DELOITTE senior partner Paul Williamson, pictured right, is leaving his job after 10 years to take up a role heading the firm’s work with manufacturers across the South East.

The Yorkshireman, who has become one of the best-known accountancy executives in the North East, is to be replaced by Paul Feechan, pictured left, who has worked with Deloitte for eight years.

Bradford-born Williamson, 54, trained at Leeds firm Spicer & Pegler and rose to become partner there before it merged with Touche Ross, which was to become Deloitte, and then became a partner at that firm.

He moved to Newcastle in 1994 and two years later was appointed head of audit and then in 2000 he became senior partner. Now he will become the firm’s manufacturing lead in the South East, based in Reading.

He said: “We have become more sector-focused at the firm than we have been and commercially the South East is a growing region and they are probably short of senior partner resource there.

“Obviously I am sorry to be leaving the clients and friends I have made up here, but I shall stay living in Riding Mill in Northumberland and will be back frequently. I am pleased to have been senior partner during its growth in Newcastle. This is a new challenge and opportunity for me.”

“I am delighted that Paul has been appointed as office senior partner. Having worked very closely with him over many years, I know that his commitment matches his expertise and that the Newcastle office has a very promising future.”