41 Promotions Ahead of a Major Restructuring
Chicago-based Baker Tilly promoted 41 new principals effective June 1, ahead of a significant structural change driven by a private equity investment from Hellman & Friedman and Valeas Capital Partners. The deal, expected to close the same month, will split the firm into two separate legal entities.
The New Structure
The restructuring separates the firm's two core franchises for regulatory and independence reasons:
- Baker Tilly Advisory Group — business advisory, tax, and other non-attest services, with current CEO Jeff Ferro continuing to lead
- Baker Tilly US — focused on attest services, with Jere Shawver (previously managing partner of risk and assurance) taking on the CEO role
The split mirrors the pattern adopted by other large firms pursuing private equity capital while maintaining auditor independence requirements.
The New Principals
Promotions span assurance, tax, consulting, and specialty advisory practices across the firm's footprint:
Assurance:
- Daniel J. Angstadt (Pittston, PA) — Commercial
- Brandon N. DeCecco (Pittsburgh) — Real Estate and Construction
- Amanda M. Goar (Minneapolis) — Commercial Manufacturing and Distribution
- Georgina L. Harris (Los Angeles)
- Justin D. Hoagland (Madison, WI) — Public Sector
- Jade Hoang (Los Angeles)
- Blaine Jasper (Austin, TX) — Professional Practice
- Thomas Kenaya (San Diego)
- Charles A. Kronmiller (Philadelphia) — Financial Services
- Lhea K. Mulligan (Detroit)
- Christine Schneider (Boston)
- Stephen Sweeney (Philadelphia) — Manufacturing and Distribution
- Michael Wegner (Boston)
- Mike Wente (Chicago) — Manufacturing and Distribution
- Derek B. West (Lancaster, PA) — Commercial
Tax:
- Austin M. Bradley (Scottsdale, AZ)
- Thomas Cook (Woodland Hills, CA)
- Scott Dunnigan (Minneapolis) — Manufacturing and Distribution
- Momota Egawa (San Jose, CA)
- Kenneth Gilday (Woodland Hills, CA)
- Gary K. Jang (San Francisco) — Private Wealth
- Kevin Kao (Frisco, TX) — Specialty Tax
- Dasol Kwan (Washington, D.C.) — Real Estate and Construction
- Seth Milleson (Seattle) — Private Wealth
- Shelby T. Netz (Milwaukee) — Not-for-Profit
- Thomas P. Nickels (Minneapolis) — Private Wealth
- F. Charles Piazza (Frisco, TX) — Private Wealth
- Nicole R. Telander (Minneapolis) — Real Estate and Construction
- Brock R. Yates (Scottsdale, AZ) — Private Wealth
- Natalie M. Zuege (Milwaukee) — Manufacturing and Distribution
Consulting:
- J. Suzanne Bain (Frisco, TX) — CFO Advisory
- Amanda E. Fyffe (London, UK) — Forensic, Litigation and Valuation Services
- Caitlin M. Humrickhouse (Tampa, FL) — Public Sector Advisory
- Brenda I. Jacinto (Frisco, TX) — Client Accounting Services
- Anh Kawata (Frisco, TX) — Private Equity
- Kaitlin M. Konyn (Madison, WI) — Development and Community Advisory
- Christopher C. Lingner (Chicago) — Transactions and Financial Advisory
- Glen McElwee (Boston) — Valuation
- Corey M. Parker (Washington, D.C.) — Risk Advisory
- Nathaniel D. Pease (Boise, ID) — Digital Solutions
- Kevin Secrist (Chicago) — Real Estate Advisory
Implications
The promotions and the broader restructuring together reflect the continued integration of private equity capital into large accounting firms — and the structural accommodations required to reconcile that capital with auditor independence. The pattern is likely to continue across mid-tier and large firms over the coming years.