On the move: Prager Metis names next CEO

January 9, 2026 1:48 PM

PCAOB appoints new acting general counsel and acting director of the PCAOB's Division of Enforcement and Investigations; RSM admits 48 to partner; and more news from across the profession.

ALABAMA

Jillian Orr

Warren Averett, Birmingham, promoted to members: Jillian Orr, audit, Tampa, Florida; Rick Blanton, audit, Montgomery, Alabama; Stephanie Campbell, transaction advisory services, Pensacola, Florida; and Justin Headley, risk advisory and assurance services, Birmingham, Alabama.

CALIFORNIA

Rebecca Wexelman-Moss

HCVT, Los Angeles, admitted to partner: Rebecca Wexelman-Moss, Philip Crocco and Perchui Manasarian in tax, West Los Angeles; Goran Jovicic in state and local tax, Irvine, California; and Inessa Sarkisyanin tax, Pasadena, California.

Andy Kimball, San Diego office managing partner at EY, was named to the SD500 by the San Diego Business Journal.

Mark Hooley, chief operating officer at CohnReznick, was named to the 2025 San Diego 500 list by the San Diego Business Journal.

FLORIDA

Saltmarsh, Tampa and Pensacola, named as partners: Jason Keith, who joined the firm in 2018 as part of the financial institution advisory group, and Jay Newsome, who joined in 2023 as a member of the audit and assurance practice.

GEORGIA

Dani Ashley was admitted to the partner group at Symphona, Savannah.

ILLINOIS

Photo courtesy of RSM US LLP

RSM, Chicago, announced its 2026 class of partners and principals, including 48 professionals who joined the partnership, on Jan. 1, 2026. The full list is available here.

INDIANA

Matt Bishop

Katz, Sapper & Miller, Indianapolis, promoted six to the partnership: Matt Bishop, audit and assurance services; Ryan Jimenez, real estate services; Shaun Johnston, Zach Kubly and Nathan Potter, business advisory; and Matt Svenstrup, transaction advisory services.

MASSACHUSETTS

Ryan Sturma was hired as a partner in the financial services practice at CohnReznick, Boston.

MINNESOTA

Hannah Hugen

Hannah Hugen, Scott Clinton and Joe Wallis were promoted to partner and Miranda Wendlandt was hired as a partner at Abdo, Edina.

MISSOURI

Meghin Cook

Meghin Cook was promoted to senior in the accounting outsourcing consulting department at KPM CPAs & Advisors, Springfield.

NEW JERSEY

Dominick Sarinelli assumed the role of managing partner at Nisivoccia, Mt. Arlington, succeeding Bud Jones, who has served in the role since 2020. In other firm news, Brian Ko, a member of the governmental entity group, and Vicki Kosuda, leader of the client accounting and advisory services practice, were admitted as partners.

Salvatore Lubrano-Lavadera, a partner at Rosenberg Rich Baker Berman and managing member of RRBB Advisors, Somerset, was named one of the Top 40 Under 40 by the Somerset County Business Partnership.

NEW YORK

Lori Roth

Prager Metis CPAs, New York, announced Lori Roth was named chief executive officer and Stuart Mayer chief operating officer. Roth previously served as global managing partner and executive committee member of Prager Metis and Mayer was northeast regional managing partner and executive committee member at the firm. (Read the full story.)

The Bonadio Group, Rochester, promoted five to partner; in the Capital Region: Brad Alfred in small business advisory and Jared Amyot in assurance; and in the Rochester region: Courtney Caryl, advisory and consulting, FoxPointe Solutions; Rochelle Moore, small business advisory; and Chelsey Wyant, assurance.

CohnReznick promoted 14 to partner, effective Feb 1, 2026. The firm promoted, in Boston: Tim Carney, tax, affordable housing, commercial real estate; in Baltimore: Keisha Chinn, tax, affordable housing; in New York City: Lexie Christie, tax, financial services, Courtney Klinga, assurance, real estate; in Chicago: Michael Fussman, advisory, restructuring and dispute resolution in Denver: Michele Herron, tax, affordable housing; in San Diego: Jim Lantis assurance, renewable energy; in Parsippany, New Jersey: Paul Morrisey, national assurance, and Ilias Tillyros, tax, commercial real estate; in Long Island/Los Angeles: Shideh Ovaysikia, assurance, consumer, hospitality, manufacturing; in Los Angeles: Jonathan Schwartz, transaction advisory; in Bethesda, Maryland: Taylor Sphon, tax, consumer, hospitality, manufacturing and commercial real estate, and Mia Thompson, assurance, commercial real estate. In other firm news, Sean Granat, tax partner, was listed in Billboard magazine's Top Business Managers list for 2025.

LMC, New York, promoted to partner: Nick Grgas, department lead of the audit and assurance department; Gary Sozzi, co-lead of the tax department; Jonathan Porcelli, co-lead of the tax department; and Ari Shamir, co-lead of the family office department.

OHIO

Beth Vice was appointed market leader for the Cincinnati market at Dean Dorton. Additionally, the firm announced the opening of two new offices in the Greater Cincinnati area, the first to open in early January in the Scripps Center in downtown Cincinnati, and a second to open in early spring in West Chester, Ohio.

PENNSYLVANIA

Brandon Bupp

eewing

Brandon Bupp was promoted to partner at Louis Plung & Co., Pittsburgh, becoming the firm's sixth partner.

TENNESSEE

David McMillan

PYA, Knoxville, announced president and CEO Martin Brown will be stepping down from ownership at the end of 2026,and the firm unanimously voted to name David McMillan, leader of the firm's health care consulting practice, as Brown's successor. McMillan became president Jan. 1, 2026, and will assume the additional title of CEO on Jan. 1, 2027. Brown will remain CEO through 2026, and assume the nonownership role of chief growth officer, accounting and advisory services, in 2027. (Read the full story.)

Brant Beard was selected chief information officer by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, Nashville, following the retirement of former NASBA CIO Cheryl Farrar.

TEXAS

Mike Barber, office managing partner, Texas, at CohnReznick, was recognized by D CEO magazine on its 2026 Dallas 500 list.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Matt Goldin was appointed acting general counsel for the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, effective Jan. 3, 2026, when Connor Raso will step down from the role. Additionally, the PCAOB named William Ryan acting director of the PCAOB's Division of Enforcement and Investigations. Ryan assumed the role following current PCAOB enforcement director Robert Rice's retirement on Dec. 31, 2025. (Read the full story)