Indirect Tax Firm, Ryan, announces reorganized leadership team and practice tax leaders

Ryan, a leading global tax services firm with the largest indirect tax practice in North America, today announced a reorganization of its leadership team to support continued growth and international expansion. In the 2011 Accounting Today Top 100 Tax and Accounting Firms ranking, Ryan was the best performing corporate tax services firm based on year-over-year revenue growth. In 2012, the Firm is forecasting even greater revenue performance, additional services, and aggressive international expansion beyond North America and Europe. This reorganization will support a quantum leap in market share, while maintaining world-class client service and strong EBITDA performance.

Ryan’s leadership team will be organized into integrated global, national, and practice unit executive teams reporting to the Office of the Chairman and CEO. The global leadership team will drive revenue growth and additional market share through international expansion, innovative new business lines and practices, strategic client advisory services, and new business development. The global executive team appointments are as follows:

Brendan F. Moore, who will serve as Executive Vice President and Vice Chairman of Global Corporate Development, will lead Ryan’s international expansion into those countries where the Firm’s global clients operate. Mr. Moore joined Ryan in 2009 and is a veteran leader and visionary in the tax services industry. He was instrumental in the integration of Ryan’s European and North American operations, sharing best practices and incorporating additional services that improved results for Ryan clients across the globe.

Gerald L. (“Gerry”) Ridgely, Jr. will serve as Executive Vice President and Vice Chairman of Emerging Businesses and lead Ryan’s development of innovative new tax services that add client value, differentiate Ryan from the competition, and create additional paths to achieve revenue growth for the Firm. Mr. Ridgely joined Ryan in 1991 and has played a pivotal leadership role through the Firm’s 21-year history of growth.

Jon C. Sweet will serve as Executive Vice President and Vice Chairman of Strategy and Business Development and lead Ryan’s strategic vision for growth, client value, market differentiation, and revenue generation through sales and marketing. Mr. Sweet joined Ryan in 2006 and repositioned the Firm for impressive growth through the development of strategic services that improved client retention and penetration through the delivery of prospective tax performance solutions, improved efficiency, and greater profitability.

In addition, Delta Emerson will serve as Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff in the Office of the Chairman and CEO and will lead Ryan’s Corporate Excellence initiatives. Ms. Emerson joined Ryan in 2004 and previously served as Chief Human Resources Officer, where she developed the Firm’s Human Resources, Organizational Development, and Training infrastructure. She was the inaugural winner of the Chairman’s Award, the Firm’s highest honor given to the associate that best reflects Ryan core values while delivering outstanding results.

The national leadership team will be responsible for all aspects of service delivery operations. The national leadership team appointments are as follows:

Ginny Buckner Kissling, who will serve as President of U.S. Operations, will lead all aspects of Ryan’s tax service delivery operations within the United States. Ms. Kissling will oversee all 16 U.S. tax practices and related service offerings, as well as the Firm’s Quality Assurance practice. She will drive continuous improvement in the processes, quality, and intellectual capital associated with Ryan’s innovative approach and delivery of industry-leading tax services. Ms. Kissling began her career with Ryan in 1992 as the Firm’s first intern and seventh employee hired. Her outstanding technical expertise and commitment to superior client service resulted in her promotion to Principal in November 2002, becoming the Firm’s first female to hold this esteemed title. Today, Ms. Kissling is the third most tenured executive and previously served as the Transaction Tax Co-Practice Leader, managing more than 360 professionals in the Firm’s largest tax practice.

Garry Round will serve as President of Canadian Operations and continue to lead Ryan’s exceptional growth and outstanding financial performance in Canada. Mr. Round joined Ryan in 2006 as part of the Firm’s first international expansion through the acquisition of the company’s Canadian operations, where he served as Chief Operations Officer. Since then, Mr. Round has led the explosive growth of Ryan’s Canadian tax practice, more than doubling Canadian revenues, and adding more than 12 new tax practices that provide Canadian clients a single solution to all corporate taxes.

The practice leadership team will be responsible for driving the highest level of client value and results for each individual practice area. Ryan executives appointed as Practice Leaders include the following:

Noel E. Hall, Jr., Practice Leader – Abandoned and Unclaimed Property
Mark W. Eidman, Practice Leader – Controversies and Appeals
Helen Lemmon, Practice Leader – Credits and Incentives
Jim Kranjc, Interim Practice Leader – Employment Tax
Peter McLaughlin, Practice Leader – Fraud and Forensic Recovery
Todd E. Behrend, Interim Practice Leader – International Income Tax
Suzanne den Breems, Practice Leader – Netherlands Operations
Lester C. Rhodes, Practice Leader – Property Tax
Susan Traylor Bittick, Practice Leader – Public Affairs
William Samuels, Practice Leader – Severance Tax
Robert A. Sheehan, Practice Leader – State Income and Franchise Tax
Dena Oberst Hall, Practice Leader – Tax Compliance Services
Tony Chavez, Practice Leader – Tax Technology
Damon Chronis, Practice Leader – Transaction Tax
Jillian McCullagh, Practice Leader – United Kingdom Operations

“In just twenty years, Ryan has become the largest indirect tax practice in North America and the seventh largest corporate tax services firm in the United States,” said G. Brint Ryan, Chairman and CEO of Ryan. “This year will launch an exponential increase in our growth rate, and this reorganization will ensure our clients receive even higher levels of value and results as we ascend to the dominant market leadership position in tax services.”