Top 100 Firms EKSH and Plante Moran have finalized the merger they agreed on in June, and announced some personnel moves to strengthen the combination.
The two were already the largest independent firms in their respective regions of the country – Plante Moran primarily in the Great Lakes area, and EKSH in the Mountain Region – and the combined firm expects to be the 11th largest in the country, with over 3,000 professionals in 27 offices. Plante ranked No. 15 on Accounting Today’s Top 100 Firms list, with $521 million in 2017 revenue, while Denver-based EKSH ranked No. 41, with $106 million.
“We’ve spent the last three months preparing for this combination, and we’re already seeing early signs of success,” said Plante Moran managing partner Jim Proppe, in a statement. “In addition to better service to our clients and more opportunities for our staff, our combined expertise is creating new business opportunities – not only in Colorado, but across the country.”
Two prominent Plante Moran partners will relocate from Michigan to Denver to help integrate the two firms: the leader of Plante Moran’s wealth management practice, Bob Palmer, and the leader of Plante Moran’s tax solutions group, Nate Buchalski.
The merger gives Plante Moran offices in Downtown Denver, the Denver Tech Center, Boulder, and Fort Collins. The combined firms announced the following office and regional leaders:
- EKSH’s lead tax partner, Joe Bertsch, has been named MP of Plante Moran’s Rocky Mountain region;
- EKSH’s Boulder office lead, Jim Cowgill, has been named MP of the Boulder office;
- EKSH’s Fort Collins office lead, Chris Otto, will serve as MP of Plante Moran’s Fort Collins office; and,
- EKSH’s wealth advisory services lead, Jeff Watkins, has been named Plante Moran’s Rocky Mountain regional tax director.
“EKSH leaders and their teams have a proven track record providing their clients exceptional service and expertise, and we’re excited to see our two teams coming together to share their combined experience and insights,” Proppe added.
Plante Moran’s headquarters in Southfield, Michigan
For more, see “Plante Moran to merge in Denver’s EKSH.”