CHICAGO-- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Grant Thornton LLP announced today that Lou Grabowsky will be the new Chief Operating Officer for Grant Thornton LLP effective Jan. 1, 2010. Grant Thornton LLP is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the Global Six accounting organizations.

“Lou’s credentials are impeccable, and he will serve the firm with his characteristic commitment to excellence as Chief Operating Officer for Grant Thornton LLP,” says Stephen Chipman, Grant Thornton LLP CEO-elect. “His personal and professional strengths complement my own, and we have already been working on transition issues and other matters of high priority for the U.S. firm.”

As the firm’s Chief Operating Officer, Grabowsky will be responsible for all day-to-day operations for the U.S. firm, which employs 6,000 people and generates $1.2 billion in revenues. This will include geographic regions and other operational units, as well as Human Resources. The role will provide for a point of collaboration among the firm’s geographies and other operating units, service lines and industries, in order to facilitate greater agility and speed in decision-making.

“I am both humbled and excited to serve as Chief Operating Officer at this important time for the firm,” said Grabowsky. “The enormous challenges facing businesses – both globally and domestically – afford us the continuing opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to outstanding client service through empowered partners and employees. I believe that our unique operating model will enable our market share to continue to grow, which is vital to sustaining the Grant Thornton Experience for our employees and clients.”

Grabowsky most recently served as managing partner of the Grant Thornton Central Region, comprising offices in Denver, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Wichita. He led all operations within the region, including client service and professional matters, and also served on the firm’s Senior Leadership Team.

An Audit partner by specialty, Grabowsky has more than 30 years of experience. Prior to joining Grant Thornton in 2002, he enjoyed a lengthy career with Arthur Andersen, where he held positions including Partner-in-Charge of the Assurance Practice for the firm’s Dallas office (1991 – 1997); the Consumer Products Industry leader for the Southwest Region; head of the Business Process Outsourcing Practice for North America; and Managing Partner for the Great Lakes Region. During Grabowsky’s career with Andersen, he left the firm for a period of time to serve as Chief Financial Officer for a Fortune 1000 public company, where he was responsible for finance, treasury, credit, distribution, management information systems and internal audit.

Grabowsky is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science in accounting, and where he now serves on the Board of Visitors to the Smeal Business School. He is a certified public accountant in Texas and Ohio and is active in various civic and charitable organizations, including the Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce, Salesmanship Club of Dallas, Ursuline Academy and the Retina Foundation of the Southwest.

About Grant Thornton LLP

The people in the independent firms of Grant Thornton International Ltd provide personalized attention and the highest quality service to public and private clients in more than 100 countries. Grant Thornton LLP is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the six global audit, tax and advisory organizations. Grant Thornton International Ltd and its member firms are not a worldwide partnership, as each member firm is a separate and distinct legal entity.

In the U.S., visit Grant Thornton LLP at www.GrantThornton.com.