Grant Thornton has appointed new leaders in two markets. Nathan Dreyfus, a principal in the firm’s Risk Advisory Services practice, has taken the helm of Grant Thornton’s Silicon Valley office. Dreyfus succeeds Amanda McCarty, who is now the firm’s West Region Audit & Assurance Practice leader. Meanwhile, Jeff Strassman, a partner in Grant Thornton’s Audit and Assurance practice, is the firm’s new leader in Boston. He succeeds Chris Martin, who has taken on a leadership role within the firm’s Tax practice.

The new leaders will drive Grant Thornton’s growth in their respective markets, working across the firm’s service lines and industry teams to provide high-quality, personalized services to each client. Both Dreyfus and Strassman have been with the firm nearly two decades — and they each boast a wealth of valuable industry knowledge.
 
A creative problem-solver for Silicon Valley

Dreyfus joined Grant Thornton in 2005 after working for many years as a professional musician and sound engineer. He has specialized in the technology industry, having spent almost 20 years serving hardware and software companies. He helps clients with contract and licensing compliance services, providing a distinctive experience so they can successfully navigate these complex processes. Further, Dreyfus recently served as the SOX/Internal Audit capability leader within Grant Thornton’s Risk Advisory practice.

“Nathan is a highly skilled problem-solver with a long track record of understanding clients and their industries on a deep level,” said Tony Perazzo, the managing principal of Grant Thornton’s West region. “I know his unique skills and far-reaching knowledge will help him build on the momentum Amanda has established in Silicon Valley, and I can’t wait to work alongside both of them in their new roles.”

Dreyfus echoed that sentiment: “We have a diverse and talented team in place in Silicon Valley, and our deep industry knowledge is exactly what clients need right now,” he said. “I’m looking forward to growing our footprint in the Bay Area and bringing our singular approach to even more clients.”

Dreyfus holds a bachelor’s degree in business with a focus on accounting and finance from San Francisco State University.
 
A longtime Boston leader takes on a new role

Jeff Strassman has been a member of Grant Thornton’s Audit and Assurance team in Boston since 2006. He was most recently the firm’s Manufacturing and Distribution industry leader in Boston, and he also has served many public and private clients — including private equity-backed enterprises — in industries such as life sciences, healthcare and services.

In addition to his industry knowledge, Strassman is well known for his experience in mergers and acquisitions, internal controls and operational improvement, as well as his leadership in many of the firm’s operations and people-focused initiatives.  

“Jeff is widely admired for his expansive knowledge, and on top of that, he’s the kind of personable, engaging leader that people love to work for,” said Carlos Ferreira, the managing principal of Grant Thornton’s Northeast region. “His commitment to Boston — and his familiarity with the city’s major industries — will be a boon to his teammates and our clients, many of whom already know him so well. I know he’ll build on the collaborative, high-performance culture Chris has fostered in Boston.”

Strassman earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Bentley University, and he is a certified public accountant in Massachusetts. For six years, he served on the board of directors for the Center for Teen Empowerment, a nonprofit supporting Boston’s inner-city youth.

“I’m deeply passionate about the Boston community, and I’m equally passionate about the work we’re doing for our clients at Grant Thornton,” he said. “We’re bringing the full strength of our firm to every organization we serve, and our industry knowledge makes us uniquely equipped to help clients thrive.”