ForrestBrown, UK-based innovation incentives specialist and part of the alliant family of companies, has appointed Tom McDanell as Managing Director at a time when UK businesses face increasing pressure to fund innovation and drive growth in a rapidly evolving economic landscape.
Tom McDanell takes over from Sara Brigden who is stepping down as Managing Director after five years, and who saw the business through a period of significant change in the R&D landscape.
Tom brings more than 15 years of experience leading and scaling advisory organisations across the UK and the United States. He joins ForrestBrown with a strong track record of helping businesses realise value and achieve sustainable growth. Tom will lead the firm’s next phase of growth, with a focus on deepening client impact and strengthening ForrestBrown’s position as a trusted adviser in the UK innovation economy.
Simon Brown, founder of ForrestBrown, said:
“We thank Sara for the last five years and wish her the very best for the future. We look forward to welcoming Tom into the team and to lead ForrestBrown into its next phase of growth, helping more innovative businesses.
We remain focused on maintaining high standards of quality and client experience. Tom brings a clear understanding of that foundation and a practical approach to building on it.”
Dhaval Jadav, Global CEO of alliant, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Tom to ForrestBrown. His appointment comes at a pivotal moment. We are living through an unprecedented era of technological disruption, driven by rapid advances in AI and significant global investment in both digital and physical AI infrastructure.
For UK businesses to remain competitive on a global stage, it is critical that they fully leverage the incentives available to support innovation. Tom’s leadership will be instrumental in helping businesses understand and access these opportunities, enabling them to compete more effectively across the UK, Europe and beyond.”
Jaime Barthel, Senior Director of alliant, added:
“ForrestBrown plays an important role in helping UK businesses access the capital and incentives that support innovation. Tom’s appointment reinforces our focus on delivering meaningful outcomes for clients.
He brings a strong understanding of how to help businesses invest effectively and navigate an increasingly complex landscape.”
Matt Noll, COO of alliant, said:
“Under Tom’s leadership, ForrestBrown will continue to expand its reach and impact across the UK, supporting more businesses to access opportunity and invest in innovation.
This is about helping clients move faster, make informed decisions and realise their growth potential.”