Adam Goode, currently practice unit leader of consulting at Schneider Downs, will take over as CEO on July 1, as the Pittsburgh-based top 55 accounting firm transitions to a single CEO structure.
Goode will succeed Co-CEOs Steven Thompson and Chris McElroy, whose terms end June 30, 2026. The leadership change follows a scheduled succession process and was unanimously approved by the firm’s shareholders in accordance with partnership bylaws, Schneider Downs says.
The firm has used a co-CEO structure since 2014, and the shift to a single CEO was recommended by Thompson and McElroy in conjunction with the firm’s board of directors.
Goode joined Schneider Downs in 2007 and helped launch the firm’s accounting advisory and managed accounting services practices. He has led the evolution and repositioning of the consulting division for renewed growth and long-term success, the firm said in a media release. Goode currently serves on Schneider Downs’ Operating Committee, supporting overall strategy and execution.
“I am deeply honored to be elected CEO of Schneider Downs and to become part of such a distinguished history of leadership,” Goode said in a statement. “As I step into this role, I am grateful for the 70 years of collaborative leadership that have shaped our firm. I especially appreciate the support of my predecessors, Chris McElroy and Steve Thompson. Their guidance will be invaluable as I navigate this transition.”
Thompson and McElroy have served as co-chief executives since 2020, leading Schneider Downs through strategic growth, new product launches, and an expansion into the Washington, D.C., region.
Both will remain involved with the firm, providing counsel to Goode and the leadership team, while focusing on creating value for Schneider Downs and its clients, according to the media release.
Thompson joined Schneider Downs in 2001, became a shareholder in 2004, and was appointed co-CEO in 2014. He leads the firm’s Operating Committee and is a member of the firm’s board of directors and executive management team.
In his 30-plus year career, Thompson has had the opportunity to work with companies ranging from startups to large national organizations. He has experience in the firm’s SEC, ERISA, and SOC practices and served clients in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, oil and gas, supply chain, restaurant-retail, bioscience, and financial services, specifically banking, investment companies, and investment partnerships.
Thompson spent the first 10 years of his career with Big Four accounting firm Ernst & Young, and he also has experience in the private industry as a corporate controller for a multi-location, family-owned business.
As co-CEO, McElroy shares the responsibility for developing and leading the firm’s strategy and vision. He continues to serve key clients of the firm as a senior advisor.
He joined Schneider Downs in 2017 as a tax shareholder with more than 25 years of private and public accounting experience. Prior to joining Schneider Downs, McElroy served as a tax market leader and international tax partner at EY.
He has a diverse background serving large U.S. multinational companies in the areas of international tax consulting and compliance, tax accounting, and mergers and acquisitions in diversified sectors, including consumer products, retail, manufacturing, and distribution.
Schneider Downs serves individuals and companies in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, New York, Maryland, metropolitan Washington, D.C., and additional states with offices in Pittsburgh, Columbus, OH, and McLean, VA.
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