CLA Global Appoints Paul English as CEO
Paul English has been named chief executive of CLA Global Ltd., a network of independent accounting and advisory firms. He succeeds co-CEOs Sancho Simmonds and Joseph Kask, who led the organization since its formation in 2022.
Under the prior co-CEO structure, CLA Global grew to 12 network and 12 alliance members worldwide. Board Chair Scott Engelbrecht positioned English's appointment as the next phase of that expansion, citing his strategic and business experience as the foundation for raising the network's global profile further.
Paul English's Background
English joins CLA Global from boutique consulting firm Source and brings more than two decades of global and marketing leadership experience in professional services, including:
- A significant tenure at Grant Thornton, where he served on the global leadership team and contributed to global strategy and brand development.
- Earlier work at RSM, focused on mid-market and government-sector consulting and marketing strategy.
English framed his opportunity at CLA Global as building a genuinely distinctive organization that delivers real value to member firms and the clients they serve.
About CLA Global
CLA Global was formed on July 1, 2022, through a collaboration between CliftonLarsonAllen LLP and Evelyn Partners. It ranks among the leading global accounting and advisory organizations by reported fee income.
Implications
For clients of CLA's member firms, the leadership transition signals continued investment in cross-border capability and network consistency. For competing networks and alliances, English's marketing and brand background suggests CLA Global will continue to compete hard on global positioning rather than purely on local firm presence.