Grant Thornton LLP has named Jim Peko as the national managing principal of its Advisory Services practice. In this role, he will oversee the strategic direction and operations of the firm’s advisory-services offerings.

Peko succeeds Srikant Sastry, who led Advisory Services for the past five years of his 15-year tenure with the firm. The firm credits Sastry with transforming its Advisory practice into a full-service consultancy – one that has nearly doubled in size and revenue over the past five years.

Peko has nearly 30 years of experience providing clients with financial advisory services focused on improving performance and building long-term sustainable value. He most recently served as national managing principal of the firm’s Transaction Services practice, where he guided a wide range of clients through a variety of complex transactions.

Under his leadership, Transaction Services revenue grew at a 17% compound annual growth rate over the last three years, to become a more than $130M practice. In 2018, Consulting magazine named Peko a “Top 25 Consultant.”

“Jim has built a high-growth practice focused on creating value in a volatile market, and he has done so through innovative leadership and a people-first management style,” says Brad Preber, interim CEO of Grant Thornton. “He takes over a well-positioned Advisory practice, and we know Jim will help our clients continue to grow and thrive.”

In addition to building and expanding Transaction Services as a key offering for Grant Thornton, Peko has served as a member of the firm’s Partnership Board for the past 20 months. He is also a member of the board of directors for the American Bankruptcy Institute, and is a chartered financial analyst, a certified insolvency and restructuring advisor and certified in distressed business valuation.

Peko received a master’s of business administration degree in finance from Fordham University and a bachelor’s degree in economics and accounting from St. Peter’s College.