Tom Luken, who is currently the partner-in-charge of Sikich LLP’s Milwaukee office, will step into the position of chief operating officer come Jan. 1, 2014.
“Tom has done an outstanding job leading the Milwaukee office in both operations and culture, and I am confident this experience will help bring consistency into how we serve clients and develop our people,” Sikich’s CEO and managing partner Jim Sikich said in a statement. “Tom brings with him a contagious passion for success, a trait that will undoubtedly help us to exceed our long-term goals as a firm.”
“Being offered the position of COO at Sikich is an incredible honor, and I am very excited to work closely with both our management team and talented, dedicated workforce,” Luken said in a statement. “One of our overarching goals is to deliver innovative financial and business solutions through a collaborative approach that will exceed our clients’ expectations, and consistently accomplishing this will be of utmost importance as I step into this new role.”
Mark Sobczak, a partner in the Milwaukee office’s audit practice, will succeed Luken as partner-in-charge of the Milwaukee office. Luken and Sobczak will work together to ensure a seamless transition for both the office and its clients.
“The Milwaukee office and the City of Milwaukee have been my home for many years, and remaining connected to our associates, clients and community is very important to me,” said Luken. “Mark is known for going above and beyond, and I have complete faith in his drive to ensure continued, best-in-class service for clients, and a positive work environment for our Milwaukee personnel.”
As COO, Luken will lead the firm’s operations, focusing on client satisfaction, process improvement and growth, and he will continue to cultivate and enhance the firm’s unique culture among all Sikich offices. With more than 30 years in the professional services and public accounting industries, he brings deep expertise and leadership that will help the firm advance its key business strategies, deliver unparalleled customer experiences and provide a valuable employment experience for all personnel.
Luken joined Sikich when Kolb+Co., a Milwaukee-based public accounting and advisory firm, merged with Sikich in August 2013. (See: Sikich to Merge with Kolb+Co.) While at Kolb+Co., Luken held several leadership positions, including succeeding Bob Kolb as president in 2000. Prior to that role, Luken started the firm’s tax practice from scratch in 1984 and successfully grew it to a 25-person powerhouse in the Southeast Wisconsin market.
Luken earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Previously, he served on the board of directors of PrimeGlobal, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce’s Council of Small Business Executives, and the Westmoor Country Club.
