Forvis Mazars has added Christos Vernardos to its Executive Board as head of the Risk and Quality unit. The appointment became effective on 1 September.
Vernardos will direct the company’s risk identification, evaluation and mitigation strategy across all operations. His responsibilities encompass managing strategic, operational and regulatory risks as the business advises clients in “a complex, evolving business environment”, the company said.
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He succeeds Mark Kennedy, who will maintain his seats on the Forvis Mazars Group Executive Board and Group Governing Board.
Vernardos joined Forvis Mazars in 2022 from the Financial Reporting Council (FRC). He was named head of audit quality in 2023, where he led the design and implementation of the company’s Audit Quality Transformation Plan and oversaw its System of Quality Management.
Forvis Mazars UK CEO James Gilbey said: “Managing risk well is fundamental to the long-term success of our firm. It helps us make the right choices about where and how we grow, maintain high standards and protect the trust placed in us by our clients, people and wider stakeholders.
“Since joining us in 2022, Christos has played a key role in our audit quality transformation. His appointment to the Executive Board builds on that experience and reflects the strategic importance of managing risk across every part of our business.”
In his expanded position, Vernardos will integrate risk management, assurance, quality controls and governance structures across the operation. The objective is to provide executive leadership with a consolidated overview of principal business risks and ongoing mitigation strategies.
Vernardos added: “When I left the regulator in 2022, there was only one firm I wanted to join. Forvis Mazars stood out because of its culture, ambition and commitment to serving the public interest.
“We have made significant progress on quality in our audit business, and are now building from a position of strength. My new role gives us an opportunity to apply that same focus and discipline to the way we understand and manage risk across the whole firm.
“My priority is to work with teams across the business to create a clearer and more connected view of risk. That will help us make good decisions, support sustainable growth and maintain the high standards our clients and stakeholders expect.”
Earlier this year, Forvis Mazars appointed Garrett Gluth as the managing director of its healthcare practice.
