PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Midlands has promoted four directors to the partnership.

Andrew Hammond and Paul Norbury are both becoming partners in the Midlands assurance team. Specialising in auditing and corporate reporting, they joined the firm in 1995 and 1994 respectively.

Andrew is a listed companies expert and has a particular focus on the aerospace sector, while Paul is AIM leader for the Midlands, providing specialist advice to AIM-listed companies and advising entrepreneurial and private companies.

Having joined the firm in 1990, David Phelps is being promoted to partner in the tax team.

He is a VAT specialist advising public sector and not-for-profit organisations in the region.

The fourth director to become a partner is Stephen Smith, another member of the Midlands-based tax team. He specialises in providing corporate tax advice to owner-managed and family businesses.

In addition, new partner Stephanie Allen is returning to the Midlands after a two-year secondment in Australia.

She brings a wealth of expertise in performance improvement and cost management services for public sector organisations and previously worked with a number of local authorities and health bodies in the region.

Mark Smith, regional chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Midlands, said: “These promotions are very significant and demonstrate our continued commitment to recruiting and retaining the best talent even in the most challenging business environment in a generation. They are an investment in our future.”