EY announces dozens of CI promotions

Thursday 27 October 2022

More than 50 people across all service lines have taken the next step in their careers with EY in the Channel Islands, with over 70% of the latest management and leadership promotions being awarded to women.

Wilmari Muller and Jerik Smit have been promoted to Assurance Manager and Sophie Lihou has been promoted to Marketing and Business Development Manager.

Ms Muller and Mr Smit have joined joined the Guernsey office from EY Cape Town, where they became members of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. Prior to joining EY, they both gained a Bachelor in Accounting, as well as a Bachelor in Accounting Honours, from Stellenbosch University.

Ms Muller has worked across a number of industries, including litigation finance, private equity and real estate funds, where she has worked with companies and funds based in South Africa, the UK and the US. She has also gained experience in the testing of controls mandated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. 

In her new role, she will continue to work with teams to improve audit quality whilst encouraging and coaching junior team members.

Since arriving in Guernsey, Mr Smit has worked with clients in the wealth & asset management industry, with a particular focus on listed and unlisted private equity and real estate funds. In his new role, he will develop his data analytic skills to provide further insights in discussions with clients, whilst also assisting clients in navigating the ongoing changes and developments with ESG reporting.

Pictured: EY Jersey have also promoted several of its staff.

In 2014, Ms Lihou joined EY as a Marketing Assistant, upon graduating with a first-class degree from the University of West London. She manages EY’s external communications in the Channel Islands. EY’s focus on supporting the local community with advancing the Diversity, Equity & Inclusiveness agenda and also promoting health & wellbeing has meant she works alongside Channel Islands charities and not-for-profits to support them through EY’s sponsorships of their events and campaigns. 

These include CI Liberate’s CI Pride in Sport; the EY Easter Running Festival in Guernsey; and the recently launched Hospice 2 Hospice half marathon, which will take place on 26 March 2023 in Jersey.

Andrew Dann, EY’s Channel Islands Managing Partner, said: “Congratulations to all those who have been promoted or progressed in their careers. Ensuring our people have the opportunities and support available to progress in their careers, and rewarding people for their hard work, is so important to us. 

“The diversity amongst our recent promotions reflects our commitment as a firm to create and foster an inclusive culture to ensure all our people reach their full potential as we continue to grow the business.”