People: Richmond, Va.-based Cherry Bekaert LLP has named Michelle L. Thompson as the firm’s managing partner and CEO, succeeding Howard Kies, who will retire; she is one of three women now helming one of the 25 largest accounting firms (others are Cathy Engelbert at Deloitte and Lynne Doughtie at KPMG) … Ana Maria Elorrieta, former partner at PwC in Brazil, has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of the International Valuation Standards Council (IVSC), the global standard setter for valuation practice and the valuation profession … Patrick McFarlen has joined EKS&H Capital Advisors LLC as a director; he was most recently with EKS&H LLLP … AAFCPAs co-managing partner Carla McCall was selected for the “Forty Women over 40 to Watch” list in recognition for her helping and promoting women’s career advancement; by the way, the firm is growing: It recently relocated its headquarters to larger space in Westborough, Mass. … Troy P. Segar has joined the upstate New York firm of DiMarco, Abiusi & Pascarella, CPAs PC as a principal.

Firms: Duff & Phelps has set up a new division in Italy devoted to business valuation to be headed by managing director Enrico Rovere, formerly with PwC, FCA Group, and Pirola Pennuto Zei & Associati … As part of its November 1 merger with Rea & Associates, Walthall CPAs will relocate two of its offices to current Rea locations; the merger will create a team of more than 300 professionals in 13 offices across Ohio … Happy 25th anniversary to Columbia Financial Advisors Inc. of Portland, Ore.; it provides business valuation, financial advisory services, and litigation support … GreerWalker Wealth Management (Charlotte, N.C.), which recently opened a new office in Greenville, S.C., celebrates its 20th anniversary … Vault.com named BDO USA LLP one of the 50 Best Internships for 2018 … Bowman & Co. LLP and The James Co., accounting firms based in Stockton, Calif., will merge as of November 1 … JCCS, a regional accounting firm in Montana, has acquired Lopach & Carparelli, a firm in Helena.

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