Dyke Yaxley appoints new Managing Director

Laurie Riley is taking over at Dyke Yaxley Chartered Accountants, in Shrewsbury, from Helen Thomas, who has held the role for the last seven years.

“This is a very exciting era to be taking over the leadership at Dyke Yaxley, and I’m really looking forward to moving the firm forward and building on the excellent work established by Helen,” said Laurie.

“Most importantly, I want to make sure that we continue to develop the services we provide to our clients and that we carry on delivering the very best support and advice.

“I have spent my whole career at Dyke Yaxley and this is a very special opportunity to be appointed as managing director. I am very optimistic about the future of the business as we have a great team of people here and a very talented board of directors.”

Laurie’s association with the company goes back as far as 1975 when he spent time in the practice, then called Yaxley Davies, on a student placement.

In 1980, he joined the company on a full-time basis and qualified as a chartered accountant in 1983, becoming a partner of Yaxley Davies in 1986 – a year before it merged with Dyke & Ruscoe to become Dyke Yaxley.

Laurie initially worked with a range of small business and personal clients, but later specialised in the larger corporate end of the small and medium sized enterprises market.

He has been Dyke Yaxley’s finance director since 1999, and is also finance director of Kingsland Wealth Management – the financial services arm of the business.

Outgoing managing director, Helen Thomas, who will continue as a director of the company, said: “Laurie is one of the most respected and professional practitioners on the Shropshire accountancy scene.

“His appointment will be applauded by clients, our staff and the local business community, as he has a huge amount of experience and expertise to offer.

“We have a policy of making sure that we keep moving the leadership of our business forward and to promote new and dynamic ideas and skills.”