Jarrod Lean appointed national risk consulting lead at Grant Thornton

Grant Thornton has continued to refresh its senior leadership, with the appointment of Jarrod Lean as national managing partner for risk consulting the latest in a recent spate of top level promotions.

Jarrod Lean has been elevated to the practice lead role after more than a decade and a half in Grant Thornton’s risk consulting practice out of Sydney, and takes over from incumbent George Sutton, who has held the role for the past five years. The appointment follows that of a number of other new national industry leaders.

A Bachelor of Management graduate of the University of Newcastle, Lean joined Grant Thornton as an operational risk advisory manager in 2012 after spending the prior three years at BDO. He joined the partnership six years ago.

For the past three years he has headed Grant Thornton’s consulting division for the Sydney market, which includes risk and management consulting with a team of over 40 professionals.

During his time at the firm, Lean has focused on risk management and internal audit across a range of sectors, including for state and local government, manufacturing, property, and not-for-profit clients. In addition to compliance expertise, Lean also provides support for organisations in identifying operational improvements to promote growth, and is credited by the firm for fostering a culture of collaboration and empowerment.

Commenting on his promotion to national leader, which is effective from the beginning of this month, Lean stated; “I’m passionate about building strong relationships with clients in order to help them navigate their business risks and build out risk strategies to ensure their businesses can run smoothly and thrive. It’s a privilege to take on the leadership of the Risk Consulting team at this exciting time and guide them into the future.”

Lean takes the reins from fellow Sydney-based partner George Sutton, who has held the post since joining the firm in 2018. An industry veteran, Sutton previously spent more than a decade as a partner at KPMG, where he led the firm’s Internal Audit, Risk and Control practice, prior to which he also served as a partner at Ernst & Young and PwC across more than a decade – having joined the latter’s office in Johannesburg in 1989.

“I’d like to thank George for his dedication, vision and passion over the last five years,” stated Michael Pittendrigh, national managing partner for consulting and private business tax & advisory. “George has led our team to such a place where he is able to pass the baton for the next exciting stage of the group’s journey. We’re delighted for Jarrod to continue this legacy and to take the group further along its trajectory of development.”

Lean is among a new wave of national leadership at the accounting and consulting firm, following a number of recent executive appointments. Just last month, Grant Thornton appointed a trio of new leaders – Anika Reside, Tom Williams, and Cameron Bacon – to head up its respective real estate, energy, and food & agribusiness practices, while six new members joined its expanded national executive at the beginning of the year.