Grant Thornton names Steve Tennant EMEA Chief Executive
ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES — Steve Tennant has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) of the Grant Thornton Advisors multinational platform.
The move, effective immediately, is a direct response to the platform’s rapid growth since its January 2025 inception and establishes a new regional operating structure to guide its expanding network of firms, according to the company’s press release.
Grant Thornton provides core audit, tax, and advisory services with a new multinational platform that leverages 14,000 professionals and advanced technology to deliver an integrated client experience.
Grant Thornton recently ranked #34 in the OA500 2025, an objective index of the world’s top 500 outsourcing companies.
Strengthening global leadership strategy
Tennant brings a deep background in restructuring and insolvency to the role. He joined the firm in 2009, became Managing Partner of Grant Thornton Ireland in 2012, and is a recognized expert in corporate turnaround. His extensive experience advising businesses across multiple sectors will guide the platform’s expansion.
The platform has expanded through partnerships with several professional services businesses in the Americas and EMEA, with the most recent entries in France, Spain, and Belgium. Such an aggressive growth strategy required a more formalized structure, and, as a result, the formation of different Americas and EMEA regions was necessary to simplify leadership and control.
The new structure is also centrally located to ensure uniform service delivery across borders. Jim Peko, the CEO of the Grant Thornton Advisors multinational platform, will also work in a dual capacity as the CEO of the Americas, with Tennant as the head of EMEA.
“We’re not only expanding our footprint but also deepening our commitment to a culture that empowers our people and elevates the way we support our clients,” Peko noted.
New Mountain Capital, a growth firm managing an asset base of about $55 billion, supports the reorganization, as it is an investor group that promises to provide the platform for further expansion.
Boosting cross-border collaboration and growth
The nature of the global market and the need to offer seamless support are driving forces behind the leadership change and structural overhaul.
The appointment of Tennant, who continues to serve as the Managing Partner of Grant Thornton Ireland, aims to enhance these cross-border capabilities.
He will be required to grow the business, increase cooperation within the EMEA region, build innovative capacity, and provide a differentiated client experience.
According to Tennant, the professional services world is evolving, as seen in the platform’s skyrocketing growth. He notes, “I’m looking forward to leading our EMEA firms to further enhance collaboration across borders and build innovative capabilities and opportunities that benefit our people and deliver quality and excellence to our clients, wherever they are located,” highlighting his commitment to solidifying the company’s service to the people.
