Richard Sittema

Executive summary

Rich is a Principal in Grant Thornton’s US Advisory practice and leads the IT Transaction Advisory capability for the Firm.  He is based in Cleveland, Ohio and joined the partnership in 2014.  Rich has worked across numerous industries, but specializes in manufacturing, financial services, and healthcare providers – including working with Private Equity funds that buy and sell companies in those industries.

Rich began his consulting career 25 years ago specializing in large scale IT transformation initiatives.  Since joining Grant Thornton in 2004, he has executed and led a wide range of technology related client engagements including IT auditing, IT strategy, IT diligence and integration/separation (IT M&A), and transformational tech enablement initiatives.  His engagement experience includes numerous initiatives for large scale public clients with multi-national scope that require the use of Grant Thornton global member firms to deliver.

Rich had a leading role in developing the Firm’s approach to delivering IT M&A services, including IT diligence, integration planning, future state enterprise architecture, TSA development, and integration/separation workstream execution.  Prior to his current role, he built and led the enterprise IT strategy capability for the Firm for six years.  He leads some of the largest Advisory accounts in the Firm, including a $7 Billion aerospace & defense components manufacturer and $27 Billion regional bank.

Professional qualifications and memberships

• Association for Corporate Growth, Cleveland
• Information Systems Audit & Control Association 

Community involvement

Rich serves on the Finance Committee for St. Martin de Porres High School and is active with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and his local Church.

Education

Rich received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Calvin University in 1999.