Sacha Romanovitch made history when she became the first female CEO of a major accounting firm, having led Grant Thornton UK and joined its global board. Her leadership focused on transforming the firm into a modern business prioritising diversity, responsibility, personal development, openness, and collaboration.
Sacha began her career studying chemistry at university and later qualified as an accountant. She joined Grant Thornton, where she spent over twenty-five years. Within ten years, she became a Partner and was the first board member responsible for People and Culture. As CEO, she aimed to break down barriers within the organisation and the professional services sector, which often resisted change. She emphasised understanding the values and purpose of a business and its people, believing that engagement and development opportunities could encourage even the most resistant individuals to embrace change.
Under Sacha's leadership, Grant Thornton fostered a culture of shared enterprise and purpose-driven profit. The firm shifted its recruitment focus from academic achievements to potential contributions, enhancing diversity and creating a more open and innovative environment. In her final year as CEO, Sacha was ranked among the top 50 CEOs in the Glassdoor index, with a 94% employee approval rating. The firm received several accolades, including the Queen’s Award for Enterprise and a top ranking on the UK Social Mobility Index.
Currently, Sacha is the CEO of Fair4All Finance, which aims to improve the financial wellbeing of vulnerable individuals. She co-chairs the Inclusive Economy Partnership, a government initiative addressing mental health, transition to work, and financial inclusion. Additionally, she serves on the board of London & Partners, working with the Mayor of London’s office to promote the city internationally. Sacha has also contributed to reviews on diversity, social mobility, and issues affecting the auditing industry.
In her talks, Sacha Romanovitch discusses everything from culture change within legacy organisations to creating people-centric organisations and leadership. In her sessions, Sacha provides practical tips on how to bring diversity, inclusivity, and transparency to the forefront within organisations, how to be a resilient but values-led leader, and how to diversify the talent and recruitment process.
Would you like a workshop customised to meet your organisation’s specific needs and hosted by your chosen expert? Designed for your use case and supported by experienced facilitators, these interactive programs combine theory with real-world experience and provide leaders with practical skills that can be immediately applied. This approach fosters authentic behavioural change, improves leadership capabilities, and upskills your people across various subject areas. Get in touch with PepTalk today to learn how your team can benefit.
