Clifton Gunderson: Announces restructure of executive team

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Jen Dirks

(414) 721-7646

Jennifer.Dirks@cliftoncpa.com 

New CBO, CPO, General Counsel and Others Named to Management Team

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (June 4, 2009) –Clifton Gunderson, ranked as one of the nation’s largest certified public accounting and consulting firms, today announced the restructure of its firmwide executive team. The changes are effective June 1, 2009.  

The firm announced the naming of a new Chief Business Officer (CBO), Chief Practice Officer (CPO) and General Counsel, Managing Partner of Valuation and Forensic Services and the Firmwide Director of Assurance.

Todd Craft has been named CBO. In his new role, Craft is a key member of the firm’s executive team and serves as an advisor on decisions that impact the strategic and operational direction of the firm. He provides leadership and direction to the firm’s internal technology, growth strategies and human resource services and initiatives. Craft was named Firmwide Director of Tax Services three years ago where he was responsible for maintaining and promoting the highest standards of excellence for the firm’s tax practice. He joined Clifton Gunderson in 1994 as a tax manager in the firm’s Peoria, Ill. office location. He was quickly promoted to senior tax manager and became partner in 2000.  

Anita Ford has been named Chief Practice Officer. In her new role as CPO, Ford is also a key member of the firm’s executive team and serves as an advisor on decisions that impact the strategic and operational direction of the firm. She leads the firm’s client-service strategic initiatives and provides direction to the firmwide directors of Assurance, Tax, EBS, VFS, CGFS and Consulting Services. Ford also provides direction to the firm’s in-house counsel. For the past four years, Ford has served as Firmwide Director of Assurance. She joined Clifton Gunderson in 1992 and quickly progressed to general partner in the firm’s Racine, Wis. office where she was primarily responsible for managing clients in manufacturing, wholesale and international freight forwarding, venture capital, employee benefit plans and not-for-profit.

John Shutkin has been named General Counsel for the firm. In his new role, Shutkin will be responsible for directing and overseeing a wide range of legal matters pertaining to the firm. Prior to joining Clifton Gunderson, Shutkin served as General Counsel at Shearman & Sterling LLP. He also spent 18 years with KPMG International and KPMG LLP in various positions including General Counsel of KPMG International and Deputy General Counsel of KPMG LLP.

Yassir Karam has been promoted to managing partner of our Valuation and Forensic Services (VFS) practice. In his new role, Karam leads the firm’s national VFS group in providing valuation, forensic accounting, transfer pricing, and financial modeling services to a variety of publicly-traded and privately-held companies. Karam has been an instrumental part of the firm’s VFS group for more than a decade when he joined the firm in 1998. He became partner in 2005.  

Cathy Schweigel has been named Firmwide Director of Assurance. In her new role, Schweigel will be responsible for maintaining and promoting the highest standards of excellence for the firm’s assurance services. Schweigel joined Clifton Gunderson as partner in November 2006. She has served as partner-in-charge of the Schaumburg, Ill. office providing assurance expertise for audit and review engagement of entities operating in manufacturing, distribution, service industries – including employee benefit plans and insurance.  

The firm also announced the approval of 16 new partners for admission to the firm. The 2009 new partners include:

Mark Evans (Albuquerque, New Mexico)

Scot Nelson (Albuquerque, New Mexico)

Michael Drexler (Phoenix, Arizona)

Phil McCollum (Phoenix, Arizona)

Mark Dalbey (Peoria, Illinois)

Mike Setchell (Dixon, Illinois)

Rob Nowak (Oak Brook, Illinois)

Craig Wierson (Des Moines, Iowa)

Art Arbuckle (Indianapolis, Indiana)

Matthew Birkelien (Baltimore, Maryland)

William Early (Baltimore, Maryland)

Jennifer Leary (Baltimore, Maryland)

Thomas Rey (Baltimore, Maryland)

Paul Niedermuller (Greenwood Village, Colorado)

Robert Blodgett (Greenwood Village, Colorado)

Kimberly Anderson (Madison, Wisconsin)  

“People are our most valued asset at Clifton Gunderson, and that’s especially true as we celebrate the admission of our newest partners,” said Kris McMasters, CEO. “Our new partners have grown our firm by providing value-added service to our clients every day. They embody all that Clifton Gunderson stands for, and are taking the firm into the next generation with their strategic planning skills and forward thinking. We congratulate all of our new partners for this achievement.”   

About Clifton Gunderson

Clifton Gunderson, ranked as one of the nation’s largest certified public accounting and consulting firms, provides a wide range of assurance, accounting, tax, and consulting services to clients in a variety of industries. Founded in 1960, Clifton Gunderson has a staff of more than 2,000 professionals serving clients from 45 offices across the country. The firm has been recognized as one of the country’s best places to work.