ACCOUNTANTS Bishop Fleming has announced new roles for two of its partners in the Worcester-based office.

Earlier this week Chris Walklett, business and international tax partner, took over as partner in charge of the College Yard office.

Walklett joined Bishop Fleming in 2013, having previously been in practice in Cambridge. Before that he was head of tax at EasyJet.

Ian Smith, the outgoing partner in charge, said: "Chris has had a huge impact since joining Bishop Fleming.

"The skills and energy he has brought have helped us recruit well, and as a consequence, the office turnover has grown by 50 per cent in the last three years.

"In his outside roles, including membership on the LEP Board, he has demonstrated his leadership qualities and I'm sure he will make a great success of this new role."

Mr Smith has left the role after being elected as chairman of the Bishop Fleming partnership, which has seven offices based across the South West and West Midlands.

Mr Smith took up the role earlier this week, and it will involve working with Matthew Lee, the firm's managing partner, to develop the partners and senior management team within the firm.

"This is an exciting new role for me," Mr Smith said.

"The firm's success has attracted and retained some great talent. It is my job to ensure our talent management and succession planning is as good as it can be."

Both Walklett and Smith will continue to service their existing client bases, and be based from the Worcester office.