Three new Senior Managing Directors to join FTI SA's Forensic & Litigation division
Extending a period of continuous expansion and consolidation in the South African market, FTI Consulting has now added a number of executives to its senior personnel in the country. John Geel, Helena Martins and Mickey Bove join the firm has Senior Managing Directors in the firm’s Forensic & Litigation segment.
FTI Consulting was founded in 1982 as a consulting firm, which offers a wide array of services, broadly clubbed under six categories: Corporate Finance & Restructuring, Economic & Financial Consulting, Forensic & Litigation Consulting, Strategic Communications, Technology, and Specialty Services.
The firm has a relatively new presence in South Africa, and has deploying some of its leading talent to bolster its operations in the country. Victoria Barr was appointed as the Senior Director of FTI’s Economic & Financial Consulting Practice in South Africa two years ago, with the objective of consolidating the firm’s local presence from its centre of operations in Cape Town.
The Forensic & Litigation division, on the other hand, was only launched in South Africa in April last year. By November the firm had added Kevin West to the newly established division, where he took over as Senior Managing Director at the Johannesburg office. He is now joined by three new Senior Managing Directors.
John Geel is a well-established executive in the consulting industry, boasting three decades of experience at Big Four accounting and advisory firm KPMG. He began as an Articled Clerk, and worked his way up through the positions of Manager, Senior Manager, Director, all the way to Managing Partner of Deal Advisory at KPMG South Africa – the position that he held until now.
Helena Martins also has her share of Big Four experience, having most recently spent nearly five years at Deloitte’s Johannesburg Office, where she ended her tenure last year as Partner. A chartered Accountant by background, she primarily managed the valuations services in Deloitte’s Corporate Finance division.
Mickey Bove is, much like Geel, a veteran at KPMG, where he has spent nearly three decades of his career, sequentially ascending to the position of Partner for Transactions and Restructuring at the firm. Since 2017, he has worked as an independent consultant in the Johannesburg area, and is now ready for a new challenge.
Commenting on the string of appointments, FTI Consulting’s Europe, Middle East and Africa Chairman Kevin Hewitt said, “Companies doing business in Africa require both local expertise and the support of a global team to help them effectively manage transactions in the region. John, Helena and Mickey are recognised experts who collectively have over 60 years of experience working with clients based in Africa, as well as those looking to do business in South Africa and throughout the continent.”
Petrus Marais, Head of FTI Consulting in South Africa added, “I am pleased to welcome John, Helena and Mickey, as we believe it is an ideal opportunity to complement the firm's existing service offering in South Africa. This group of leading experts adds great strength to an already deep bench of talent in South Africa, and I look forward to collaborating with John, Helena and Mickey to deliver for our clients.”
On his new role, John Geel shared, “FTI Consulting is internationally recognised as a truly independent adviser focused on significant and complex matters. I am excited to work alongside Helena and Mickey as we enhance our service offerings in South Africa. There is a new dawn of optimism in the country, as improved business sentiment and growth prospects support increased transaction and deal activity, inbound investment and private equity interest.”
