EY US names Julie Boland as next leader

Ernst & Young elected Julie Boland as EY US chair and managing partner and Americas area managing partner starting July 1, succeeding Kelly Grier, who will be retiring at the end of her term rather than seeking another term.

Boland has been US-Central Region vice chair since 2018 and will now lead the EY US firm and the EY Americas geographic area, which earns more than $21.2 billion in combined revenue and has over 81,000 people in member firms in 31 countries. She will also lead the US Executive Committee, Americas Operating Executive and join the EY Global Executive committee, which is responsible for setting the firm’s global strategy and agenda.

“I am honored to be chosen to lead this innovative organization at such a pivotal and exciting time for the business,” Boland said in a statement Thursday. “We are committed to building a better working world by empowering and inspiring our people to realize their true potential, and I look forward to building on the significant legacy and strong foundation built by all our partners and our people.”

Grier will be ending a 30-year career at EY upon her retirement and praised her successor. “Julie is a purpose-driven leader and helps our people grow and develop in their careers — all while advancing our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and fostering a culture of belonging,” she said in a statement. “She is known for emphasizing the importance of quality as a priority for EY teams, and has an exceptional record of growth, client service and sector leadership.”

Boland has been in a variety of leadership roles at EY since joining the firm in 2010. She was previously CFO at the travel company Flight Options. At EY, she was managing partner of the Cleveland office and senior advisory partner and global client serving partner on some of the firm’s largest clients. She is a member of the US Executive Committee, the Americas Operating Executive, the Global Practice Group and the Global Accounts Committee. She is a CPA and started her career in the audit practice of another Big Four firm. She worked for two global investment banks before becoming CFO roles at Flight Aware and the mining company Oglebay Norton. Before that, she was a vice president at both Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan.

“Julie’s three decades of experience and track record for driving market leadership, developing and retaining talent, and instilling exceptional client service perfectly suit EY’s commitment to transformation and growth,” said EY Global chairman and CEO Carmine Di Sibio in a statement. “I look forward to working with Julie and her team to advance the success of our people, clients and all of EY.”

Boland’s current and past board affiliations include the Cristo Rey Network, Destination Cleveland, Greater Cleveland Partnership, The 50 Club of Cleveland, United Way and Committee of 200. A graduate of Leadership Cleveland, she has been recognized as a YWCA Woman of Achievement, in Crain’s 40 Under 40 and as the 2018 Mayo Person of the Year by the Mayo Society of Greater Cleveland.

She earned an MBA in Finance and Statistics from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BS in Business and Accounting from the University of Vermont.