ZARA Lane has joined Grant Thornton's Yorkshire and North East advisory team as associate director based at the firm's offices in Grey Street in Newcastle.

Corporate finance specialist Lane has established a strong track record in lead advisory in the North East market, working across a variety of sectors, and with a range of clients from SMEs and private equity houses to large corporates.

After graduating from Newcastle University, she began her career in 2002, training with PwC in Newcastle and latterly working in its transaction services team. In 2006, Lane joined UNW’s corporate finance team where she spent six years in lead advisory.

In her new role, Lane will be working within Grant Thornton’s growing Yorkshire and North East advisory team, which has built a strong reputation in the region, led by partners Joe McLean and Ian Marwood. Lane will focus on developing the firm’s corporate finance offering.

She said: “Grant Thornton has established one of the strongest advisory teams in the region encompassing a full range of specialists and ensuring that whatever stage in a business’s lifecycle, we have the experts to help. ”

Joe McLean, partner in Grant Thornton’s advisory team, said, “With her deep understanding of the marketplace, we believe Zara will be a real asset.”