Financial services and tech expert Kevin Pleiter joins Grant Thornton
Accounting and consulting firm Grant Thornton LLP has brought in Kevin Pleiter as a principal in its Financial Services Advisory practice. Pleiter, a long-time veteran of IBM, brings over 25 years of financial services experience to the role. He will be based out of the firm’s Stamford, CT and NYC offices.
In his new role as principal at Grant Thornton, Kevin Pleiter will be responsible for formulating and driving the firm’s innovation efforts in financial services. Pleiter has spent the bulk of his career advising global financial services firms across the areas of investment banking, asset and wealth management, and custody businesses. He has worked across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
Before joining Grant Thornton, Pleiter was most recently a VP and Senior Client Partner at IBM, where he held leadership positions in blockchain solutions and digital transformation. From 2011 to 2015, Pleiter was VP of Financial and Business Services at Dassault Systemes in Paris, where he led a business unit driving digital transformations at financial services, media, and business services companies.
Before that, Pleiter spent an additional 13 years at IBM, rising from the position of Partner, Global Business Services to the role of Director, Global Financial Services Industry Solutions. During that time he worked across London, Sydney, Boston, Tokyo, and New York, delivering technology-focused consulting support to financial services clients.
“Kevin has deep knowledge of the financial services industry and understands how technology can solve business challenges,” said Nigel Smith, national Financial Services Advisory leader for Grant Thornton. “As fintech continues to transform traditional financial services firms, Kevin’s lens will help us guide enterprises toward adopting technology at a manageable pace, taking a holistic, long-term approach that positions them to thrive.”
Prior to his time at IBM, Pleiter was a Senior Manager at fintech company Financial Models Corporation, a Fixed Income Fund Manager at Salomon Brothers, and an Equity Arbitage Trader at Deutsche Bank. He holds an MBA from the University of Connecticut, and bachelor’s degree in accounting and business law from Curtin University.
“Kevin excels at developing practical technology solutions that simplify business challenges – a posture that dovetails perfectly with how we think about innovation at Grant Thornton,” commented Kevin Baril, Grant Thornton’s national managing principal of Innovation.
A recognized thought leader in technology strategy in financial services, Pleiter is a sought after speaker at industry conferences. He is also a valued mentor and advisor to fintech startups, global financial services firms, and venture capital firms seeking insight on technology disruption in financial services.
In other Grant Thornton news, the consultancy recently acquired Philadelphia-based life sciences advisor TayganPoint Consulting Group. The transaction added about 70 consultants and five senior executives to Grant Thornton’s Advisory Services Atlantic Coast division.
