Tributes have been paid to former Cowgills partner John Marshall, who has died.
Marshall retired from the leading North West accountancy and business advisory firm in 2021 but remained close to many of his long-standing clients.
Friends and former colleagues will be able to remember him at a celebration of his life at Bolton Golf Club on Friday, November 27th, between midday and 4pm.
A spokesman for Cowgills, which is now part of the Sumer Group, said: “John joined Cowgills in 1993 as part of our accounts and audit team, working closely with our founder, Peter Cowgill.
“Over the next 28 years, he became an integral part of the firm, bringing with him a strong entrepreneurial spirit and building trusted, lasting relationships with businesses across Bolton, the North West and beyond.
“For John, being an adviser was about so much more than numbers. He took a genuine interest in the people behind the businesses he worked with, building relationships founded on trust, understanding and a real commitment to helping them succeed.
“He supported many clients through significant periods of growth and change, often becoming a trusted confidant as well as a valued professional adviser.
“That commitment to his clients was evident throughout his career and continued even after his retirement from Cowgills in 2021.
“John also made a significant contribution to the people around him. He played an important role in mentoring and developing many of our colleagues, including several of the partners who remain part of Cowgills today.
“His approach to client relationships, his entrepreneurial outlook and his commitment to always doing the very best for those he advised have helped shape the firm we are today.
“John’s contribution to Cowgills over almost three decades was immeasurable, and his influence will continue to be felt through the people he mentored, the relationships he built and the businesses he helped along the way.
Greatly missed
“He will be greatly missed by everyone who had the privilege of working with him.
“Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with John’s family, friends and all those who knew and loved him at this very difficult time.”
Andrew Pickup, group finance director at Buckhurst Plant Hire, said: “This is very sad news. As someone who worked directly for John for two years and kept in touch ever since, I will miss his sense of humour and commitment to the profession.”
Tracy Hannon, finance director at Camfil, said: “Such sad news. John was audit senior at RPG when I did my ACA training there in 1991-1994, and the accountancy foundations he instilled in me still hold fast today.”
Jonathan Brownson, group managing director and owner at Royce Peeling Green, said: “It was a pleasure working with John. From interviewing him whilst he was at university, watching him train, develop and qualify with RPG and then move on to have a successful career with Cowgills, he always had a great sense of humour. He will be missed.”
Paul Richardson, finance director at ABL Health, said: “Very shocked to hear this very sad news. John was my first real boss in accountancy and key in developing me in my career and to what I am today.”
Anyone wanting to attend the celebration of John’s life on November 27th should emailclaire.boden@cowgills.co.uk