Grant Thornton Ireland announces 12 new partners across advisory, tax and audit

Grant Thornton has announced the appointment of 12 new partners to its advisory, tax and audit practices across the island of Ireland, with two of the appointments made at its Belfast office.  

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. 

In the Belfast office, Clare Fitzgerald has been appointed as Tax Partner, with Nikita Lynn becoming an Audit Partner. Meanwhile, new Tax Partners Mark O’Sullivan and Paul McSavage will have all-island roles responsible for Tax Incentives and Transfer Pricing respectively. 

The new partner appointments come after the announcement in January that, following the creation of over 70 new roles in its Belfast office last year, Grant Thornton has signed a lease for 23,000 sq ft of office space across two floors in The Ewart on Bedford Square and plans to move into the building in early 2027.    

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.” 

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. 

Richard Gillan, Managing Partner, Grant Thornton Northern Ireland, added:  

“Congratulations to our colleagues whose appointments to partner reflect the depth of talent across our firm. The appointments come at an exciting time for Grant Thornton as the firm continues to expand across the island of Ireland and internationally. Strengthening our partner group in Belfast is an important part of that journey, ensuring we have the leadership, expertise and ambition required to support our clients as they navigate change, pursue growth and respond to an ever-evolving business environment.” 

More detail on all of the new partners is below:  

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 practice, with extensive experience leading and project managing large‑scale global anti‑money laundering and counter‑financing terrorism due diligence programmes. He has led cross‑functional teams across global systemically important banks, global asset managers and Irish pillar banks, regularly engaging with senior stakeholders. 

Shane specialises in AML and CFT risk and compliance, supporting regulated financial institutions across banking, asset management, payments, e‑money and insurance. He has a deep understanding of regulatory expectations and has supported clients through independent reviews and remediation programmes in response to increased supervisory scrutiny. 

Shane is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist 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.