Grant Thornton names new Partnership Board members

Elliot Findlay, Ron Messenger and Chris Morgan elected to board

CHICAGO — Grant Thornton LLP’s partners and principals have elected three new members to the firm’s Partnership Board, which helps govern the partnership and determine the firm’s direction. The new members include:

• Elliot Findlay, national managing principal, Mergers & Acquisitions practice in Advisory Services ― based in Chicago
• Ron Messenger, partner and Mid-Atlantic Audit Geography leader ― based in Charlotte, North Carolina
• Chris Morgan, partner ― based in Bellevue, Washington

“Grant Thornton is building an unparalleled reputation in the marketplace as the firm of choice for clients, prospects and talent,” said Seth Siegel, CEO at Grant Thornton. “We are fortunate to have such a talented group of new board members who are committed to steering our firm’s thoughtful and effective governance as part of this effort.”

Continuing Partnership Board members who are currently serving terms include: 

• Muhammad Bhayat, partner ― based in Iselin, New Jersey
• Mike Desmond, national client experience leader for Audit and office managing partner for Charlotte, North Carolina ― where he is based
• Doreen Griffith, office managing partner for Dallas ― where she is based
• Cathy Hyodo, office managing partner for Los Angeles ― where she is based
• Kelli Knoble, partner and national Tax business line leader ― based in Charlotte, North Carolina
• Jim Wittmer, partner and national market growth leader for Tax ― based in Philadelphia

Finally, the Partnership Board has named current member, Jim Wittmer, as its chairman.

About the new board members

Elliot Findlay leads Grant Thornton’s Mergers & Acquisitions practice in Advisory Services and has more than 20 years of experience advising on domestic and international transactions. His expertise spans all aspects of the transaction lifecycle including growth and strategy initiatives across all industries. He is a trusted advisor to both public and private companies as they navigate a transaction, including mergers, acquisitions, recapitalizations, capital raises and divestitures. Findlay holds bachelor’s degrees in electronic engineering and marketing from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland and is a Chartered Accountant.

Ron Messenger is an Audit partner and also serves as the Mid-Atlantic Audit Geography leader. He oversees the Audit practice in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. His clients include major asset management and real estate investment companies, as well as organizations in many other industries. Prior to his current role, he held several other leadership and technical roles. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from The Ohio State University and is a certified public accountant (CPA) in North Carolina.

Chris Morgan has more than 25 years of experience providing audit services for both public and private clients, with expertise serving public telecommunications and technology companies. He has extensive experience in SEC-regulated areas, including initial public offerings, secondary offerings, SPACs and private placement of debt and equity securities. Many of his clients have wide-ranging international operations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Washington and is a CPA in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington.