Grant Thornton named new leaders within its Industry practice and across the country.

The firm has appointed Andrea Schulz to lead its Technology industry practice and Russell Norris to lead its Transportation Industry practice. It has also named new market managing partners and principals for seven of its almost 50 national market areas:

• Josh Smith — Austin, Texas
• Scott DeVenny — Cincinnati
• Tracy Hennesy — Houston
• Greg Payne — Kansas City
• Dave Maturo — Philadelphia
• Jamie Sybert — Pittsburgh
• Scott Mager — South Florida (which includes offices in Miami and Fort Lauderdale)

 All new appointments are effective immediately.

“With a focus on quality and personalized service, our new leaders will bring our firm’s full strength to our clients,” said Seth Siegel, CEO of Grant Thornton. “Their understanding of individual market needs and industry-specific trends will ensure we continue our strong growth trajectory, and ongoing collaboration across industries, geographies and service lines. It’s all about providing our clients with high-quality, holistic solutions so they can grow their businesses, thrive in a changing risk landscape and take advantage of ever-evolving technology.”
 
New Industry leaders focused on Technology and Transportation

To help ensure the firm provides clients with differentiated industry solutions, Grant Thornton has selected Andrea Schulz as its national managing partner for Technology. During her 18-year audit career, Schulz has helped startups and technology companies navigate transactions, initial public offerings and the nuances of growth and transformation. Schulz, who has been an Audit partner with Grant Thornton since 2021, assumes her new role from Steven Perkins, who recently retired from the firm.  

Similarly, Grant Thornton has tapped Russell Norris to assume the role of national managing partner for Transportation. Norris, who has been a Tax partner at the firm since 2005, possesses 18 years of professional services experience in the transportation, logistics, manufacturing and distribution sectors. He assumes this role from Randolph Smith, who recently retired from the firm.

Lisa Walkush, Grant Thornton’s national managing principal of Industry, said Schulz and Norris will provide strategic leadership and consistent value at a time of rapid change for both of these industries.

“Both the technology and transportation industries have never been more complex, and clients need a trusted advisor that knows the intricacies of their business,” Walkush said. “Andrea and Russell will further strengthen our talented Technology and Transportation teams, and their vast experience will be instrumental to our clients’ continued success.”
 
New market leaders to deliver service offerings across the U.S.

Grant Thornton’s seven new market managing partners and principals who will support colleagues and clients across the country are:

• Josh Smith, an Audit partner who has been with the firm for nearly 19 years, has been named market managing partner in Austin, Texas. He assumes this role from Doreen Griffith, who was leading the Austin market on an interim basis. Griffith will continue in her role as a member of the firm’s Partnership Board and its market managing partner in Dallas. 
• Scott DeVenny, an Audit partner who has been with the firm for nearly 18 years, has been named market managing partner in Cincinnati. He succeeds Matt Jessup, who recently retired from the firm.
• Tracy Hennesy, a longtime partner in the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions Tax Services practice, has been named market managing partner in Houston. Hennesy succeeds Georgene Britz, who recently retired from the firm.
• Greg Payne, an Audit partner who has been with the firm for more than 26 years, has been named market managing partner in Kansas City. Over the next year, Payne will work alongside Brett Lewis, who is retiring July 31, 2024.
• Dave Maturo, a principal who has served the firm in multiple leadership roles since 2011, has been named market managing principal in Philadelphia. Maturo succeeds Sean Denham, who has taken on a new role as Grant Thornton’s Atlantic Coast regional managing partner.
• Jamie Sybert, a principal who has served as the firm’s Risk Services leader in Pittsburgh, has been named market managing principal in that same market. She will continue leading the firm’s Government Contractor Advisory Services practice. Sybert succeeds Enzo Santilli, who was recently named the firm’s chief transformation officer.
• Scott Mager, an Audit partner who has been with the firm for almost 30 years, has been named market managing partner in South Florida. Mager is also a member of the firm’s National Private Equity practice. He succeeds Mark Margulies, who recently assumed a new role as Grant Thornton’s Southeast regional managing partner.

Nichole Jordan, the firm’s national managing partner of Geography and its regional managing partner in Texoma, says she is looking forward to growing the firm alongside each of the seven new market leaders. “Our new market managing partners and principals have a proven ability to understand clients’ needs and empower their colleagues,” Jordan says. “Their impressive resumes may vary, but the one constant is personalization: They are passionate about people, and they align the right colleagues with the right teams to ensure clients receive the customized, high-quality service they deserve.”