Ari Cretu

Executive summary

As Managing Director and Regional Sales Leader, Ari works closely with firm leadership to ensure consistent and effective go-to-market strategy activation across the Texoma region. Ari’s responsibilities include client origination, revenue production, forging external partnerships, and ensuring world-class quality execution across all engagements and service offerings of Grant Thornton.

Ari has 15+ years of experience providing consulting and advisory services within start-ups, private equity-backed entities and publicly traded enterprises to address growth opportunities in finance, technology, people, and processes. He leverages his successful track record across multiple services offerings, industries, and geographical markets to bring the most appropriate solutions and resources to Grant Thornton’s clients.  Ari prides himself on building relationships with boards, CXOs, and capital providers to deliver value to the business. Prior to joining Grant Thornton, Ari was President and Managing Partner at Allen Austin, a national boutique management consulting firm.  Ari also held key market leadership roles at Tatum and Parker + Lynch Consulting as well as roles of increasing responsibility within public and corporate accounting. 

Professional qualifications and memberships

• Certified Public Accountant - Texas (Grant Thornton Advisors LLC is not a licensed CPA firm)
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• Association for Corporate Growth
• Houston Energy Finance Group

Community involvement

• Operation Patriot Packs
• The First Tee of Greater Houston

Education

• B.S., Accounting., Finance - Syracuse University - Martin J. Whitman School of Management 
• M.S., Accounting - Suffolk University - Sawyer Business School