Business

Ernst & Young announced that Steve Payne has been appointed EY Americas Vice Chair – Consulting. This key leadership position oversees more than 20,000 consultants who are focused on creating long-term value for clients through sustainable, inclusive growth.

In addition to bringing the full power of the EY organization to clients through technology and innovation, this role is responsible for cultivating talent and building high-performing teams to deliver exceptional experiences for EY people.

Payne previously served as the Global Leader for the EY-Parthenon strategy consultancy as well as the Transaction Strategy and Execution Global Leader. He succeeds Hank Prybylski, who was recently named EY Global Vice Chair – Transformation.

“Steve’s inclusive leadership approach will help our people and our clients respond to change and transformation with the agility and empathy needed in these extraordinary times,” said Kelly Grier, EY US Chair and Managing Partner and Americas Managing Partner. “From strategy through execution, he will help companies transform in the face of accelerating complexity by putting humans at the center, leveraging technologies at speed and enabling innovation at scale.”

“I thrive on helping people and businesses achieve their full potential, and I’m thrilled to lead this dynamic practice of talented consultants as they collaborate with our clients to reframe their future,” said Payne. “I am looking forward to delivering innovative solutions that will help solve our clients’ toughest challenges while building resilience.”

Payne has been advising top-tier institutions on operations management for more than 30 years. Drawing from extensive international experience in Europe and emerging markets in the Americas and Asia-Pacific, he has delivered working capital improvement programs for Fortune 100 clients. Prior to joining the firm in 2008, he was the chief executive officer of a global boutique consulting firm that focused on helping companies improve cash flow from working capital via operational improvement. He also has served in industry as an operations and supply chain leader, as well as an industrial engineer.

“Steve embodies the transformative, client-centric mindset that will help ignite innovation throughout our Consulting practice,” said Errol Gardner, EY Global Vice Chair – Consulting. “I am incredibly excited to work alongside Steve as we help clients find opportunities to drive long-term value in the midst of the current business uncertainty.”