Taylor Wessing has combined its chief financial and operating officer roles into one position, resulting in one man replacing two women on its board.

The firm has hired former CBRE COO Martin Lewis as its new chief financial and operating officer. He replaces finance director Deborah Findlay and chief operating officer Rachel Reid who stepped down from those roles in recent weeks, according to a firm's spokesperson.

The duo both sat on the firm's board, which now comprises four women out of 16 total positions.

Findlay will stay at the firm in a consultative role as well as pursuing other opportunities, according to a firm spokesperson.

The firm has also released its gender pay gap figures. Its combined gender pay gap, including partners and employees, has improved slightly from last year – 44.2%, down from 49.4% the previous year.

Lewis began his role at Taylor Wessing this week. He was formerly COO at CBRE between 2009 and 2017. Before he joined the global real estate company, he was director of strategy and business management at Linklaters for more than eight years.

Findlay joined the firm in 2015 from Deloitte, where she was finance director for its tax practice. Reid joined the following year from King & Wood Mallesons, where she was COO of its European arm.

Taylor Wessing managing partner Shane Gleghorn said in a statement: "Martin brings valuable experience of senior financial, strategic and operational roles. As we continue to invest in our future growth and develop new opportunities, this is a timely and important board appointment that supports our long-term ambitions.

"The breadth of his experience in legal, real estate and financial services sectors is exceptionally rare. Martin is well placed to perform this new combined role and having somebody with his expertise is a huge benefit to the firm."