Top 100 Firm Grant Thornton LLP’s senior vice chairman, Stephen Chipman, has elected to retire early from the firm in order to pursue new opportunities in line with his professional ambitions, effective October 31, 2015.

“I’m privileged to have worked with exceptional professionals around the globe. The people of Grant Thornton will always hold a special place in my heart,” Chipman stated. “While this was not an easy decision by any means, I’m excited to be starting a new phase of my professional journey.”

“Stephen has demonstrated incredible stewardship, leadership and friendship during his tenure,” said J. Michael McGuire, Grant Thornton’s chief executive officer. “He has taken our firm to new heights during some of the most challenging times in the history of our profession and economy. He consistently has lived our values and leaves us with a stronger foundation that allows us to better serve our clients and positions our firm for long-term success.”

Chipman will act as a consultant to the firm and has agreed to continue to represent the firm on the boards of key Chicago organizations, including Ravinia, World Business Chicago, and The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. He will also remain an active member of the Economic Club of Chicago.

“After 34 years of serving in various roles across our global network, I’m honored by the opportunities that our organization has afforded me,” said Chipman. “I’m privileged to have worked with exceptional professionals around the globe. The people of Grant Thornton will always hold a special place in my heart. While this was not an easy decision by any means, I’m excited to be starting a new phase of my professional journey.”

During his 34 years with the Grant Thornton organization, Chipman has held numerous leadership positions throughout Europe, North America and Asia. Prior to becoming U.S. CEO in 2010, he served three years as CEO of Grant Thornton China Management Corporation, creating a single national Chinese firm with more than 2,500 people in 17 offices. In the United States, Chipman previously served as the Dallas office managing partner, Central region managing partner, national managing partner of Global Services and was the inaugural worldwide director of the Grant Thornton International Business Centers. He also served on the firm’s Partnership Board and chaired a number of strategic initiatives, including the first Grant Thornton Experience Leadership Council. He represented China and the United States on the Grant Thornton International Board of Governors.

As the U.S. firm’s CEO, Chipman returned the firm to a trajectory of growth, leading to double-digit revenue increases through organic expansion and strategic acquisitions, extending the firm’s breadth and depth of services. He embraced initiatives to better serve Grant Thornton’s clients through the establishment of a shared services center in India and the launch of the China, India and Japan business groups. Chipman played a prominent role in the development of a global strategy and brand for the Grant Thornton worldwide organization and transformed the firm’s marketing organization, increasing brand exposure through traditional and social media channels. He emphasized investment in the firm’s people, expanding diversity initiatives, enhancing the career continuum process, and launching the firm’s multi-year focus on building a healthy, high-performance culture. He championed substantial investments in technical support, training and resources for the firm to enhance its audit quality. He also drove better understanding among Capitol Hill members of the impacts of policy matters on businesses that are at the heart of the U.S. economy.