as the Grant Thornton Advisors multinational platform continues to expand following recent strategic transactions with high‑performing professional services firms across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia Pacific region.
The appointment of these new partners reinforces Grant Thornton’s commitment to developing and attracting leading talent, while further strengthening the firm’s leadership team.
Their collective experience enhances the firm’s service offering for clients in Ireland and abroad and reinforces its ability to respond to evolving market needs, delivering solutions for clients now and into the future.
Commenting on the appointments, Steve Tennant, Managing Partner, Grant Thornton Ireland and EMEA CEO of the Grant Thornton Advisors group, said:
“These appointments are a real milestone for the firm and a clear endorsement of the exceptional talent we continue to develop and attract. As we move into our next phase of growth in 2026, our new partners will play a central role in shaping our leadership — bringing deep expertise, strong judgement and a shared commitment to delivering outstanding work for our clients as the pace and complexity of business accelerates.”
Sinéad Barrett, Partner, Audit
Sinead joined Grant Thornton in 2004 as a trainee and has now been appointed as a partner in the Global Statutory Audit team, which specialises in a central audit solution to international and multinational organisations whose finance functions are operating within Shared Service Centre environments.
Key to the approach, Sinead devises audit plans to maximise efficiencies and to deliver a streamlined, project managed audit process from end to end. For 5 years prior to being appointed as partner, Sinead held Responsible Individual status within the firm which enabled her to sign UK and Ireland audit opinions.
Sinead spent a number of months early in her career on secondment in Grant Thornton Australia. She is a fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland, holds a Bachelor of Business Studies (BBS) and a postgraduate diploma in accounting from Dublin City University (DCU) as well as a Diploma in International Financial Reporting Standards with distinction.
John Botha, Partner, Audit
John has been appointed as an audit partner, having been with Grant Thornton for nine years. Throughout his career, John has accumulated over 24 years’ experience providing audit, assurance, and technical accounting advisory services to clients ranging from SMEs to listed multinationals.
He is a recognised leader in the construction, engineering, and built environment sector, drawing on senior leadership experience within a multinational construction group.
John also leads engagements across technology, telecoms, aerospace, healthcare, retail, and industrial products. He has extensive international experience across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and South America, and has led complex, multi‑jurisdictional audits under Irish Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and IFRS.
John is a qualified Chartered Accountant in Ireland and South Africa. He also holds an Honours Bachelor of Accounting Science (BCompt Hons) from the University of South Africa as well as an Advanced Diploma in International Taxation (ADip Int Tax) from the International Institute for Tax and Finance.
David Carroll, Partner, Audit
David has joined Grant Thornton as an audit partner specialising in audit and assurance services for capital markets and asset management clients. He brings extensive experience advising complex, regulated entities operating across international financial markets.
David joined Grant Thornton from a leading financial services audit practice, where he was a partner and Head of Capital Markets, leading engagements across aviation, funds, private equity and structured finance. He has deep expertise in aviation and aircraft leasing, securitisation vehicles including Section 110 companies, listed financial services entities and investment funds.
He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland (FCA) and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Campbell University, North Carolina USA. In addition, he has achieved a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning from UCD School of Business, is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) with the Financial Planning Standards Board of Ireland and is a Qualified Financial Advisor (QFA) accredited by the Life Assurance Association.
Julia Considine, Partner, Tax
Julia joins Grant Thornton as a tax partner, leading the firm’s private client practice. She brings over 17 years’ experience advising high net worth individuals, families, and businesses on tax and succession planning. Julia supports clients in minimising tax exposure on the transfer of wealth and designing tailored succession plans.
Julia has extensive experience advising on wills, trusts, estates, family business reorganisations, and stamp duty matters arising from restructurings, funds, real estate, and M&A. She has written and lectured extensively on capital acquisitions tax and is co‑author of The Taxation of Gifts and Inheritances (Finance Act 2024).
Julia is a qualified solicitor in both Ireland and the UK, as well as a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA). She is also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (B Comm) from the National University of Ireland, Galway.
Clare Fitzgerald, Partner, Tax
Clare has been appointed as a tax partner in Grant Thornton’s corporate tax team, having joined the firm in February 2020. She brings over 18 years of experience advising privately owned businesses and SMEs, including 10 years at another professional services firm and three years in industry as Group Tax Manager for a large corporate group in Northern Ireland, where she was responsible for all tax matters.
Clare specialises in corporate tax and advises both businesses and individuals on a broad range of tax issues, including corporate restructurings, growth share schemes, succession planning, corporate compliance, and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) inquiries.
Clare is a member of the Northern Ireland Tax Committee and a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland. She also holds an honours degree in accounting and a postgraduate diploma in Advanced Accounting from Ulster University Jordanstown (UUJ).
Zeno Kelly, Partner, Audit
Zeno is a partner in Grant Thornton’s audit and assurance practice, having joined the firm in 2013. He specialises in leading complex and technical audits for multinational corporations and is known for his highly client‑focused and responsive approach.
Zeno has extensive experience working with clients across telecommunications, life sciences, medical devices and manufacturing. He works with both privately owned and private equity‑backed companies, as well as public limited companies across Ireland, the UK and the US. Zeno has led integrated financial and internal control audits for SEC registrants and regularly oversees the preparation of consolidated financial statements under IFRS and US GAAP.
He is a member of Chartered Accountants Ireland and holds a Master of Accounting from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.
Nikita Lynn, Partner, Audit
Nikita is an audit partner in Grant Thornton’s audit and assurance practice, having joined the firm in 2021. She brings over 15 years’ experience across audit, assurance and advisory, having previously held senior roles in another professional services firm and in industry as Head of Finance for a global company.
Nikita has significant experience leading audits for large privately and publicly owned businesses with complex multi-jurisdictional requirements across Ireland, the UK and international markets. Her sector experience includes technology, manufacturing, pharma, engineering and construction, leisure, property and professional services. In addition to statutory audits, she advises on complex accounting matters arising from growth, transactions and restructurings, with deep expertise across IFRS, FRS 102 and company law.
Nikita is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI) and holds a BSc in Accounting from Queens University Belfast and a Diploma in Sustainability Assurance from CAI.
David Mac Curtain, Partner, Advisory
David has been appointed as an advisory partner and leads the firm’s actuarial & insurance risk practice, a Centre of Excellence delivering specialist services to clients globally.
He brings a strategic outlook and over 20 years’ experience in senior actuarial and consultancy roles across the insurance and financial services sectors. David advises insurers and reinsurers across domestic and global markets, combining strategic and commercial insight with specialist expertise in risk management, actuarial techniques, asset liability management, and regulation.
David is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries in Ireland (FSAI) and the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholder.
Paul McSavage, Partner, Tax
Paul has joined Grant Thornton as an international tax partner leading the Irish transfer pricing practice. He brings over 20 years’ experience across professional services and in-house roles, advising clients across Ireland, the UK, Europe, Australia and globally. Paul’s expertise extends beyond tax technical, providing clear and pragmatic advice across the full spectrum of transfer pricing matters, particularly financial transactions, intangible property and controversy.
Having previously been a transfer pricing partner at another professional services firm in the UK, Paul has extensive experience helping clients develop transfer pricing strategies and ensuring those are effectively embedded within their business operations. He has a particular focus on the financial services, technology, manufacturing and services sectors, delivering commercially driven advice that aligns tax, regulatory and operational objectives.
Paul holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics from the University of Manchester.
Mark O’Sullivan, Partner, Tax
Mark is a tax partner and Head of Incentives in Grant Thornton, with over 14 years’ experience advising clients on R&D tax credits, government grants, the patent box/KDB regime, video games tax relief and capital allowances.
One of Ireland’s foremost experts in this area, he has delivered savings, cash refunds and grant funding for clients ranging from SMEs to large multinationals. Mark has played a central role in some of Ireland’s largest incentives‑supported investment projects and advises multinational groups as they establish and expand complex R&D footprints.
His background is uniquely multidisciplinary, combining engineering, science, computer science and tax. He is an AITI Chartered Tax Adviser and holds advanced engineering, physics and computer science qualifications.
Liam Naughton, Partner, Tax
Liam has been appointed tax partner with the firm, specialising in wealth advisory. He initially trained with the firm in 2010 and rejoined in 2016 following a period with another professional services firm.
Liam’s expertise is advising high-net-worth individuals focused on accumulating and managing their wealth in line with their overall financial plan. Liam’s client base consists primarily of company directors and their businesses, senior executives in multinational organisations and professionals in both the legal and medical fields.
Liam is a Certified Financial Planner and holds a Master’s degree in Financial Services from University College Dublin and a Bachelor of Business Studies from the University of Limerick (UL).
Shane Quinn, Partner, Advisory
Shane is a partner within Grant Thornton’s financial crime compliance practice, leading global teams to solve complex problems for clients. He has extensive experience leading and project‑managing large‑scale global anti‑money laundering (AML) and counter‑terrorist financing (CFT) due diligence programmes and has led cross‑functional teams across global systemically important banks, global asset managers and Irish pillar banks.
His work focuses on helping institutions respond effectively to regulatory change and supervisory challenge, translating regulatory expectations into practical, scalable solutions. Shane advises clients on risk remediation, operating model design and sustainable compliance outcomes, particularly in the context of regulatory reviews and enforcement‑driven programmes.
Shane is a Certified Anti‑Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and a member of the Association of Certified Anti‑Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS). He holds a Master’s degree in Management from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School and an LLB with Economics from the University of Limerick.
ENDS
About Grant Thornton
Grant Thornton is a leading multinational professional services firm in Ireland, with approximately 2,900 people in offices across the island of Ireland, Bermuda, Isle of Man and Gibraltar. Our tax, audit and advisory teams work with organisations across sectors including technology, insurance, asset management, banking, life sciences, and aviation, as well as the public sector. We deliver practical solutions to help organisations achieve their goals, while maintaining our position as a leader in sustainability through long-term value creation, ethical practices and positive social impact.
Since January 2025, Grant Thornton Ireland has been part of a multinational platform established by Grant Thornton Advisors LLC in the US.
It is also part of the Grant Thornton International Limited network, which provides access to its member firms in more than 150 global markets.
About Grant Thornton Advisors LLC
Grant Thornton Advisors LLC provides non-attest offerings, including tax and advisory services. It is one of two specialized entities known as Grant Thornton in the US, alongside Grant Thornton LLP, a licensed, certified public accounting (CPA) firm that provides audit and assurance services.
In January 2025, Grant Thornton Advisors LLC formed a multinational, multidisciplinary platform. The platform offers a premier advisory and tax practice, as well as independent audit practices. With offices across the Americas, Europe and the Middle East, the platform delivers a singular client experience that includes enhanced solutions and capabilities, backed by powerful technologies and a roster of more than 20,000 quality-driven professionals enjoying exceptional career-growth opportunities and a distinctive cross-border culture.
Grant Thornton is part of the Grant Thornton International Limited network, which provides access to its member firms in more than 150 global markets.
Grant Thornton LLP, Grant Thornton Advisors LLC and their respective subsidiaries operate as an alternative practice structure (APS). The APS conforms with applicable laws, regulations and professional standards, including those from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Grant Thornton LLP is a CPA firm, while Grant Thornton Advisors LLC is not.
“Grant Thornton” refers to the brand under which the member firms in the Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL) network provide services to their clients and/or refers to one or more member firms. Grant Thornton LLP and Grant Thornton Advisors LLC serve as the U.S. member firms of the GTIL network. GTIL and its member firms are not a worldwide partnership and all member firms are separate legal entities. Member firms deliver all services; GTIL does not provide services to clients.
Contact:
Fiona MacCarthy – Head of Communications
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