Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting, the world’s largest provider of tax, accounting and audit information, software and services to professionals in the North America, Europe and Asia Pacific regions, has announced that Russell Evans has been appointed as President of Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting, Asia Pacific, effective August 30, 2010. Evans will report to Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting CEO Kevin Robert.
Existing and emerging markets in Asia Pacific show great growth potential for the expansion of tax, accounting and legal solutions for Wolters Kluwer. Evans brings a wide range of specialized experience and leadership that will help drive even greater results in each of these areas, where Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting goes to market under the CCH brand.
Before joining Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting, Evans was General Manager for Veda Advantage, where he redesigned the go-to-market customer alignment for Sales, Marketing and Product Development, with a focus on strategic planning and business segments. Previously, he was Managing Director for Hyperion Solutions Asia Pty Ltd, where he tripled top-line growth for Australia and New Zealand by focusing on business expansion and delivering increased market share and profitability. Evans’ experience also includes sales and marketing roles with Xerox Corporation, Vodafone and IBM, where he focused on driving growth in key market segments.
“I am very pleased that Russell is joining Wolters Kluwer and I am confident that with his impressive record of driving growth in specialized markets, he’s well positioned to lead our business in the Asia Pacific region,” said Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting CEO Kevin Robert. “We have great and diverse opportunities in Asia Pacific, and Russell will further advance Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting’s global leadership by creating new opportunities in those regions by more deeply penetrating market segments and capitalizing on Asia Pacific’s investments in iSolutions, Corporate Tax Solutions and ProSystem fx, as well as stimulating innovative solutions for future growth.”
Evans replaces former region President Dave Lampert, who is now Vice President of Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting’s North America / Asia Pacific Segment. Evans will be based in the Tax & Accounting office in Sydney. Evans holds an MBA from the University of New England, NSW, and a Bachelor Business (Marketing) from Charles Sturt University. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
About Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting
Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting, a division of Wolters Kluwer, is the preferred provider of premier information, research, and software tools in the global tax and accounting arena. Tax, accounting, and audit professionals who serve as trusted advisors to clients and businesses worldwide rely on authoritative content and integrated workflow solutions from the global leader Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting. Among its market-leading solutions are CCH®, ProSystem fx® Suite, CorpSystem®, CCH IntelliConnect®; TaxWise® and ATX™; CANTAX®; Taxprep®; Tax Integrator and Addison. Its headquarters are in Riverwoods, Illinois.
James (Jamie) Hammack has joined LarsonAllen’s tax practice as a partner with the Charlotte office, effective August 16. Hammack has more than 14 years of experience as a CPA in public accounting and was most recently a tax director with PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Private Company Services practice.
“LarsonAllen is a firm that does more than deliver the expected tax services,” says Hammack. “People at this firm understand the deeper business and industry issues that impact privately-held companies, and can advise on those levels. It’s a value-add that I am excited to be a part of.”
As a tax director with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Hammack served privately held companies in industries such as financial services, manufacturing and distribution, construction and real estate, and sports entertainment. Jamie is a great addition to our firm” says John Berens, partner-in-charge of LarsonAllen’s Charlotte tax practice. “We were looking for a leader who could mentor staff, serve clients, and create opportunities by building a network in the community. It’s a big role, and Jamie fits it.”
He has extensive tax consulting experience including cost segregation, tax method studies, IRS defense, and general tax planning. As part of his tenure with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Hammack spent two years in Washington DC with the firm’s national tax services group. He earned his bachelor of science degree in accounting and a master’s in taxation from Appalachian State University.
LarsonAllen LLP (LarsonAllen) is a professional service firm that provides assurance, accounting, tax, consulting, and advisory services to organizations and individuals managing business ventures and finance. Founded in 1953, LarsonAllen’s certified public accountants, consultants, and advisors are dedicated to providing quality results to clients. LarsonAllen has 1,500 people and $225 million in annual revenues. Offices are located in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington DC, and Wisconsin. LarsonAllen is an independent member of Nexia International, a top 10 worldwide network of independent accounting and consulting firms. Founded in 1971, Nexia provides a global network of independent auditors, business advisors, and consultants.
Bunge Limited today announced that Jacqualyn A. Fouse, Chief Financial Officer, will be leaving the company effective September 24, 2010 to become CFO of Celgene Corporation, a global biopharmaceutical company. Bunge has initiated a search for Ms. Fouse’s replacement. Andrew J. Burke, the company’s Global Operational Excellence Officer, will serve as interim CFO.
“Jackie has made many contributions to Bunge during her tenure. She spearheaded initiatives to increase efficiency and provided valuable leadership during a particularly volatile time in our markets and the global economy,” said Alberto Weisser, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Bunge Limited. “I would like to express our appreciation and wish her success in her future endeavors. At the same time, I am pleased that Drew will serve as interim CFO. He is a highly experienced executive with strong finance and operational expertise. Given his deep knowledge of Bunge, we expect a smooth transition.”
Ms. Fouse stated, “I’m honored to have served as Bunge’s CFO, and I am proud of what we have accomplished. Bunge has a bright future, and I wish the team all the best.”
Mr. Burke, age 55, joined Bunge in 2002 and has served as co-CEO, Bunge Global Agribusiness and Bunge Product Lines, and as Managing Director, Soy Ingredients and New Business Development. Mr. Burke acted as interim Chief Financial Officer from April to July 2007. Prior to joining Bunge, he was CEO of Degussa Corporation, the U.S. subsidiary of the German chemical concern, where he also served as CFO and held a variety of finance and management positions.
About Bunge
Bunge Limited (www.bunge.com, NYSE: BG) is a leading global agribusiness and food company with approximately 32,000 employees in more than 30 countries. Bunge buys, sells, stores and transports oilseeds and grains to serve customers worldwide; processes oilseeds to make protein meal for animal feed and edible oil products for commercial customers and consumers; produces sugar and ethanol from sugarcane; mills wheat and corn to make ingredients used by food companies; and sells fertilizer in North and South America. Founded in 1818, the company is headquartered in White Plains, New York.
Baker & McKenzie has strengthened its Tax Practice Group with the addition of Russell Young as a partner in the Firm’s Chicago office.
Mr. Young focuses his practice on transfer pricing planning and controversies and related international tax planning. At his former law firm, he handled numerous IRS Appeals cases and tax litigation matters in the U.S. Tax Court and Courts of Appeals. Mr. Young regularly represents taxpayers facing contentious IRS audits, with extensive experience representing taxpayers in the life sciences industry. In recent years, his practice has focused on helping multinational companies reduce the risk of future transfer pricing controversies, and maximize international planning opportunities, through sophisticated transfer pricing legal and economic analysis and planning.
“We are excited about Russ’s arrival to the Firm,” said Len Terr, head of Baker & McKenzie’s North America Tax Practice Group. “Transfer pricing is increasingly a #1 priority for governments and multinational companies, and Russ will have an immediate positive impact for our clients.”
“Russ will fit well into the Firm’s global transfer pricing practice, which uniquely combines leading economists, tax litigators, former competent authorities, APA specialists and other transfer pricing professionals spread across North America and the world,” said Gregg Lemein, Chicago tax practice chair and co-chair of the Firm’s global transfer pricing group.”
Mr. Young is a 1996 graduate of Harvard Law School, where he received a J.D. degree, cum laude. He is a 1993 graduate of Washington University, where he received an A.B. degree with honors.
“The addition of Russ will materially strengthen our transfer pricing practice both in Chicago and in the region,” said Phil Suse, Managing Partner of Baker & McKenzie’s Chicago office. “He will help carry the practice into the long-term future, expanding the tax services we already provide that are appreciated by our clients.”
With a worldwide team of more than 650 tax practitioners, economists and financial analysts in 39 countries, Baker & McKenzie’s Global Tax Practice provides a strong network of tax professionals offering innovative tax planning advice to multinational corporations, helping businesses design, implement and defend tax strategies for international operations and transactions. International Tax Review’s World Tax 2010 directory ranked the Firm’s tax practice in 27 countries and named 67 Baker & McKenzie tax lawyers as leading individuals in their field.
The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) has announced the appointment of Sir Alistair Graham as Lay Public Interest Observer of the Institute’s Council.
Sir Alistair is a well recognised figure in public life, currently serving as Chair of the Independent Mobile Classification Body. His most high profile role was as Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life between 2004 and 2007.
As Lay Observer, Sir Alistair will advise the Institute’s Council on the public interest regarding the Institute’s activities and will support the Institute’s adherence to its charitable responsibilities.
CIOT President Vincent Oratore said:
“I am delighted that Sir Alistair has agreed to take on the role of Lay Observer. He is a greatly respected public figure with a long record of public service. He is well known for his independent mind and commitment to probity and high standards.
“The Institute’s charitable responsibilities and public interest objectives are of paramount importance to us. We are proud of the role we play in maintaining high standards in the tax profession and in making the tax system work better for all those who come into contact with it, including those on low incomes.”
The appointment of the Lay Public Interest Council Observer is for a period of two years with the possibility of extension of the term to four years. An Observer may serve for a maximum of two terms (eight years).
Born in 1942, Sir Alistair Graham worked for the Civil and Public Services Association Trade Union between 1966 and 1986, rising to become General Secretary, before being appointed as the Chief Executive of the Industrial Society (now The Work Foundation). He forged strong links with the industrial sector, becoming the Chief Executive of Calderdale and Kirklees Training and Enterprise Council from 1991 to 1996, and then of Leeds Enterprise and Training Council from 1996 to 2000. From 1997 to 2000 he served as Chairman of the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland, for which he was knighted in the Millennium Honours List. Sir Alistair was appointed to the Committee on Standards in Public Life in 2003 and became Chairman of the Committee in 2004, holding the post until 2007. Until October 2008 he was Chairman of the British Transport Police Authority, having previously served as Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority.
Sir Alistair is currently Chair of the Independent Mobile Classification Body (IMCB), which is responsible for setting a classification framework (including ‘18’ ratings) for pictures, videos and games on mobile phones and other mobile devices.
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery has announced that Julie K. Kwon has rejoined the Firm as partner based in the Silicon Valley office. Ms. Kwon focuses her practice on advising clients regarding a broad range of estate planning issues, including estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax issues; charitable planning and exempt organization compliance; trust and estate administration; contested trust and tax matters; and construction and reformation of wills and trusts.
“Julie is a significant addition to our Private Client Practice Group and will work closely with both our U.S. team as well as our international partners, including Martyn Gowar and Andrew Vergunst, both of whom launched our London private client team last year,” commented Carol A. Harrington, head of the Firm’s Private Client Practice Group. “We’re delighted to welcome her back to the Firm.”
McDermott’s Private Client Practice Group is one of the largest and best-known departments of its kind in the United States. Consecutive editions of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business ranked the Firm’s wealth management practice in the top tier nationwide. The Firm represents families and individuals, family offices, closely held businesses, foundations, estates, trusts and special purpose asset transfer and investment management entities in the United States and throughout the world, and provides to them a spectrum of estate, succession, gift transfer and wealth planning services. McDermott’s experience covers all significant facets of wealth planning.
“I am extremely gratified to return to McDermott’s preeminent team of private client attorneys as the Firm continues to expand the breadth and depth of our international practice. I am confident that my experience in advising families through my diverse roles at fiduciary, investment and charitable institutions will enhance our capabilities to serve our clients’ unique needs.”
Most recently, Ms. Kwon was the Philanthropic Advisor for Stanford University, where she collaborated with donors regarding their charitable planning and resolved legal issues arising from charitable trust investments, complex gifts and endowment management. Ms. Kwon also served as a Director in the Wealth Management Group of Bernstein Global Wealth Management, developing quantitative research regarding the effect of investment volatility on wealth transfer, and was the fiduciary counsel and Legacy Planner for the Midwest Region for Bessemer Trust Company.
She is a frequent speaker and author on estate planning topics for professional organizations and publications, which have included Journal of Taxation and Trusts & Estates magazines, the Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, the Internal Revenue Service, the American Bar Association, the American Law Institute – American Bar Association, and numerous regional organizations around the United States.
Julie currently is chair of the Income & Transfer Planning Group of the American Bar Association, Real Property, Trust & Estate Section. In addition, she is the past chair of the Estate & Gift Tax Committee and past co-chair of the GST Tax Committee of the Section. Julie currently is on the Estate Planning Advisory Panel of the American Law Institute-American Bar Association, and is a member of the Northern California Planned Giving Council. She is a former director and board member of the Chicago Estate Planning Council and a former member of the Professional Advisory Council of the Chicago Community Trust.
Ms. Kwon is admitted to practice in California and Illinois. She received her B.A., with distinction, from Stanford University, and her J.D. from Yale Law School, where she was the executive editor of the Yale Journal of Law & the Humanities.
It was reported today in http://www.czechmarketplace.cz that White & Case tax partner Ales Cechel will be joining Bonatrans Group Holding in an executive management position. Cechel, co-head of the Firm’s Tax advisory practice in Central and Eastern Europe, will be joining Bonatrans Group Holding, a White & Case client, in September 2010.
American Financial Group, Inc. has announced that H. Kim Baird has been named Vice President – Tax of the Company. Mr. Baird joined American Financial in 1985 and has held a number of tax-related positions, most recently serving as Assistant Vice President – Taxes. Prior to joining AFG, he worked at Peat Marwick (predecessor of KPMG) from 1980 to 1985.
Mr. Baird received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1980. He is a Certified Public Accountant, and is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, Ohio Society of CPAs, and the Tax Executives Institute.
Mr. Baird and Ms. Kathleen Brown, also Vice President – Tax, will report to Thomas E. Mischell, Senior Vice President.
About American Financial Group, Inc.
American Financial Group is an insurance holding company, based in Cincinnati, Ohio with assets in excess of $30 billion. Through the operations of Great American Insurance Group, AFG is engaged primarily in property and casualty insurance, focusing on specialized commercial products for businesses, and in the sale of traditional fixed, indexed and variable annuities and a variety of supplemental insurance products. Great American Insurance Group’s roots go back to 1872 with the founding of its flagship company, Great American Insurance Company.
