Firm Management
Accounting Firm RSM Acquires Security and Privacy Consulting Firm SecureState
This transaction expands RSM’s consulting practice and its growing presence in the Ohio market by adding more than 50 talented individuals to the team. It also enhances the firm’s growing security and privacy practice through SecureState’s deep ...
Jan. 31, 2018
RSM US LLP, a national accounting firm offering audit, tax and consulting services focused on the middle market, has acquired SecureState, a national security and privacy consulting firm located in Cleveland, Ohio. The staff and leaders will be joining RSM. The firms have signed a definitive agreement for RSM to acquire substantially all the assets of SecureState, and the transaction is expected to close on March 1, 2018 subject to certain terms and conditions.
“This was a real coup for RSM and will help to significantly expand their security and privacy consulting practice,” said Allan D. Koltin, CEO of Koltin Consulting Group, who advised both firms on the combination. “Secure State was sought after both by many national accounting and consulting firms as well as private equity groups. Ken Stasiak is an incredible visionary and entrepreneur and he and his team will thrive in RSM.”
This transaction expands RSM’s consulting practice and its growing presence in the Ohio market by adding more than 50 talented individuals to the team. It also enhances the firm’s growing security and privacy practice through SecureState’s deep knowledge and expertise in information security – from compliance and risk awareness to incidents and breaches, as well as its state-of-the-art incident response lab. Ken Stasiak, founder and CEO of SecureState, will join RSM as a consulting principal, and his full team will transition to RSM upon closing.
“Cybersecurity is cited by middle market business leaders as one of the foremost risks to their business,” said Brian Becker, national consulting leader for RSM US LLP. “We have been experiencing tremendous growth in our security and privacy services due to clients’ needs in this area. We are thrilled to enhance our ability to help existing clients and other middle market businesses address their cybersecurity concerns by joining forces with SecureState. This is yet another example of RSM’s commitment to being at the forefront of the evolving needs of middle market businesses.”
RSM and SecureState share a client-centric approach to doing business, with a focus on building enduring, trusted relationships. Both firms offer superior service to clients in the middle market.
“We are thrilled to be joining RSM,” said Stasiak. “Our expertise and service offerings represent a perfect fit for RSM’s growing security and privacy practice. We are excited to join the foremost provider of consulting services to middle market leaders, and we look forward to continuing to serve our client base while at the same time helping RSM’s many clients achieve stronger levels of security within their businesses.”
“Consulting has been an area of rapid growth for RSM during the last several years,” said Joe Adams, managing partner and CEO of RSM US LLP. “I am constantly impressed by the team’s ability to innovate and stay ahead of the changing needs of our clients. We are particularly pleased to expand our ability to provide security and privacy consulting solutions, and we look forward to the knowledge and expertise the SecureState team will bring to our firm. This is another important step toward strengthening our position as the first-choice advisor to middle market leaders—globally.”
The team from SecureState will continue to be located in their existing offices at 23340 Miles Road in Cleveland, after completion of the transaction.