The Marque The Marque

John P Connolly

Chairman and Strategic Business Advisor

London, UK


John P Connolly
Geoffrey Coley
Cancer Research Institute
Michael Covell
Goldman Sachs International

John’s Biography

John P Connolly is a British businessman, Chairman and Strategic Business Advisor. He was Managing Partner of Deloitte UK, then CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Deloitte Global Organisation. Later he served as Chairman of two FTSE companies, Amec Foster Wheeler and G4S. He has chaired Metric Capital Partners since its inception.

During his tenure as Deloitte CEO, he led the firm to become the most successful Big 4 Firm with a huge period of significant growth, including multiple mergers and acquisitions. Most notably, the acquisition of Arthur Andersen and leading the decision to retain consulting globally when the other Big 4 firms exited that market. Growth was markedly ahead of other Big 4 firms and Deloitte’s superior profitability in that period has still not been matched by any market participant.

John has chaired a range of private equity-backed businesses and non-profit organisations. Current Chair roles include Metric Capital Partners, Eisner Advisory Group and Interpath Advisory Group. He also chaired and led the exits of several PE-backed businesses...
John P Connolly is a British businessman, Chairman and Strategic Business Advisor. He was Managing Partner of Deloitte UK, then CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Deloitte Global Organisation. Later he served as Chairman of two FTSE companies, Amec Foster Wheeler and G4S. He has chaired Metric Capital Partners since its inception.

During his tenure as Deloitte CEO, he led the firm to become the most successful Big 4 Firm with a huge period of significant growth, including multiple mergers and acquisitions. Most notably, the acquisition of Arthur Andersen and leading the decision to retain consulting globally when the other Big 4 firms exited that market. Growth was markedly ahead of other Big 4 firms and Deloitte’s superior profitability in that period has still not been matched by any market participant.

John has chaired a range of private equity-backed businesses and non-profit organisations. Current Chair roles include Metric Capital Partners, Eisner Advisory Group and Interpath Advisory Group. He also chaired and led the exits of several PE-backed businesses in the US, UK and Channel Islands. He chaired Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity and was a member of the Board of Trustees of The London Business School.

John has specialised in leading professional services businesses. In 2021 he led a major development in the US Accounting and Advisory Services Market, bringing private equity backing to Eisner Advisory Group and creating a platform to build a major market participant through high organic and M&A growth. In 2016 he co-founded Azets/Cogital—now a major firm in the UK and Nordic countries—with a leading PE firm. He is named on the Times 100 Power List for his impact in the accountancy sector.

Outside of business, John’s primary interest is his family. He and his wife own The White Horse Inn on the South Downs in Sussex. He authored children’s book The Blue Monkey, owns racehorses and is a Man Utd season ticket holder.
more less

John’s Newsfeed

Sky News
Azets founder Connolly lines up backers for £1.5bn accountancy firm bid

The former Deloitte UK CEO, John Connolly, is assembling a bid for Azets backed by TowerBrook Capital Partners and Warburg Pincus

Private Banker International
Multi-family office Stonehage Fleming hires new chairman

Multi-family office Stonehage Fleming has named John Connolly as the new chairman of its board. Connolly most recently worked at Deloitte. He spent 45 years at the firm, latterly as its senior partner and global chairman.

John’s Background

Eisner Advisory Group
Chairman
Aug 2021 - Present
New York, NY, USA
Originally founded in 1965, Eisner Advisory Group, now backed by Towerbrook Capital Partners, is one of the larger accounting, tax, business advisory and outsourcing firms in the United States, with over 2,000 staff and over 200 partners across the US and India.
 
Interpath Advisory Group
Chairman
May 2021 - Present
London, UK
Acquired by the partners and HIG Capital from KPMG, Interpath is a multi-speciality advisory and financial advisory firm.
 
View all Hide

John’s Gallery

Other Business Interests

The White Horse Inn
Co-owner
2019 - Present
Sutton, UK
John and his wife, Odile, own The White Horse Inn which is located in Sutton, a village in the heart of the beautiful South Downs National park, and is the epitome of an English pub. With eight bedrooms, all en suite, and a stunning garden, this 18th Century free house is the perfect place to eat, drink and stay in West Sussex.
 
RKR Projects Limited logo RKR Projects Limited logo
RKR Projects Limited
Co-owner
London, UK
RKR Projects Limited is a residential property development company owned by John and his wife, Odile.
 

Previous Board Positions

G4S Global
Chairman
Jan 2012 - May 2021
London, UK
G4S is now part of US headquartered global security company, Allied Universal, following its acquisition in 2021.
 
CogitalGroup (Azets)
Founder
Dec 2016 - Mar 2020
London, UK
Co-founded by John in 2016, along with HGCapital, CogitalGroup (now Azets) is an international business services and advisory firm operating under two brands - Azets and Blick Rothenberg.
 
View all Hide

Features

Local friends join forces to acquire Sutton pub with rooms and bring business back to life
Feature
Jul 2019
Sutton, UK
John and his wife are featured in a profile on the newly acquired and refurbished White Horse Inn, a pub and boutique hotel in Sutton.
 

Awards & Recognition

Managing Partners’ Forum Awards
Lifetime Achievement Award
2010
London, UK
In 2010, John P Connolly was awarded MPF’s Lifetime Achievement Award for making a significant and sustained improvement to the leadership and management of Deloitte.
 
The Next 20 Names to Watch
Featured
2009
London, UK
In 2009, John featured in GQ Magazine's '100 Most Powerful Men 2009, as one of 'The Next 20 Names to Watch in 2009'.
 
View all Hide

Fellowships

London Business School
Honorary Fellow
London, UK
In 2012, John P Connolly was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from London Business School.