TaxAssist Accountants Franchisee Mike Melling joins The TaxAssist Direct Group Board of Directors. Mike Melling becomes the first TaxAssist Accountants franchisee to hold an executive role on the board of directors. He has been appointed as Group Development Director at The TaxAssist Direct Group, a role he will undertake while continuing to operate his highly successful multi-site franchise in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. “It is an honour to have been asked to join the Board of Directors,” said Mike. “I was impressed with the comprehensive TaxAssist Accountants franchise package when I first came across the franchise in 2012 and, having significantly exceeded my business and personal goals I set out as a franchisee, I am now looking forward to contributing to the next, exciting stage of the Group’s global development and growth plans. “Within my franchise I have built a terrific team of colleagues, who seamlessly run my practices, which means I am now in the position where I have the time to take up a position on the Board, and help TaxAssist build on its market leading position in the UK to support small businesses around the world, including the launch of our new financial services business.” Mike’s key responsibilities will be to support the growth of the global businesses, help with the development of the UK based subsidiaries and to develop further support for UK based franchisees using the knowledge and experience he has built up in the ten years he has been a franchisee. Mike joined TaxAssist Accountants in 2012, after purchasing a franchise resale covering Harpenden and St Albans – the first £1m+ resale for the network. Pleased with the results he was generating, he bought a second franchise resale covering the High Wycombe and Beaconsfield area in 2015. He and his team of 25 staff now serve nearly 2,000 small businesses, directors and individual clients from six shops and offices, with the combined businesses being one of the largest TaxAssist Accountants practices in the UK. As well as his UK interests, Mike is a Director and Investor in both TaxAssist Direct USA Inc and TaxAssist Financial Services. Daren Moore, Group Managing Director, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Mike to the Board. As a highly successful franchisee who has lived and breathed the brand for the last ten years, he will be invaluable to both the Board and his fellow franchisees, who will be able to benefit from his knowledge and understanding of running a practice. Mike also brings with him extensive international business experience which will be very beneficial as the brand expands globally.”