Grant Thornton creates single Alberta business unit
Grant Thornton Canada has combined its northern and southern Alberta business units into a single unit.
The accounting and consulting firm says the change will enhance client service in the province and combine complementary skills and resources under a united leadership structure and strategy.
Grant Popowich, formerly head of the northern Alberta unit, will become managing partner for the Alberta practice. Tracey Zehl, formerly head of the southern Alberta unit, will now oversee client strategy for the province.
Grant Thornton says the updated leadership structure will facilitate operational excellence and an increased focus on expanding the firm’s presence in Alberta.
The mid-market firm has seven offices in the province, including locations in Calgary, Edmonton, and Medicine Hat.
“This unification will allow us to deliver a single strategy from a single team in a single province,” said Popowich. “Our Alberta clients will barely notice the change from day to day—they’ll have the same advisors and receive the same excellent service.”
Based in Edmonton, Popowich has more than 23 years of experience with a focus on succession and estate planning, tax planning, and business advisory. He has been a partner in Grant Thornton’s tax practice since 2010.
“In this role, I’ll focus on improving the client experience across the province and providing a consistent service whether you’re working with us in Foremost or Edmonton or Calgary,” said Zehl. “Ultimately, this will help us support more Alberta businesses.”
Based in Calgary, Zehl has 25 years of experience in audit, assurance, and business advisory. She has expertise across assurance and taxation compliance, strategy development, governance, risk assessment, and financial policy creation.
Zehl has been a partner in Grant Thornton’s assurance practice since 2015. Before that, she spent 16 years at Deloitte, where she was latterly a partner.
Grant Thornton, together with Quebec firm Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, has 4,700 people across Canada. The Grant Thornton International network of firms has more than 62,000 people in 130+ countries.
