Executive summary

Jim Peko is the national managing principal of Grant Thornton’s Transaction Services practice, which includes diligence, corporate value consulting, strategic solutions and M&A tax. As the firm’s national Transaction Services leader, he guides a wide range of clients through mergers and acquisitions, integrations and separations, valuations, carve-outs, restructurings and other strategic transactions. He has more than 25 years of experience providing financial advisory, investment banking and capital markets services—and works with companies to create, protect and transform value through prudent advice and innovative solutions. Peko also specializes in assisting companies in transition, including those with financial and operational challenges.

In 2013, Peko was selected for the Turnarounds & Workouts' People to Watch – Business Professionals Making Their Mark” award. Most recently, Consulting magazine named Peko a “Top 25 Consultant” for 2018. This annual listing, which recognizes the 25 professionals who are making the greatest impact within the consulting industry, profiled Peko for his “Excellence in Leadership.”

Peko is a member of Grant Thornton’s Partnership Board and is on the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Board of Directors.

Professional qualifications and memberships

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor (CIRA)
Certification in Distressed Business Valuation (CDBV)
FINRA General Securities Registered Representative, Series 7
FINRA Investment Banking Representative, Series 79
FINRA General Securities Principal, Series 24
FINRA Uniform Securities Agent State Law exam, Series 63
Association of Insolvency & Restructuring Advisors
American Bankruptcy Institute
CFA Institute
Turnaround Management Association
Bankruptcy Strategist, Editorial Board

Presentations and publications

Author, “Key Consideration in Restructuring a Gaming Company,” American Bankruptcy Institute, Financial Advisors Committee Newsletter, January 2010.
Co-author, “Eyeing the Pile-up: Subprime Mortgage Industry,” American Bankruptcy Institute, Finance and Banking e-Newsletter, August 2007.
Co-author, “Have Recent Bankruptcy Code Amendments Materially Affected Case Strategy?” Daily Bankruptcy Review, April 12, 2006.
Co-author, “Maximizing Recoveries for Unsecured Creditors,” Daily Bankruptcy Review Small Cap, June 29, 2005.

Education

MBA, Finance, Fordham University
BS, Economics, Accounting, St. Peter’s College