Bell Elected Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund President Effective January 1, 2016

12/30/2015 - By Zachary Farrington

Shareholder Lee Bell, CPA will transition to a new role as President of Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund, effective January 1, 2016. Lee has been with the firm since 2001 and has long prepared for the transition, leading the firm’s Tampa office and serving as a member of the executive committee. He also leads the Business Advisory Group and plays an integral role in the Financial Institution Advisory Group.

“The growth we’ve experienced and expect in the future is made possible by our team approach and executive leadership we have in place,” Bell commented. “Our firm has expanded to become one of the largest Florida-based CPA firms serving clients throughout the Southeast. We continue to operate with the same values that have sustained us for more than 70 years: Integrity and Honesty, Respect, Creativity and Quality Service.”

The leadership succession process took several years and was carefully designed to ensure continued stability and success into the future. As part of the firm’s succession plan, Ron Jackson, CPA, CGMA, who has served as the firm’s President for 25 years will take on a new role as advisor and mentor to younger leaders. Charles Gund, Jr., CPA, will serve as Chief Operating Officer, a new position established to handle the business operations of the growing firm.

“These changes are the result of years of planning for long-term success for the firm,” says Jackson. “We understood there needed to be a structured and logical transition of management. Succession planning for a multi-generational firm requires an intentional strategy and these adjustments in our firm’s structure give us a solid foundation for future growth and success. It has always been the goal of management to build a sustainable firm.”

About Saltmarsh Cleaveland & Gund
Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund is a full-service accounting and consulting firm with offices in Pensacola, Tampa, Orlando and Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Since 1944, Saltmarsh has followed their guiding principles of honesty and integrity to contribute to the success of others. Saltmarsh has been recognized as one of the Top 200 Firms in the United States by Inside Public Accounting in 2013 and 2014. The firm was also ranked as the 12th “Biggest Accounting Firm” in Florida by Florida Trend in 2014.

In addition to traditional audit and assurance, tax planning and accounting services, Saltmarsh specializes in outsourced consulting services for various industries. For further information, please call (800) 477-7458 or visit www.saltmarshcpa.com.