Saint Mary’s alumna appointed to top posts at Ernst & Young (EY)

December 8, 2017 — Kelly Neuwirth Grier ’91 has been named Ernst & Young (EY) US Chairman and Managing Partner-Elect and EY Americas Managing Partner-Elect.

Originally from Avon, Minnesota, Grier received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Saint Mary’s. She is currently the Regional Managing Partner for the US Central Region, where she is focused on driving market leadership and growth, providing exceptional client service and creating high-performing teams.

During her tenure with EY, Grier served many of the largest EY audit and advisory clients helping them to transform and grow. She also brings global experience having worked in Germany and Switzerland and has held a variety of roles including EY Americas Vice Chair – Talent and Chicago Office Managing Partner.

In 2011, the Saint Mary’s Department of Business Administration and Economics recognized Grier as the Outstanding Accounting Alumna, when she was managing partner of the Chicago office.

In her new role, Grier will lead the EY US firm and the EY Americas geographic area, which represents more than US$14.5b in combined revenues and more than 71,500 people in member firms in 31 countries. She will also join the EY Global Executive committee.

“It is an exciting time to lead an innovative, dynamic and fast-paced organization with an unrelenting focus on helping clients solve their toughest challenges and realize their greatest ambitions,” Grier said.

Accounting graduates continue to have great success at Saint Mary’s. Always in high demand, accounting majors commonly move from internships to full-time positions prior to graduation and for the past several years, one hundred percent have secured jobs or been accepted to graduate school prior to graduation.

“I’m just incredibly proud of her. Kelly was never afraid to do something out of the ordinary. ” stated Mary Ann Merryman, professor of business administration and economics. She acknowledged that it’s also significant that now three of the “Big Four” accounting firms in the US are run by women.