DEVON, PA -- December, 16 2008 -- Steve M. Samek has been named to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of SMART Business Advisory and Consulting, an independent leading provider of financial advisory and business consulting services. He assumes his new role immediately.
Samek will divide his time equally between SMART’s Devon, PA headquarters and the firm’s Chicago and New York City offices.
He joins SMART with more than 30 years experience in the consulting and accounting industry. His most recent position was CEO of UHY Advisors, an accounting and business consulting firm ranked 12th in the nation. Prior to UHY, he held the position of CEO/Principal of Fulcrum Capital, a strategic and financial consulting and investment firm.
The bulk of Samek’s experience has been with Arthur Andersen, the global professional services organization where he held the position of Managing Partner (CEO) in each of the firm’s three key business segments and served on that firm’s Board of Partners.
In joining SMART Business Advisory and Consulting, Samek will be responsible for the firm’s growth and development of SMART’s 13 offices across the U.S. and in Europe.
“We are delighted to welcome Steve to the helm of SMART Business Advisory and Consulting,” said Christopher Gaffney, Managing Partner of Great Hill Partners (www.greathillpartners.com) which is the majority shareholder of SMART. “His experience in running large organizations on an international level combined with his successful track record of driving growth in similar organizations makes him uniquely qualified to lead SMART in its on-going expansion.”
“I am honored to join SMART, whose employees have built an enviable market position based on a strong service ethic combined with an impressive cadre of leaders from among the employees. We appreciate the support and trust of our clients and look forward to continuing our long standing relationships,” said Samek. “SMART has established itself as an important provider of business services to more than half of the Fortune 200, and at the same time, is a major player in the rapidly growing mid-market sector. This unique combination of scope, experience and expertise equips SMART with an outstanding client services capability and an incredible network upon which to deliver it.”
Samek’s industry prominence is reflected in the comments of Allan D. Koltin, CEO of PDI Global, Inc, the largest consulting firm to the accounting industry. “Steve is an incredible visionary and leader. I also believe he is a great unifier able to bring together diverse interests,” Koltin noted. “He has proven his enormous skills running Andersen and UHY and I believe SMART will benefit greatly from his efforts. There is no question the market place is yearning for a new national firm capable of helping navigate the current turbulent economic environment. SMART’s hiring of Steve comes at the perfect time to realize that potential.”
About SMART
SMART Business Advisory and Consulting, LLC (www.smartgrp.com) is a premier, full-service independent provider of financial advisory and business consulting services, serving clients throughout the US and globally. SMART offers innovative solutions to public and private companies in the areas of financial advisory and business consulting, technology, business process, accounting, compensation and benefits, and tax. Through an alternative practice structure, SMART and Associates, LLP offers a full range of attest services.
