Rural specialist Financial Planner Stuart Coombe is one of three to be promoted to partner at South West accountancy and wealth management firm Old Mill.

Mr Coombe will become a partner from 1 July.

He joined Old Mill in 2008 as a Paraplanner and within his 17 years at the firm had become Chartered and worked his way up to director.

He comes from an East Devon dairy farming family and has developed a specialism in advising rural individuals and businesses.

Mr Coombe plans to use his promotion to partner to mentor upcoming advisers within the firm.

He said: “With this promotion I am delighted to be recognised and to have the ability to help continue to push Old Mill forwards. I look forward to mentoring the next generation of talented advisers within our wealth management team, as well as continuing to act for my existing clients, whilst working alongside my colleagues in our accountancy, tax and specialist teams.”

Audit specialist David Jones and rural accountancy specialist Phil Kirkpatrick will also become partners from 1 July, bringing the total number of partners within the firm to 22. Mr Jones joined Old Mill in September 2016 and is a Chartered Accountant. Mr Kirkpatrick joined Old Mill in 2008 and was drawn to the firm due to its rural specialism and support of the farming community.

Mark Neath, CEO at Old Mill said: “This round of partner promotions comes at a time of strategic expansion and innovation at Old Mill and reinforces the firm's commitment to investing in its people.”

Mr Neath took the helm of Old Mill as chief executive in June 2024, having been with the firm for 18 years.

The firm is over half way through a five-year plan to double in size and has made a number of senior appointments to expedite growth.

Old Mill is based in the west country with four offices in Exeter, Chippenham, Wells and Yeovill. The firm has 385 staff serving over 5,000 clients.