John P Connolly

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

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.

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John’s Gallery

John Connolly receiving the Royal Hunt cup at Ascot.

John P Connolly alongside the other Directors at G4S when he served as Chairman.

John Connolly holding his first children’s book which he wrote.

John Connolly and his wife Odile Griffith attending the opening of the Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children.

John P Connolly as founder of CogitalGroup with Hg Capital

John with the Dean of London Business School and Sir John Ritblat on the day that he received his Honorary Fellowship.

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

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.

Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity

Chairman

Apr 2015 - Jul 2019

London, UK

Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) provides life-saving treatment to very ill children from across the United Kingdom. The organisation assists in the funding of research, medical equipment, support projects and lodging.

Radius

Chairman

Jan 2016 - May 2018

London, UK

Radius was owned by Hg Capital until its sale to Vistra in 2018. Headquartered in the United States, the company delivered outsourced accounting and advisory services to businesses throughout the world.

Amec Foster Wheeler

Chairman

Dec 2011 - Oct 2017

Aberdeen, UK

Amec Foster Wheeler was acquired by Wood Group in 2017 and the two companies have merged to create a new worldwide leader in project, engineering and technical services for the energy and industrial markets.

Elian

Chairman

Jan 2014 - Feb 2017

London, UK

Elian, previously owned by Electra Capital and the partners, specialised in the provision of trust and corporate services. The business was sold to Intertrust Group in 2016.

London Business School

Member of the Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Finance Committee

Jan 2010 - Dec 2015

London, UK

London Business School is a post-graduate business school. Established in 1964, LBS is one of the most highly regarded business schools in the world with the aim to have a significant impact on how the world does business and how business influences the world.

Capquest

Chairman

Glasgow, UK

Capquest was acquired and then sold by Towerbrook Capital Partners. The business focussed on the acquisition of large credit portfolios and debt recovery.

Deloitte

Global Chairman & UK CEO

May 1999 - May 2011

In John’s leadership roles he successfully steered the firm through the most challenging years faced by the financial sector. Prior to his appointment as Global Chairman in New York, he spent 4 years as Global Managing Partner and prior to his appointment as UK CEO, where he was based in London, he spent 8 years as UK Managing Partner. His background was in Corporate Finance.

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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.