New CEO for National Accounting Firm

Daryl Ritchie Remains as the Chairman of the Board 

CALGARY, Oct. 6, 2015 /CNW/ - MNP LLP, a leading national accounting and business consulting firm, has a new CEO. Daryl Ritchie, FCPA, FCA, Chairman of the Board and former CEO, announced that Jason Tuffs, CPA, CA would step into the leadership role effective October 1, 2015. Tuffs, the fourth CEO in the firm's 58-year history, officially assumed the role at MNP's annual general meeting (AGM) in Montreal.

Ritchie, who will remain as Chairman of the Board, says the firm's CEO leadership transition had been in the plans since 2009, when the Board asked him to accept a third term as CEO. Ritchie accepted another term but advised it would be his last. "We knew the next CEO must believe in and understand our values and culture, be committed to the mid-market and have the appropriate experience to take on the role. The selection of the new CEO was a rigorous process as we weren't just looking for a great CEO, we were looking for a great 'MNP CEO'," says Ritchie. "I'm looking forward to working with Jason and providing any support I can to ensure MNP continues to achieve success for our clients and our people."

From 1958, when Ron Meyers started what was to become MNP in Brandon, Manitoba to Don Penny adding services and locations to match client needs throughout the late 70s and 80s, the roots of the firm were being established. Ritchie's vision would further build upon this foundation, realizing unprecedented growth and evolving MNP into the leading national firm it is today.

"I don't believe we could have achieved the same success we have without him at the helm," says Jason Tuffs, CEO, MNP. "Daryl had a vision very early on about where MNP needed to go and what we needed to do to get there. For Daryl it was never about being the largest firm, but being the best—the pre-eminent, full service mid-market accounting firm throughout Canada. I am honoured to be succeeding him and thankful to have his support as the Chairman of the Board."

When Ritchie was appointed CEO in October 1998, MNP was the 10th-largest accounting firm in Canada, with fees of $41 million and a staff count of just over 400. Fast forward 17 years, and MNP is the 5th largest firm, with fees of $600 million and a staff of over 3,500. Starting at MNP as an articling student in 1978, Ritchie grew up with the firm, which allowed the natural leader to build on a strong cultural foundation while leaving a lasting legacy of growth, increased scope and enhanced capabilities.

And Tuffs has the right experience to build on the strong foundation created by the CEOs who preceded him. After gaining valuable international experience working abroad for five years, Tuffs returned to Canada in 2004 to begin his career at MNP; leading the firm in developing its Public Company practice. In late 2009 Tuffs became Regional Managing Partner of Calgary operations. He was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2011 and took on the role of Executive Vice President of B.C. Region in 2013. Tuffs was also a member of MNP's strategic planning committee in 2015.

New CEO for National Accounting Firm

Tuffs is excited about leading MNP into the future and says our firm has no plans to slow down. The strategic direction of MNP for the next five years was set last year when the board rolled out the strategic plan, the native Albertan notes he'd like to add more "pins" in the MNP map, particularly in the Maritimes and London, Ontario to truly own Canada's mid-market centres. But our continued growth will be fuelled by capitalizing on the foundation we have already built, Tuffs emphasizes.

MNP has tremendous opportunity in all of our markets to build upon the firm's strong history, culture and foundation, adding new offices, people and expertise, Tuffs says.

"But for MNP it's not about becoming the fourth largest or the third largest or the second largest. It's about continuing to serve our clients' evolving needs, having the resources, having the talent and being in strategic markets, be they rural or urban, while retaining our cultures and values. That has been the factors to our past success and will continue to drive the future of MNP."

About MNP
MNP is one of the largest accounting and business consulting firms in Canada, providing client-focused accounting, taxation and consulting advice. National in scope and local in focus, MNP has proudly served individuals and public and private companies for more than 55 years. Through the development of strong relationships, MNP provides organizations with personalized strategies and a local perspective to help them succeed. For more information, visit MNP.ca

SOURCE MNP LLP

Image with caption: "Jason Tuffs, CEO, MNP. (CNW Group/MNP LLP)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151006_C3138_PHOTO_EN_513883.jpg

Randy Mowat, Senior VP of Marketing, MNP LLP, P: 403.536.5555, [email protected]; Nick Greenfield, Media Relations, MNP LLP, P: 403.536.5552, [email protected]