Lynne Born was named CEO of Perelson Weiner LLP, becoming the latest woman to lead an accounting firm, a rarity until recent years.
Perelson Weiner is a boutique CPA firm in New York, located near the United Nations building, and the CEO position is a new one for the firm.
The firm’s president, Ronald G. Weiner, announced Born’s hiring Thursday. “This is a new position at Perelson Weiner,” he said in a statement. “Lynne’s expertise in professional service firm management as well in financial and high-net-worth services will help us grow qualitatively. Importantly, her approach is consistent with our client service driven firm’s values as we are committed to making a positive difference for our clients.”
Born has expertise in professional service firm management in the financial services and high-net-worth arena. She specializes in succession planning, change management and design of leadership and development programs for career growth. She previously was a partner and chief operating officer of Seiler LLP, a regional accounting firm in Silicon Valley and San Francisco. Before joining Seiler, she worked at the law firms Howard Rice in San Francisco and Cravath Swaine & Moore in New York City. She was also a partner and co-founder of theOrigins, an arts retail website that worked with artists around the world. She has received 2014’s Woman of Influence Award, Silicon Valley and Women Who Make Their Mark Award.
As CEO, Born will focus on strategic planning for Perelson Weiner and developing new business in different niches and industries. She did not immediatately respond to a request for comment.
Born will be joining a select group of female heads of firms. In 2015, Deloitte named Cathy Engelbert as CEO, and later that year KPMG named Lynne Doughtie as chairman and CEO. Last October, Cherry Bekaert named Michelle Thompson as managing partner and CEO. Last December, Ernst & Young appointed Kelly Grier as U.S. chairman and managing partner-elect, as well as Americas area managing partner-elect, succeeding Steve Howe this coming July. Prior to them, Krista McMaster was one of the few heads of major firms, becoming CEO of Clifton Gunderson in 2009 before it merged with LarsonAllen in 2011, where she spent some time as co-CEO of CliftonLarsonAllen before departing in 2013.
