Plante Moran elects Jim Proppe as managing partner
Southfield, Mich — Plante Moran has announced that Jim Proppe was selected by his partners to become the firm’s next managing partner.
Proppe’s term as managing partner begins on July 1, 2017, as Gordon Krater, the firm’s current managing partner, concludes eight years as leader of one of the nation’s largest certified public accounting and business advisory firms.
“I’m honored and humbled to become Plante Moran’s next managing partner,” Proppe said. “I’ve learned a lot from Gordon’s leadership over the years. He inspires us to be a good stewards of the firm — to strive to leave it better than we found it. That is certainly his legacy, and I’m grateful to have the privilege to carry on this tradition of leadership that will further benefit our firm, clients and staff.”
Proppe joined Plante Moran in 1984 after graduating from the University of Michigan. He has served as a group managing partner for more than 12 years. In his current role, he leads client service, growth and people development for the firm’s industry-focused practice areas. Proppe has also served as group managing partner of services, where he was instrumental in leading the firm through the creation of several new service offerings and the development of its Shanghai, Monterey and Mumbai offices. Earlier in his career, Proppe served as managing partner of Plante Moran’s Ann Arbor office.
Proppe will lead Plante Moran with a strong focus on anticipating and satisfying client needs. He plans to help the firm expand its capabilities by increasing service offerings, investing in top talent and helping the firm to compete in a digital world where technology provides new opportunities for the firm and its clients –– all while maintaining Plante Moran’s rich culture and one-firm firm approach.
Krater will conclude two four-year terms as managing partner on June 30, 2017. “One of my first roles as managing partner was to begin identifying potential successors, and it was clear we had several qualified candidates,” he said. “But I knew early on that Jim was a natural leader. He has a great ability to continuously innovate and respond to the changing needs of clients and staff. He’s also deeply rooted in Plante Moran’s culture and shares our vision to be a caring, professional firm deeply committed to our clients' success.”
Though Krater became managing partner at the height of the economic downturn, he and the management team steered the firm through uncertainty onto a clear path of growth. A 2012 merger with Chicago firm Blackman Kallick vaulted Plante Moran to a leadership position as the sixth largest firm in Chicago and further solidified its standing as a leading regional firm in the Midwest.
Under Krater’s leadership, Plante Moran has maintained its presence on FORTUNE magazine’s list of the “100 Best Companies to Work For.” He’s also a strong proponent of diversity, helping to launch the firm’s Women in Leadership initiative, designed to groom and mentor female leaders and support their success at the firm.
Proppe is only the seventh managing partner in the firm’s 92-year history.
About Plante Moran
Plante Moran is among the nation's largest accounting, tax and consulting firms and provides a full line of services to organizations in the following industries: manufacturing and distribution, financial institutions, service, health care, private equity, public sector and real estate and construction. Plante Moran has a staff of more than 2,000 professionals in offices throughout Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois with international offices in Shanghai, China; Monterrey, Mexico; and Mumbai, India. Plante Moran has been recognized by a number of organizations, including FORTUNE magazine, as one of the country's best places to work. For more information, visit plantemoran.com.
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