Jason Drake Plante Moran

Jason Drake

Managing Partner-Elect CPA, CGMA, Offices International Practice Leader Auburn Hills

I have an interesting relationship with flying. I had never buckled myself into an airplane seat until college — when I went skydiving and jumped out of a plane. Now, I’ve flown over 2,000,000 miles.

Jason Drake
Managing Partner-Elect, CPA, CGMA, Offices International Practice Leader

Experience

On July 1, 2024, I will become Plante Moran’s managing partner, succeeding Jim Proppe, who’s held the role for the past seven years.

As managing partner, I’ll lead one of the nation’s largest public accounting and business advisory firms, helping to expand Plante Moran’s scope, reach, and capabilities by increasing our service offerings, investing in top talent, offering unparalleled client service, and leveraging our technical expertise to remain competitive in a changing, digital world. Currently, I’m the group managing partner of offices for Chicagoland, Ohio, and the firm’s international locations, helping to guide and connect our leadership throughout the firm.

My journey with Plante Moran began nearly 25 years ago with an internship. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to assist the firm and its people in many capacities, including audit, consulting, and building and expanding the firm’s international practice, which I led for six years. As international practice leader, I helped clients expand internationally to over 50 countries, helped foreign companies expand in the United States, and guided the firm as we opened offices in China, Mexico, India, and Japan.

I’m often asked why I’ve chosen to spend my career at Plante Moran, and the answer is simple: I love the culture. I’m where I am today because of the investments people made in me, and that’s why, throughout my career, I’ve done my best to invest in others. Seeing the Plante Moraners I’ve mentored become partners themselves is very rewarding.

In 2015, I was recognized by Crain’s Detroit Business as a “40 Under 40” recipient for helping the firm increase international business revenue by 400%. I’m a member of the German American Chamber of Commerce, the Asia Pacific Chamber of Commerce, the Detroit–China Business Association, the United States–Mexico Chamber of Commerce, the Association of Corporate Growth, the AICPA, and the Michigan Association of CPAs. I received a B.S. in accounting with honors from Michigan State University.

On a personal note, I travel quite a bit for work. Therefore, when I’m home, I like nothing more than hanging out with my three kids and my wife and eating a PB&J in the kitchen. I also enjoy golf and catching up on my kids’ activities.