BDO Alliance USA Announces Leadership Changes

BDO USA LLP's CEO, Wayne Berson recently announced that the future leadership of the BDO Alliance USA is transitioning from retiring partner and Alliance Executive Director Mike O’Hare to Alliance Team Partner Michael Horwitz. Michael will assume the title of Executive Director of the BDO Alliance USA on July 1, and will focus especially in the areas of Alliance program innovation, as well as Alliance Firm recruitment and retention. Michael will report directly to BDO USA’s COO, Steve Ferrara, with the transition of leadership effective upon Mike’s retirement at the end of June, 2015.

The new leadership structure adds the newly created position of Managing Director, Operations which will be filled by current Alliance National Director Martin “Marty” McLaughlin. The new leadership structure will see Michael and Marty working together as a cooperative management team. Marty’s efforts will be concentrated in managing the operations, marketing, IT and T&D for the Program.

The BDO Alliance USA is the largest alliance program in the profession. Under Mike O’Hare’s leadership, the Alliance Program expanded from the original 40 CPA firm members in 1993 to over 175 CPA Firms and more than 75 BRN firms today. “Mike’s dedication to BDO USA and the Alliance Program has been outstanding and we are deeply grateful for his efforts,” Wayne says. “This change in leadership is pivotal for BDO USA and the BDO Alliance USA. Michael’s and Marty’s knowledge and skills will ensure going forward that this valuable program continues to be the
premier alliance program in our profession.”

According to Michael, “I am fortunate to inherit stewardship of the BDO Alliance USA, a clear differentiator for BDO. It is a pleasure to continue working closely with Marty to enhance the Alliance offering. Mike O’Hare has built a wonderfully collaborative team dedicated to helping our 250 Alliance members thrive while contributing significant revenues and resources to BDO. These are big shoes to fill, and I am proud to lead the effort to innovate and grow the BDO Alliance USA.”

“This is indeed an exciting time for BDO USA and our Alliance Program,” Marty says. “Michael and I and the entire Alliance Leadership Team are looking forward to working closely with BDO and our Alliance Members to ensure our Alliance Members maximize the benefits of their membership
in BDO Alliance USA,” he adds.

I know that Mike O’Hare is looking forward to seeing all of his friends at the Annual Alliance Meeting in May in Las Vegas.

About Michael Horwitz:

Michael joined BDO as a Partner in 2002; previously, he was a Tax Partner at Ernst & Young. At E&Y, he created an Alliance Program called the EY CPA Connection in the late 1990’s, primarily to connect E&Y with larger CPA firms around the country. For the past 15 years, Michael has
focused on helping independent CPA firms (smaller than BDO) provide world class service to their clients in their local markets. “When national level resources are deployed in local communities, everybody wins.” Michael has led relationships with CPA Alliance firms and recruited new
Alliance Firms on the East Coast and Tax Specialty firms nationally. He has broadened the Alliance program offering in the Tax, HR, Marketing and Benchmarking areas, and as well as the breadth of its reach by cultivating relationships with over 160 new Alliance firms.

About Marty McLaughlin:

Marty joined BDO’s Los Angeles Office in 1989 as the West Coast Regional Marketing Director. In 1993 he transferred to BDO’s National Office (New York City at the time) and assumed the role of Partner In Charge of National Marketing. While in New York, Marty worked closely with the head of the then fledgling Alliance Program to develop some of the very first marketing/promotional materials for the program. When the National and Executive Offices were relocated to Chicago, Marty also relocated to work in the Executive Office, handling communications, special projects
and producing the annual Partner Meetings. He joined the Alliance Leadership Team full time in 2004 and has been responsible for relationship management of West Coast alliance firms, recruitment of new members west of the Mississippi, program marketing and administration, and
the production of the Annual Alliance Conference.

The Association for Accounting Administration (AAA) is a proud participant in the BDO Alliance USA Business Resource Network.