Grant Thornton poaches EY forensic consulting expert

Grant Thornton has welcomed Paul Fontanot to its forensic consulting team as partner, effective 20 October 2025.

According to the professional services firm, Fontanot was appointed to partner having over 28 years of experience within the professional services industry across accounting, consulting and law.

Former leader of EY’s forensic practice, Fontanot was noted to have also built a significant forensics team at Clayton Utz, where he had been responsible for leading a diverse team of accountants, data scientists, mathematicians, IT developers, engineers and lawyers.

Alex Bell, Grant Thornton partner and national head of forensic consulting, said Fontanot had extensive experience across government, finance, energy, resources, construction and technology sectors, as well as handling major investigations, regulatory inquiries, cyber incidents, litigation support and risk transformation projects.

“Paul brings a wealth of experience to Grant Thornton including forensic technology and investigations. Paul’s skillset will complement our existing team and bolster our capabilities,” he said.

“We’re excited for Paul to join the team as we look to the next stage of growth for our Forensic practice.”

Having stepped into his new role earlier last week, Fontanot said he was a keen participant in senior leadership programs and a developer of multidisciplinary graduate programs with an interest in leadership and capability development.

Fontanot said he was looking forward to his new chapter and the opportunities at Grant Thornton.

“I’m delighted to join the Grant Thornton Forensics team, and excited to bring my know-how in integrating multidisciplinary expertise, leveraging technology, and creating collaborative environments that bring clarity to solving complex client matters,” he said.