UHY Hacker Young Manchester’s automotive talent heads to £180m turnover advisor

The Manchester-based automotive team at UHY Hacker Young - auditor for the dealer categories in the AM Awards – has become part of fast-growing accountancy firm Cooper Parry.

The renowned automotive advisory team, led by Dave Kendrick (pictured), Paul Daly and Ian McMahon, has steered some of the most significant industry deals to completion including most recently managing the DM Keith acquisition of car and motorcycle dealer group Colin Appleyard.

This deal increases the top-15 firm’s specialist team to over 1,400 professionals across audit, tax, outsourcing, and deals and pushes the firm’s group turnover to £180 million.

Ade Cheatham, CEO of Cooper Parry, commenting on the acquisition, said: “This deal underscores our ambition to build the UK’s next-gen professional services group. Bringing UHY Hacker Young Manchester into the fold enhances our presence in the north west and solidifies our leadership in the UK’s automotive advisory sector.

“The addition of Dave Kendrick’s team gives Cooper Parry an ideal platform for further UK acquisitions and expansion.”

Dave Kendrick, CEO of UHY Hacker Young Manchester, added: “I’m immensely proud of what our team has accomplished, and joining forces with Cooper Parry is the perfect next step. Our shared growth ambitions, team culture, and industry expertise align seamlessly, and together, we’re set to dominate the automotive advisory sector.”

Kendrick’s new role will be heading up the northern region working with the Cooper Parry’s executive team to create ‘something even more amazing in the region’.

He added that he will also continue to be heavily involved in deals and supporting the automotive sector in which it has such a strong foothold.

Writing on LinkedIn, Kendrick said: “When I joined UHY Hacker Young Manchester LLP 10 years ago I could see the potential to create something special based on the solid foundations and strong reputation the business had. We have worked tirelessly to create a lasting culture, have depth in specialist service lines and to build a market leading business in the north west. Trebling in size over the last three years to around £16m turnover wasn’t without sleepless nights and a huge team effort.

“Now is the time to continue this journey and I believe having scale and a tech platform is critical to remain at the cutting edge of what is a consolidating professional services market. Cooper Parry bring this with their large southern based office hubs, 1,000+ colleagues, market leading technology and award-winning accolades centred around people.

“All of our 160+ strong team have transferred across to Cooper Parry and as an equity partner group we have rolled a significant proportion of our value, demonstrating our belief and longer term buy-in.

“Having known Ade Cheatham for 12 years and admired the CP journey, never did I think a transaction would happen so soon. He has knocked on my door most years during this period, but now is absolutely the right time for us, our fantastic team, clients and to keep us as a market leader.”

AM will be holding the 2025 AM Awards on Thursday, May 1, with new opportunities for motor retailers, manufacturers and suppliers to enjoy the huge benefits that go with being shortlisted. The entry process will begin in November with Cooper Parry now auditing our dealer group categories.