With these well-deserved promotions, both are recognised for their exceptional leadership, expertise, and excellent contribution to Shaw Gibbs. 

Dan joined Shaw Gibbs in 2021 from a Top 10 UK firm and has worked in practice for over 20 years. 

Steve Neal, Partner and Head of Audit and Accounts had this to say:  

“Dan joined us as a manager when we were looking towards Partner succession. During this time with us, he has deepened his expertise in supporting businesses and developing key client relationships. 

He has played a pivotal role as head of the Healthcare sector group as well as contributing to internal change and development processes.  I wish him continued success.” 

Darshil, who joined Shaw Gibbs in 2017 and has over 13 years of experience in practice and is a specialist in inbound clients with overseas owners. 

Sarah Gardener, Partner and Head of Outsourcing adds:  

“Darshil’s exceptional client engagement and dedication to fostering strong partnerships have contributed significantly to the Outsourcing department’s achievements.  

Clients consistently feedback that Darshil has made a real difference to the way they run their finance function.

Congratulations to Daniel and Darshil on their well-deserved achievement.”

About Shaw Gibbs
Shaw Gibbs is a top 40 accountancy practice who provide expert solutions for entrepreneurial businesses and private individuals in Central and Southern England.

They have offices in: Andover, Basingstoke, Bristol, Farnham, Guildford, Liss, London, Northampton, Oxford, Southampton, Sutton, Teddington, Thame and Winchester.

Investing in their teams of high-quality specialists, Shaw Gibbs work with the best-in-breed technology to create value for clients which exceeds expectation.

2,000 colleagues, 100% co-ownership

The union of ABAB and Alfa creates a strong and distinctive new player in the market. The organisational structure of aaff is built on employee participation, aligning entrepreneurship with employment. This approach includes an employee equity plan. Ronald Meijers, Vice-Chairman of the aaff Board of Directors, explains: ‘At aaff, it’s all about ownership - 2,000 co-owners charting the course together. No closed doors, no unreachable partners, just shared entrepreneurship. We care for one another and the people around us. That’s what makes aaff such an attractive employer. Here, you can truly make an impact. We give our colleagues the freedom to develop, take initiative, and enjoy autonomy. How empowering is it to steer the ship together as co-owners?’

180 years of experience

aaff also stands out for its strong local presence. With over 50 offices across the Netherlands, the company offers nationwide coverage. Fouk Tsang, Chairman of the aaff Board of Directors, says: ‘With aaff, we aim to be there for our clients at decisive moments, starting with personal contact. The merger enriched us with even more expertise, both technical and in various industries. Our roots are in agriculture, but we also serve sectors like Trade & E-commerce, Construction & Infrastructure, Logistics, and High-tech. We understand entrepreneurs, speak their language, and recognize their challenges and opportunities. aaff is a fresh face in the market, yet it carries 180 years of accounting and consulting experience.’

Towards a better future

aaff is a certified B Corp organisation, a deliberate choice to contribute to society. Fouk Tsang: ‘Sustainability is in our DNA and central to everything we do. Our growth will never come at the expense of the environment or our communities. We also support our clients in advancing their sustainability efforts, helping them seize opportunities presented by the transition to a greener economy. With aaff, we aim for a better future - for everyone. We operate with both our head and our heart.’

Click here to find out more about aaff and the services they offer.

During John’s tenure, the business has seen revenue growth from £10 million to over £55 million and he has been instrumental in building the finance team to manage reporting during the rapid growth of the business.

Campbell joins at a pivotal time as the business prepares for the next stage of its growth. His appointment ensures that the company has a robust long-term management team. John Williams will remain an executive director within the business for the coming months until the next stage of the strategic plan is implemented.

Campbell qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG in Birmingham before spending 14 years in Vodafone Group undertaking a number of leadership and commercial finance roles. Most recently, Campbell has been a senior leader of the finance team at Kynetec, a £80m turnover market leading private equity backed data and analytics business in the agriculture and animal health industry. Campbell has extensive experience of the full private equity life cycle including exits and working with new private equity owners and has also worked on several M&A transactions and integrations.

Peter O’Connell, Chief Executive Officer, states,

“Campbell joining the team will help accelerate the business's growth over the next five years. However, for the past two years since the original investment, John has been an instrumental part of the management team, assisting not only with mergers and acquisitions activity but also in managing the finance team as well as working closely with me on his long-term succession plan.”

Kevan Leggett, Chairman, adds,

“John has been the consummate professional – he has helped execute our M&A strategy as well as building out a strong central finance team.  He has been clear about his own long-term plans and has worked well with Peter to bring on board his successor.”

Campbell Smith comments,

“I am delighted to join Shaw Gibbs at this important stage of its growth. The business is on an exciting journey, building a people-centric, high-quality accountancy and advisory practice and I am looking forward to being a key part of the management team as we continue to build on the existing platform.”

About Shaw Gibbs

Shaw Gibbs is a top 40 accountancy practice who provide expert solutions for entrepreneurial businesses and private individuals in Central and Southern England. Investing in their teams of high-quality specialists, they work with the best-in-breed technology to create value for clients which exceeds expectation.