Peter Bodin named as Grant Thornton's new Global CEO-elect

24 May 2017 Consultancy.uk

Grant Thornton International, one of the world’s largest professional service networks, has voted to elect Peter Bodin as its new world-wide CEO. He is charged with the execution of the firm’s Growing Together 2020 strategy, along with overall responsibility for the network’s collective staff of over 47,000. He begins in the role at the start of 2018.

Peter Bodin joined Grant Thornton Sweden in 1996, working initially as a Managing Partner in the firm’s Östersund Office, before stepping into the same in Göteborg, in 1998. In 2000 he became the CEO of Grant Thornton Sweden, a role he held for more than fifteen years – his tenure saw the firm grow its footprint in the country to revenues of £114 million and staff of 1,100. In 2003 he became a member of the firm’s board – holding a number of high level roles on the Strategy, Governance and Enterprise Risk committees since.

Bodin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Mittuniversitetet, having also completed numerous leadership programmes, including prestigious courses at Stockholm School of Economics Executive Education, the University of Oxford, the Said Business School, the Harvard Business School Executive Education, and the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

Peter Bodin - Grant Thornton

Grant Thornton International, which is headquartered in London and represents the firm’s global entity, named Bodin as its new CEO elect in mid-May, however he will not formally take office until January 1st 2018. Bodin captured unanimous support from the firm’s board, with the CEOs of all 14 member firms across its global operation and the votes of two independent directors backing his selection in a process overseen by external experts.

In his new role he will support the firm’s global operation, for an initial term of five years and work to develop and implement the firm’s key business goals, including its Growing Together 2020 strategy. The role sees him succeed Ed Nusbaum, who has been in the role for the past eight years, in the last of which the firm announced record global revenues of $4.8 billion.

Commenting on his new role, Peter Bodin said he was “honoured and excited” to have been given this opportunity to lead Grant Thornton into what he hopes is a new era of growth and expansion. He added, “I have always believed sustainable business success is built on having the right people, leadership and culture. My role will be to create an environment that allows Grant Thornton people and firms to collaborate, not just with each other but with clients and other stakeholders, to grow into the world’s best professional services organisation. That means building an innovative brand that stands out in the marketplace and having a resolute focus on digital transformation - - of our own business and for our clients around the world.”

Meanwhile, Scott Barnes, Chair of Grant Thornton International’s Board of Governors said of Bodin’s election, “As a former Chair of the Board, Peter has deep knowledge of the global organisation and will inspire confidence in our CEOs. He has a reputation for coaching and developing people at every level and I believe his passion for people and leadership and his open, transparent style will resonate with the next generation at Grant Thornton.”

The UK arm of Grant Thornton, one of the firm's larger member organsiations (revenues of £521 million), is led by Sacha Romanovitch, who succeeded Scott Barnes in the summer of 2015.