Plante Moran appoints Shelly Gower to director of professional standards and Greg Coursen to chief risk officer

Southfield, Mich. – Plante Moran has appointed Shelly Gower, CPA, as director of professional standards effective February 1.

In her new position, Gower will lead the firm’s assurance practice and will oversee its 24-person Professional Standards Team.

“We’re really excited that Shelly will be taking on this position,” said firm Managing Partner Gordon Krater. “In addition to her technical competency and focus on developing her team, Shelly brings very strong leadership and organizational skills which will allow her to excel in this critical role.”

Gower is just the third person in the firm’s history to hold the director of professional standards title. She replaces Gregory Coursen, CPA, who assumed the role in 1994.

As Coursen steps down as director of professional standards, Plante Moran has appointed him chief risk officer. In this newly created position, Coursen will lead risk management practices for the entire firm. 

“Greg has made invaluable contributions in building our firm's assurance technical culture and the deep bench of technical resources we have to lead us into the future,” Krater said. “We’re pleased he’s taking on this new role and continuing to extend these operating practices more formally throughout all practice areas of the firm.”

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 23 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.

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