Bill M. Hermann — Plante & Moran

Firm Managing Partner, Plante & Moran

About Plante & Moran

Plante & Moran is the nation’s 12th largest certified public accounting and business advisory firm, providing clients with financial, human capital, operations, strategy, technology, and family wealth management services. Plante & Moran has a staff of more than 1,600 professionals in 16 offices throughout Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, and Shanghai, China. Plante & Moran has been recognized by a number of organizations, including FORTUNE magazine, as one of the country’s best places to work.

Learn more about Plante & Moran.

Biography

Bill Hermann always aims to leave things better than he finds them. He has been honing his leadership skills since his earliest days at Plante & Moran when he was simultaneously working as a proofreader, attending the University of Detroit Mercy and coaching grade school athletics.

Bill′s ability to inspire, motivate and lead brought him many opportunities, including opening one of Plante & Moran′s earliest satellite offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan. His experiences were the training ground for the honor of serving as the firm′s Managing Partner the last eight years. During his tenure, he successfully led efforts to expand the company′s geographic reach into Chicago, Ohio, China and Mexico. He challenged the firm to find ways to better meet the needs of its clients. He′s proud of the resulting new service offerings that include Plante Moran Trust, Plante Moran Insurance Agency, Plante & Moran Resource Advisors and Plante Moran Group Benefit Advisors.

He now assumes the responsibility of leading and encouraging the growth of Plante & Moran′s service industry practice. His concentration is on serving the accounting, tax and business advisory needs of organizations in professional service, business services, retail, auto sales, technology and insurance.

Bill recently received recognition by INSIDE Public Accounting as one of 2008′s ″Top Five Most Admired Peers.″ His other awards include five consecutive years as one of Accounting Today′s ″Top 100 People″ and five years as one of CPA Magazine′s ″100 Top People in the Profession.″

His active community involvement includes serving on the board of the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan, and as a board member of the Detroit Economic Club, Kelly′s Kidz and Barton Hills Country Club.

It is a tribute to Bill′s leadership that Plante & Moran has earned a place for the 11th consecutive year on FORTUNE Magazine′s list of ″100 Best Companies to Work For.″ Hermann says there′s a reason it′s the 12th largest accounting and business advisory firm in the nation: ″It speaks to our culture of being a people company that also happens to be very good at serving client′s accounting, tax and advisory needs.″

Experience

Plante & Moran (1971-Present)

Firm Managing Partner (Present)

As Firm Managing Partner, Bill leads the strategic growth of Plante & Moran. Bill also works with a team of leaders at Plante & Moran to grow their practices; he mentors associates and helps clients achieve their goals. Bill recognizes good ideas from his team and makes things happen to improve the firm and grow business for Plante & Moran clients.

Group Managing Partner (1995-2001)

This position included responsibility for several offices, industry groups, and service groups.

Office Managing Partner (1982-1995)

In 1982, he helped launch the firm′s Ann Arbor office and served as office managing partner.

Education

University of Detroit Mercy

Bachelor of Science in Accounting, (1969-1972)

• Beta Gamma Sigma, National Business Honor Society Member

• Beta Alpha Psi, National Accounting Fraternity for Honor Student Members