Professionals on the Move is a round-up of recent hiring, promotion, and other staffing announcements from around the accounting profession.
Wipfli announces Rebekah Gardner as new chief growth officer
Wipfli, a top 25 advisory and accounting firm, recently announced the appointment of Rebekah Gardner as the firm’s new chief growth officer. Gardner brings a wealth of experience in sales, leadership and strategic growth to her new role, having previously served as global chief sales officer at Ryan LLC, a tax firm with more than 5,900 associates.
Gardner’s career spans more than two decades, during which she has demonstrated exceptional proficiency in sales leadership, transformational team building and global team leadership. At Ryan LLC, Gardner led a sales organization of over 175 professionals across multiple continents. She successfully reorganized the global sales division to improve collaboration, accountability, and win rate. Gardner also integrated more than a dozen acquired entities into the sales organization.
Prior to her tenure at Ryan LLC, Gardner held significant leadership roles at Grant Thornton LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, where she managed key client relationships and led the rollout of innovative service offerings.
Gardner holds a BBA in business accounting from the University of Iowa and is a certified public accountant. She is also actively involved in various professional and community, organizations, including the Texas Women’s Foundation and the Business Council for the Arts.
Crowe welcomes and celebrates 23 new partners and principals
CHICAGO (April 1, 2025) – Crowe LLP, a public accounting, consulting and technology firm, has elected the following 23 new partners and principals to the partnership.
Audit & Assurance
- Dan O’Malley
- Ryan Bouray
- Derek Grimm
- Andrew Kunisky
- Kevin McNaney
Consulting
- Grant Ludema
- Len Netti
- Brian Davenport
- Tommie Davis
- Jason Reefer
- Matt Reeves
- Brian Simer
- Lisa Stinson
- Patrick Vernon
- Anthony Wadsworth
Tax
- Shelley Owens
- Jon Robirds
- Paul Combes
- Amy Cronen
- Sophia Shah
- Noreen Sherred
Enterprise
- Thao Griepp (Legal)
- Thomas Callaghan (AI Studio)
Gilroy Kernan & Gilroy, Inc. Joins Assurex Global
Assurex Global, the world’s largest privately held commercial insurance, risk management, and employee benefits brokerage group, recently announced the election of Utica, New York-based Gilroy Kernan & Gilroy, Inc., a strong multi-generational insurance and risk management firm, to its Partnership, effective March 17, 2025.
Founded in 1904, Gilroy Kernan & Gilroy has a long-standing reputation for delivering exceptional service, innovative solutions, and a commitment to its communities. It is a fourth-generation firm stemming from two hardworking, friendly competitors who merged in 1990 to create the successful GKG legacy that exists today.
Some of the firm’s specialties include print and graphic arts, manufacturing, M&A, auto dealers, breweries, non-profits, healthcare systems, and education.
Assurex Global’s rigorous selection process evaluates potential Partner Firms for their local market expertise, operational success, and alignment with its core commitment to fostering innovation across the insurance and risk management spectrum. The election of this industry-leading firm is part of Assurex Global’s ongoing expansion efforts in the U.S. and worldwide, marking the 16th new firm it has added since 2023.
With a dedicated team of 56 professionals across two locations, GKG has established itself as a dynamic leader in Upstate New York and beyond.
Tom Puthiyamadam joins Grant Thornton to lead Advisory Services practice
Grant Thornton, one of America’s largest brands of professionals providing end-to-end audit, assurance, tax and advisory services, recently announced that Tom Puthiyamadam has joined the firm as the national managing principal for Advisory Services.
In his role, Puthiyamadam is responsible for effectively executing the firm’s strategy within its Advisory service line and has direct oversight and responsibility for the service line’s innovation, growth agenda, operations, financial performance, and quality. He is also a member of the Executive Committee at Grant Thornton Advisors LLC.
Based in New York, Puthiyamadam previously held several leadership roles at PwC, most recently serving as the Transformation Consulting practice leader — specializing in digital-powered change. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Binghamton University.
Martin Shanahan to lead Grant Thornton’s Industry Practice
Grant Thornton, one of America and Ireland’s largest brands of professionals providing end-to-end audit, assurance, tax and advisory services, recently announced that Martin Shanahan will serve as the head of Industry. In this role, he will oversee all operations, strategy and growth initiatives for Grant Thornton Advisor LLC’s multinational industry practice.
Shanahan served as a partner and head of Industry for Grant Thornton in Ireland since 2023. With more than 25 years of international experience in both the public and private sectors, he is a skilled leader with extensive experience in strategic planning, policy development, marketing and investment decision-making.
Based in San Francisco and Dublin, Ireland, Shanahan has worked with international companies in multiple industries, advising them on their global location investment decisions. He has also been at the forefront of the development of enterprise, innovation and labor market policy in Ireland.
Shanahan is an adjunct professor at UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business in Dublin. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Trinity College, Dublin, and a higher diploma and master’s degree from the Technological University of Dublin. He also holds a master’s degree from Lancaster University in the UK.
In 2023, Shanahan received the Irish Academy of Management T.K. Whitaker Award for lifetime contribution to the Irish economy and society.
KPMG Announces Three Strategic Leadership Appointments to Provide Exceptional Client Service, Enhance Value Creation, and Deliver Quality to Asset Managers, Private Equity Firms and Their Portfolio Companies
KPMG LLP (KPMG), the U.S. audit, tax, and advisory firm, recently announced three new leaders for its U.S. Asset Management business.
Yesenia Scheker-Izquierdo Appointed U.S. Sector Leader for Asset Management
Yesenia Scheker-Izquierdo has been appointed as the firm’s U.S. Sector Leader for Asset Management and will also serve as the U.S. Asset Management and Private Equity Line of Business Leader, succeeding Greg Williams, who will retire in the Fall. In her expanded role, Scheker-Izquierdo will oversee the strategic direction and growth of KPMG’s U.S. Asset Management and Private Equity practice, which includes over 4,000 partners and professionals in more than 50 offices across the U.S.
Scheker-Izquierdo has 25 years of experience at KPMG, specializing in tax and advisory services for global asset managers. Scheker-Izquierdo currently serves as the Office Managing Partner for New York and as the Metro New York Hub Leader. She has led key asset management client accounts for the firm and held leadership roles including New York Real Estate Tax Practice Leader and Global and National Tax Industry Leader for KPMG’s Building, Construction, & Real Estate practice.
David Neuenhaus Appointed Tax Sector Leader for Asset Management
David Neuenhaus has been appointed Tax Sector Leader for Asset Management, succeeding Kevin Valek, who will retire from the firm in the Fall.
In his new role, Neuenhaus will work closely to advance the firm’s strategy and execution across the ever-evolving asset management sector. Neuenhaus will focus on enhancing our services to best serve the needs of our clients. Neuenhaus has deep industry knowledge and an extensive network of relationships that will help drive the strategic growth and connectivity of KPMG’s Tax practice within the Asset Management sector.
Neuenhaus brings more than 25 years of experience, currently serving as the NY Financial Services Business Unit Partner in Charge, as well as the leader of KPMG’s Global Institutional Investors Group. Neuenhaus has served as Deputy Lead for US Asset Management – Tax, for the past four years and has been an active and influential member of the KPMG global tax leadership team, working to align KPMG’s global activities and US strategies with evolving market demand.
Matt Giordano Appointed Audit Sector Leader and Audit Service Line Leader for Asset Management
Matt Giordano has been appointed Audit Sector and Service Line Leader for Asset Management succeeding Troy Butts, who will retire from the firm in the Fall.
In his role, Giordano will focus on accelerating growth in the Asset Management sector, enhancing quality and operational excellence as well as delivering a better experience to our clients and our people by standardizing, centralizing, and automating key areas of the audit. Giordano will work with our public and private clients to bring our data and technology-enabled approach to their audits.
Giordano currently serves as the national leader for KPMG’s Public Investment Management Practice and has more than 20 years of experience in the investment management industry providing professional services to investment advisers, registered mutual funds, business development companies, hedge funds, private equity, venture capital and real estate funds. Prior to KPMG, Giordano spent five years at the US Securities and Exchange Commission where he was the former Chief Accountant for the Division of Investment Management.
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Tags: career, professionals on the move
