RSM Tenon has boosted its corporate finance team in Birmingham with the appointment of James Carnegie as associate director and Kerry Lane as senior manager.

The appointment comes after the firm appointed Steve Thornhill as director to run the lead advisory team.

Mr Carnegie arrives from Wolseley UK where, as part of the in-house mergers and acquisitions team, he managed a range of acquisitions, disposals and strategic initiatives across the UK and Ireland. Prior to that he spent five years with Deloitte in Birmingham.

He said: “I very much wanted to go back into practice, using my skills and experience in transaction services combined with my client side exposure.

“I am excited to be part of the growing team at RSM Tenon and recognise that with our experience and expertise we will be offering our clients a credible and robust service.”

Mr Carnegie is already working on three upcoming acquisitions – including a large international business in the process of looking at a target in the UK.

He added: “RSM Tenon is making a real impact in a recovering marketplace with a quality brand and an experienced and well-respected team.

“There is more confidence around and people are helping our clients to identify exciting opportunities in the marketplace. Transactions are happening and we already have a strong pipeline of projects.”

Ms Lane has a wealth of due diligence experience gained over the last ten years as well as experience in international transactions having spent two years advising in the US.

She started her career in Birmingham with Arthur Andersen and subsequently joined RSM Robson Rhodes before moving to the US with RSM McGladrey.

She returned to the UK to work in Manchester for Grant Thornton and this appointment achieves a long-term desire to return to the West Midlands.

Ms Lane said: “I am delighted to return to the RSM network, and to Birmingham where I started my career.”

Julian Clough, Midlands head of transaction services at RSM Tenon, said: “James and Kerry are well known in the West Midlands and both have spent many years working in the Birmingham market. Our transaction services offering is based on straightforward advice delivered by highly experienced professionals. James and Kerry typify this approach and we believe their deep due diligence expertise coupled with hands on M&A and cross border experience is a compelling combination.”