Yesterday (February 10th), Deloitte became the first major professional services firm in the US to hire a female chief executive, with the appointment of Cathy Engelbert.
Ms Engelbert’s flourishing career at the firm started after joining in 1986 has seen her rise to her current position as chairman and chief executive of Deloitte & Touche, the US accounting, auditing, and risk advisory subsidiary of Deloitte.
She has also previously served on the company's board of directors.
Ms Engelbert said that she was “deeply honored” to take up her new position, adding: “I look forward to collaborating with all our people to continue to lead our profession in quality and innovation.”
Punit Renjen, chairman of the board at Deloitte, praised her “strong track record of advising some of the firm’s leading clients” and work on the firm’s audit practice.
He predicted a bright future ahead for Deloitte under her leadership and that of his successor, Mike Fucci, who was also announced as the company’s new chairman of the board.
Other colleagues also joined in to offer their tributes to the audit and consulting firm’s newly elected head.
Deloitte’s interim chief executive Frank Friedman, who is to leave his position to take up the post of chief operation officer, said: “Cathy has been a formidable and influential industry presence during her many years at Deloitte and will undoubtedly continue to drive our firm and profession forward.”
He highlighted the firm's trailblazing history of “inclusive leadership” in electing women and people from minority backgrounds to prominent chief executive and board positions.
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