Pinsent Masons has added the former chair of the UK Competition and Markets Authority as an external board member, in a refresh that has also seen it recruit the co-founder of AlixPartners Europe.
Marcus Bokkerink, who led the CMA until earlier this year, has joined the UK-founded firm’s board alongside Pippa Wicks, who currently acts as a senior adviser at AlixPartners, having previously been a managing partner at the consultancy.
Andrew Masraf, senior partner and chair of Pinsent Masons’ board, said the duo brought “unparalleled” experience to the firm.
“They have both advised global, multibillion pound organisations that span our firm’s core sectors,” Masraf said. “Their business acumen, experience in deploying AI technologies and progressive mindsets align with our vision at Pinsent Masons.”
Bokkerink spent a little over two years at the helm of the CMA before being forced out by ministers in January as the government sought to dial back on regulation as part of the Labour government’s growth agenda, the Financial Times reported. Former Amazon UK boss Doug Gurr was appointed as interim chair following his departure.
Prior to his role at the CMA, Bokkerink worked at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) for nearly 30 years, where he rose to become a senior partner and managing director and led the firm’s UK and European consumer and strategy practices and developed the firm’s early China business.
Pinsents noted that during his time as partner and senior partner, which spanned 22 years, BCG grew ninefold from a boutique strategy partnership to a global multiline business.
Pinsents said Bokkerink brought extensive experience advising boards and executive leadership teams on competitive growth strategies, reshaping portfolios, and adapting business models to capitalise on future technology, geopolitical and demographic shifts.
Alongside his role at Pinsents, Bokkerink is currently a non-executive director at Provenance, a platform for validating businesses’ sustainability claims, and among other roles, previously acted as a mentor to entrepreneurs.
Meanwhile, Wicks’s experience focuses on advising organisations on their growth and transformation strategies. As well as AlixPartners, she has held executive roles with Courtaulds Textiles, Pearson subsidiary FT Knowledge, the Co-operative Group and John Lewis. She is also on the board of The Halo Trust, the world’s largest landmine clearance and weapons management organisation.
Wicks and Bokkerink will succeed Suzanne Baxter, the former Serco chief operating officer who is Pinsents’ current external board member and who will step down following the completion of her maximum term.
“Suzanne has been an asset to our business for the last six years,” Masraf said. “During her time with us she actively served as chair of our audit committee and has been an impactful board sponsor for our disability and wellbeing group. I’d like to extend my thanks to Suzanne for her contribution – she has played a central role in our success.”
The duo have joined Pinsents’ board off the back of 12 consecutive years of revenue growth at the 1,500-lawyer firm. It added nearly £150m to its topline between FY21 and FY24, when revenue hit £649.6m and PEP stood at £793k.
Wicks commented: “I believe Pinsent Masons is poised for significant growth. With its geographic reach, multidisciplinary team and sectoral expertise, the firm has gained positive momentum. The leadership team has a clear vision, and my experience will be instrumental in helping the firm achieve its goals.”
Bokkerink added the firm “has ambition, and I look forward to helping it to harness its technologies, reinforce its competitive advantages and adapt the strategy and business model for the next phase of growth”.
Alongside Bokkerink and Wicks, Pinsents’ global board includes Masraf, managing partner Laura Cameron, chief financial officer Rob Alexander, UK partners Andrew Black and Julian Diaz-Rainey, Asia Pacific partner Matthew Croagh and Middle East and Africa partner Luke Tapp.
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