Azets strengthens Yorkshire team with raft of promotions
UK top 10 accountancy firm Azets has announced 33 promotions at its three offices in Yorkshire.
It has strengthened its team across the breadth of the business in Leeds, Bradford and York from senior and assistant manager level to partner and director appointments.
They include promotions to audit partner for Chris Woodroffe in York and Daisy Marsden in Leeds, along with Sukhjinder Kaur to director in Accounts & Business Advisory Services (ABAS) in Leeds, Joseph Noon to head of transfer pricing nationally, and Ian Drakes to associate director in private client tax in York.
PROMOTIONS: Some of the newly promoted staff at Azets’ York office with office managing partner Chris Blackburn back left
In addition to 23 recently announced graduates and school leavers, the promotions represent the creation of 56 new roles across Azets’ Yorkshire business.
Claire Needham, regional managing director for Yorkshire and the North East, said: “Congratulations to all of our colleagues on their richly deserved promotions.
“They reflect Azets’ continued investment in developing its people and strengthening its leadership across key service lines and offices in Yorkshire.
“It is a privilege to see team members develop their careers and fulfil their potential with Azets while allowing the firm to provide outstanding support for its many valued clients at a local level and across the region.”
Claire added: “These promotions, along with recent recruitment of graduates and school leavers, represent further growth for our York, Bradford and Leeds offices as well as Azets’ continued confidence in its people and the business communities it serves.
“I am looking forward to seeing our newly promoted colleagues settle into their roles in the city.”
More than half (17) of the 33 promotions were for women.
PROMOTION – RACHAEL ROBINSON: Rachael Robinson has been promoted to assistant manager at accountants and business advisors Azets’ Bradford office
In Bradford, Rachael Robinson became assistant manager in ABAS and Sam Lackey became a senior.
As well as Daisy, Joseph and Sukhjinder in Leeds, senior manager promotions went to Eleanor Broadbent and Tracey Jukes in audit and Alex Banyard in Technical Accounting. Erin Brear became a manager in ABAS as well as Billy Wong in Technical Accounting, while assistant manager position went to Josh Wright in corporate finance and Emma Reid in Technical Accounting.
Promoted to senior in Leeds were Adam Bentley, Alex Sansom, Ana Vieira da Silva, Haniah Jabir, Hollie Adams, James Keal, Katie Hirst, Sophie Child, Tawanda Chitura and Tom Hudson.
As well as Chris and Ian in York, Sarah Pugh was promoted to senior manager in technical accounting. Adam Sanders and Charlotte Grainger both became managers in audit. Sam Grewer in audit and Sophie Marshall in ABAS both became assistant managers. Natalie Penswick was promoted to assistant manager in tax.
PROMOTION: Sam Lackey has become a senior in accountants and business advisors Azets’ Bradford office
Promoted to senior in York were Jack Clasper, Jess Kilner and Tom Taylor.
Azets has three offices in Yorkshire – in King Street in Leeds, at Triune Court in Monks Cross Drive in York and in Grammar School Street in Bradford – where it employs 335 people providing tailored accountancy, tax and advisory services to help businesses and individuals thrive.
According to latest annual business activity figures from the Office for National Statistics, as of March 2026, there were 2.79 million VAT and/or PAYE businesses in the UK, with 194,000 (7%) in Yorkshire and The Humber.
Visit https://www.azets.com/en-uk/careers/early-careers to find out more about careers at Azets.
Cover photo – image caption: PROMOTIONS: Some of the newly promoted staff at Azets’ Leeds office with regional managing director Claire Needham third left and office managing partner Jessica Lawrence third right