Jacqueline Akerblom to lead Grant Thornton’s Southern California Practice

LOS ANGELES, August 1, 2012 — Effective August 1, 2012, Jacqueline Akerblom, will lead Grant Thornton’s Southern California practice as the Office Managing Partner. She will oversee the growth and operations of the Los Angeles, Irvine and San Diego offices.

“We are excited to have Jacqueline return to Southern California to lead the practice,” said Joel Anik, Grant Thornton’s West Region Managing Partner. “Her vast international experience coupled with her career long focus on serving dynamic organizations will provide the leadership platform to grow our client base and ensure distinctive service at all levels.”

Akerblom, who joined Grant Thornton in 1989 as an audit manager in Los Angeles, most recently served as a Technology Audit Partner and International Business Center Director for firm’s San Francisco and San Jose offices. In addition, she was the National Managing Partner of Women’s Initiatives and Programs from 2007 to 2011, during which time the firm saw the number of women partners increase by 197 percent. She led the development of numerous programs and policies that have played a key role in Grant Thornton being named to Working Mother magazine’s 100 Best Companies for the last six years.

In 2010, Akerblom was elected to Grant Thornton’s Partnership Board, and is currently serving a three year term. She spent nearly four years in the firm’s London office serving as an advisor to U.S. and European companies on cross-border transactions.

Akerblom received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of San Diego.

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About Grant Thornton LLP
Grant Thornton LLP is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd. 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.

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