Big Four giant PwC UK has appointed a new head to lead its business services practice, an arm that focuses on eight sectors, including legal and professional services.

Rebecca Cooke, a partner in the firm’s consulting practice with over 12 years at the firm, will serve as its UK business services leader, replacing current head Mark Anderson, who led the practice for four years.

The practice advises businesses, including law firms, consultancies, and recruitment agencies, on issues such as retaining talent, adopting technology, and reducing overheads to help firms grow and scale.

The move follows PwC’s active work to have business and professional services included in the UK government’s Industrial Strategy, with a senior partner at PwC UK and Middle East appointed in June as business co-chair of the government’s Professional and Business Services Council (PBSC).

“Business Services is a hugely important part of the UK economy – and one with enormous opportunity ahead,” Cooke said.

She added that technology and AI are “changing how services are delivered, how businesses scale and where people add most value, while consolidation and new operating models are creating opportunities to build stronger, more productive and more distinctive businesses.”

“In legal services, we already work very closely with many of the sector’s leading firms. The conversation there is increasingly moving beyond AI adoption itself to what it means for business models, pricing, productivity, talent and how legal services are delivered,” Cooke told .

Cara Haffey, leader of industrials and services at PwC UK, said the business services sector “continues to evolve at pace” and Cooke’s appointment as the practice lead will “build on the strong foundations Mark has established, bringing together expertise from across PwC to help our clients as they navigate transformation, embrace new technologies and identify opportunities for growth.”

Despite the Iran war, PwC’s UK business grew

In September, PwC reported steady financial growth in its UK business over the 2026 financial year, with revenue and profit per partner both increasing slightly from the previous year. But it also reported a decline in revenues for the overall consolidated group, the legal entity that includes its UK and Middle Eastern businesses.

For the year ended 30 June 2026, PwC’s UK business revenue grew to £4.4bn, up two per cent on the previous year. But the firm’s overall risk and consulting practices across the group faced tougher market conditions, with consulting revenues down 9.8 per cent and risk down 8.9 per cent.

Marco Amitrano, senior partner at PwC UK and PwC Middle East alliance, said at the time that despite UK revenue growth increasing “a solid two per cent”, it was partly offset by “a more difficult trading environment in the Middle East.”