Crowe Group Names New CEO

Allen will succeed Mark L. Hildebrand, who is completing his second and final term as CEO and has been based in Indianapolis. Allen will be based out of the company's office in Illinois.

Source: Inside INdiana Business

Press Release

INDIANAPOLIS/OAK BROOK, ILL. Top 10 U.S. public accounting and consulting firm Crowe Group LLP has announced the appointment of a new chief executive officer. Effective April 1, 2007, Charles “Chuck” Allen, 53, will succeed Mark L. Hildebrand, who is completing his second and final term as CEO of the firm.

As CEO, Allen will focus on broadening the firm’s national footprint, service offerings and brand, while leveraging his experience of concentrating on client and stakeholder needs, relationships and opportunities. He brings more than 30 years of experience in serving clients in the areas of assurance, acquisition, divestiture, corporate finance and strategic business consulting.

Most recently, Allen has served as managing executive of Crowe Chizek’s Commercial Services Group for the past four years, and served on the firm’s management committee during that time. Allen will lead the firm from Crowe’s Oak Brook, Ill. office.

“I'm excited by the great opportunities and challenges that this new role presents, especially knowing how Crowe’s culture and values allow us to make real, positive differences in our clients’ businesses and in the lives and careers of our people,” said Allen. “Mark has done an incredible job leading Crowe in its significant achievements for our people, our clients, the profession and the firm. I look forward to continuing Crowe's success by benefiting from his experience as we move forward.”

Joining the firm as a campus recruit in Crowe’s South Bend, Ind. office in 1975, Allen was elected partner in 1985 while working in the firm’s Michigan City, Ind. office. Soon after, he was instrumental in opening Crowe’s Oak Brook office. Allen has contributed significantly to the firm in many ways, including as a member of Crowe’s Strategic Alliance Committee, including serving as chairman; a member of the board of managers of Crowe Capital Markets and Crowe Wealth Management (Crowe Group entities); a member of the Executive Committee of Horwath Castillo Miranday Compania, S.C., representing Crowe; the liaison partner for Crowe with Horwath International; and a member of Crowe’s Executive Committee for five years.

“We are very excited about Crowe’s future and feel strongly that Chuck is the right person to lead Crowe to even more success into the next decade,” said Charles McKenna, chair of Crowe’s Executive Committee. “Mark has done a tremendous job as CEO, bringing Crowe to the position the firm now enjoys. We believe Chuck will lead Crowe’s successful evolution, continuing our tradition of Building Value with Values®.”

Hildebrand will continue to serve as CEO until March 31, 2007. At that time, he will concentrate on his role as the chairman of the Horwath International board of directors, while assisting Allen in his transition to CEO. Allen will replace Hildebrand as Crowe’s representative on Horwath’s board.

Under Hildebrand’s leadership as CEO, the firm has experienced great success, including 190 percent revenue growth as well as many profession-based awards and rankings, such as the Public Accounting Report Top 10 and Inside Public Accounting’s Best of the Best firms, as well as more than 10 best places to work rankings.

“Mark’s leadership style has inspired dedication, trust and respect from those who work with him,” said McKenna.

Hildebrand and Allen will work closely together for the next few months to bring about a seamless transition as the firm continues to execute its strategic plans.

About Crowe Group

Crowe Group LLP is the holding company for a family of business entities engaged in public accounting, consulting and other integrated professional services including financial planning, professional staffing and international consulting and assurance services. Subsidiaries include well established firms such as public accounting and consulting firm Crowe Chizek and Company LLC, and newer specialized groups such as Crowe Wealth Management, LLC, which offers family office and investment advisory services; and Crowe Capital Markets, LLC, an emerging investment banking group.

About Crowe Chizek

Under its core purpose of “Building Value with Values®,” Crowe Chizek and Company LLC (www.crowechizek.com) provides innovative business solutions in the areas of assurance, benefit plan services, financial advisory, forensic services, performance services, risk consulting and tax consulting. Crowe Chizek, a Crowe Group LLP entity, was founded in 1942. One of the top 10 public accounting and consulting firms in the United States, Crowe also serves clients worldwide as a leading independent member of the Horwath International global professional services organization.

Source: Crowe Group