Financial services and accountancy group Crowe has appointed a new managing partner for the Midlands and South West.
Ross Prince has taken up the new office, leading teams based in Oldbury, Cheltenham and Bristol, totalling more than 300 staff including 19 partners.
He succeeds Johnathan Dudley in the post who will continue as Crowe's national head of manufacturing.
Mr Prince joined Crowe as a graduate in 2002 and was appointed a partner in 2014, after leaving University of Bath with a masters focused on material science and engineering.
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He has worked with professional practices, owner-managed businesses and international groups for the last 22 years, helping business owners and leaders to grow their companies and manage risk.
He is also a former chairman of the Worcestershire Group of Chartered Accountants.
Mr Prince said: "Johnathan is one of the best known business figures in the Midlands and South West and it is a huge privilege to have been chosen to step up into the office managing partner role after he has led us for over 30 years.
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"I'm privileged to be working with a team of people who are interesting, insightful and good to spend time with.
"We have some exciting things planned for the future but it will also be business as usual as the firm is already in a good place right now."
Mr Dudley added: "Ross is a home-grown talent, having trained and qualified as a chartered accountant with the firm. It has been an honour and a pleasure to lead an office of this firm for over 30 years.
"I have done this while holding down several other roles in the firm including time both on the supervisory board and the executive.
"These and other roles gave me clear experience of the necessity to get management succession right. Not only is this key to the success of our firm but it's also important to the individuals involved too.
"The appointment of Ross will free me up to further develop my work with the SME corporate sector and manufacturing businesses of all sizes on behalf of the firm as well as to develop connections for the benefit of the firm in the future."