APPLETON, Wisc.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Grant Thornton LLP named Jeff T. French, 49, as national managing partner of the firm’s Consumer and Industrial Products practice and leader of its Manufacturing practice effective May 1. He will succeed Wally Gruenes, who became the office managing partner of the firm’s Dallas practice on Jan. 1.
Most recently, French served as leader of the firm’s Wisconsin Audit Services. He has acted as the lead service partner for numerous clients, and has experience serving as the primary business adviser to chief executive officers and boards of directors. He has worked with a broad range of public and private clients, from startups to large corporations, focusing on audit and financial reporting, internal controls and related matters, acquisition strategies, due diligence, operations and productivity improvement reviews, public offerings and international statutory audits.
“Jeff’s deep knowledge and more than 25 years of experience, particularly in the manufacturing, distribution, service and technology industries, offer tremendous growth opportunities for our dynamic clients,” said Gruenes, Grant Thornton’s national managing partner for industry and client experience. “He will play a key role in the continued success of the firm’s largest industry practice.”
Prior to joining Grant Thornton, French was a partner at Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Arthur Andersen LLP. He is a certified public accountant in Wisconsin and Texas and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He is a board member for various organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club of Green Bay and the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.
French received a bachelor’s degree in business administration in accounting from Texas Christian University.
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