LONDON — Investment banking veteran Nick Bowers has been named chairman and founding shareholder at Williams Nicolson, the new UK consultancy launched by Steffan Williams and Louise Nicolson at the start of this year.

Bowers takes on the role following a 34-year investment banking career in equities and corporate finance, which has included such leadership positions as head of UK equities at Goldman Sachs and head of corporate broking at Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank. 

In addition, the firm has added Phil McManus, Paul Kelly and Paul Newman as senior advisors. McManus was formerly communications director for Vodafone, Sky, Rolls Royce and Worldpay, while Kelly brings 35 years of corporate finance transaction experience from stints at PwC, 3i, Lazard, Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse. Newman co-founded ICAP Energy and led the business for 26 years as CEO and then chairman.

"The arrival of these four brilliant advisors bolsters our firm and proves how serious we are about delivering the very best strategic advice to leaders," said Nicolson. "Watch this space."

Former Newgate colleagues Nicolson and Williams launched the new firm to focus on strategic communications and change management. Williams, who previously founded Capital MSL, arrived from a most recent role as a partner at Portland, while Nicolson served as a coach and author after leaving Newgate in 2018.