Grant Thornton US appoints Bradley Preber as interim CEO

14 June 2019 Consulting.us

Accounting and consulting firm Grant Thornton US has entered a leadership transition period. Current CEO Mike McGuire will transition to the role of CEO emeritus on August 1, while Bradley Preber will step in as interim CEO. The firm is currently looking for a longer term CEO replacement with the assistance of an executive search firm.

McGuire became Grant Thornton’s CEO in 2015, leading the firm to record revenues ($1.8 billion in 2018), while investing in a number of “innovative capabilities” during his tenure, according to a company statement.

McGuire joined the firm in 2002 from Arthur Andersen, and previously served as national managing partner – operations and managing partner of the firm’s Carolinas offices.

As CEO emeritus, McGuire will serve in a “brand ambassador” capacity, focusing on key client relationships.

In November 2018, the firm’s partnership board had unanimously extended McGuire’s term to July 2021.

“As fast as the marketplace is changing, I believe we now need to transition as quickly as possible to new leadership that can take us on the next leg of our journey to become the ‘firm of the future’ over the next five years or more,” McGuire said. “I will do everything in my power in the coming years to help the firm navigate this transition and continue to succeed.”

Incoming interim CEO Bradley Preber will step into the position on August 1. Preber is currently the chairman of the partnership board and national managing partner of business risk services, and will temporarily step aside from those roles as interim CEO.

Preber also joined Grant Thornton from Arthur Andersen, where he had been a partner. He has over 35 years of experience in litigation consulting, forensic accounting, and investigations, and previously served as Grant Thornton’s national managing partner of forensic and valuation services. He was named one of Consulting Magazine’s Top 25 Consultants in 2019.

“Mike McGuire has positioned the firm well for future success, and I am prepared to lead our firm forward as our board continues the succession process,” Preber commented.