CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BDO USA, LLP, one of the nation's leading professional service firms, is proud to announce that firm CEO, Wayne Berson, has been elected Chairman of the Global Board of BDO International Limited, the fifth largest global network of independent public accounting firms. Mr. Berson's three-year term as Global Board Chair will commence on January 1, 2014. He succeeds Holger Otte, CEO of BDO Germany, who will complete his term at that time.
“I want to thank my fellow board members for the trust they have shown in me. This is a great honor, both for me and the U.S. firm, to be recognized by the international BDO network,” said Wayne Berson. "I want to thank Holger Otte for the leadership he has provided BDO International over the past three years. During the past year, we've had a great deal of success expanding BDO USA in both new and existing markets. I'm looking forward to working with BDO International CEO, Martin van Roekel, the Global Leadership Team and the rest of the Global Board on growing the BDO Network and building on our commitment to exceptional client service."
The Global Board of BDO International Limited is comprised of the CEOs of the network’s six largest member firms. The Global Board sets policies and priorities for the network and oversees the work of the Global Leadership Team, which is tasked with coordinating the activities of the network on a day-to-day basis. The Global Leadership Team is headed by the CEO and comprises the Global Heads of Audit & Accounting, Tax, People, Client Service, Network Development and the International Secretary.
"I want to congratulate Wayne Berson on his unanimous election to chairman by his fellow board members," said Martin van Roekel, CEO of BDO International. "This is recognition of the tremendous esteem the Global Board has for Wayne as an individual and of their confidence in his qualifications for this office. It is also an expression of the high regard the Board has for the U.S. member firm, a co-founder of our network and our largest member firm to this day."
Wayne Berson, 51, was elected CEO of BDO USA in 2012, at which time he assumed his position as a member of the Global Board of BDO International. Over the past year, Mr. Berson has overseen an aggressive expansion initiative that has seen BDO USA add more than 500 staff through the addition of professional resources in Alaska, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Prior to his election as CEO, he served as BDO USA’s Atlantic Regional Business Line Leader for Assurance Services since 2008 and as a member of the U.S. firm’s Board of Directors since 2009, serving as the board’s presiding member since 2010.
Active in charities and civic organizations, Wayne serves on the board of the Global Alliance for Vaccinations and Immunizations (formerly The Vaccine Fund), a multi-national, multi-billion dollar not-for-profit humanitarian organization (www.gavialliance.org) supported by Bill Gates, and as a Trustee of the Federal City Council, a DC based business group providing support and advice to the Mayor and City Council. A former president of the Greater Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants, Mr. Berson is also an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants and the American Society of Association Executives. A native of South Africa, Wayne is a graduate of the University of Cape Town.
About BDO USA
BDO is the brand name for BDO USA, LLP, a U.S. professional services firm providing assurance, tax, financial advisory and consulting services to a wide range of publicly traded and privately held companies. For more than 100 years, BDO has provided quality service through the active involvement of experienced and committed professionals. The firm serves clients through 50 offices and more than 400 independent alliance firm locations nationwide. As an independent Member Firm of BDO International Limited, BDO serves multi-national clients through a global network of 1,204 offices in 138 countries.
BDO USA, LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership, is the U.S. member of BDO International Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, and forms part of the international BDO network of independent member firms. BDO is the brand name for the BDO network and for each of the BDO Member Firms. For more information please visit: www.bdo.com.
