Press Releases
February 2011
Long-serving managing partner steps down at Rickard Keen
This year will mark the end of an era at Essex chartered accountants Rickard Keen with the retirement of Managing Partner Bob Sadler, who first joined the firm in 1966.
He will be succeeded in the role by fellow partner Alan Worsdale and, while Bob will be staying with the company until April, he is starting the process of handing over his responsibilities now.
Bob qualified with Hartley Keen – which merged with Rickard Porter in 1980 to create the current firm – in 1971, before leaving to gain additional experience with London firm Spicer and Pegler and the Ford Motor Company. He rejoined in 1974 as a partner and became managing partner in 2006.
In his role, Bob looks after a wide range of clients, with particular specialism in sectors including property, restaurants and bars and charities.
Alan can trace his history with the firm back almost as far, having joined Hartley Keen as a trainee in 1975 and qualified in 1980. He is a member of several prestigious professional bodies including the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT), the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and the Association of Independent Specialist Medical Accountants (AISMA).
As well as having specialist expertise in the medical sector, Alan also has particular knowledge of the insurance industry and undertakes statutory audits for several large companies as well as smaller family-owned businesses.
Bob said: “I have enjoyed my time at Rickard Keen immensely and could scarcely have believed when I joined in 1966 that it would have played such a major role in my life for so long.
“During my time here, we have celebrated a number of achievements including the opening of an office in Basildon to complement our Southend base five years ago and winning the first-ever Accountancy Firm of the Year title from the South Essex branch of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) last year.
“I’m delighted that Rickard Keen is still going strong as a locally-based firm with a global outlook and I’m confident that I am leaving it in very safe hands with Alan and the other partners.”
Rickard Keen has always enjoyed high staff retention rates and fellow partners Bill Gould and Keith Bell also worked for Hartley Keen before the merger. Noel Kelleway started at Rickard Porter, while Kate Davies was appointed as a partner more recently, in 2006.
Alan said: “I’m delighted and honoured to be taking over the important role of managing partner at Rickard Keen. The practice has gone from strength to strength under Bob’s guidance and I’m confident that, with the support of the great team we have here, we can continue our success.”
For more information, contact Rickard Keen LLP on 01702 347771 or visit www.rickardkeen.co.uk.