Rob Lewis

Rob Lewis – IFT Fellow 

Rob has over 35 years' experience in corporate restructuring, including 18 years as a partner at PwC, from where he retired in March 2026. He has advised boards and organisations facing financial distress across sectors including retail, real estate, manufacturing, healthcare, infrastructure, and hospitality.  He is a Fellow of the ICAEW and of the Institute for Turnaround.

Rob works with boards, lenders, pension scheme trustees, and government in situations of stress and distress. His notable advisory mandates include leading the UK board advisory for Steinhoff (Poundland, Harveys and Bensons) through a liquidity crisis following discovery of a major fraud, advising the board of Laura Ashley plc through its restructuring, and acting for the RCF lenders to Clarks International, and McColls plc, negotiating a sale of the latter which preserved all stores, employees, and the pension scheme. He also advised NHS trusts and led a cost reduction programme for the Royal Air Force.

Rob also brings substantial operational experience. He was seconded into Steinhoff International to run the worldwide Restructuring Programme Office, playing a key role in facilitating the restructuring of €11bn of debt across the group. At PwC, he served on the board of the UK restructuring practice for eight years, three of which were as Chief Operating Officer, managing a £250m turnover, 700-staff business through a wide-ranging transformation. In the final 18 months of his PwC tenure, he led a substantial cost reduction and transformation programme across PwC UK    .

Rob was the partner sponsor for PwC's Turnaround Director network for many years, giving him a strong network of independent executives. He has also been an accredited Quality Partner, providing senior oversight and challenge on high-profile restructuring mandates including a formal Restructuring Plan for River Island involving a cross-class cram down.