Grant Thornton appoints Craig Woodfield to lead Assurance Quality and Risk

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The audit and assurance firm of Grant Thornton in the U.S., Grant Thornton LLP, has named Craig Woodfield national managing partner of Assurance Quality and Risk. In this role, he will oversee all quality control and risk functions for Grant Thornton’s Audit & Assurance business. Woodfield succeeds Jeff Hughes, who will be retiring in June 2026 after a successful 40-year career.

“At Grant Thornton, quality is the foundation of all that we do,” said Ron Messenger, CEO of Grant Thornton LLP. “Craig brings to this role a wealth of experience and deep commitment to quality, integrity and trust that will help us continue to raise the bar on all of our quality-focused initiatives. At the same time, Jeff’s tenure at Grant Thornton has been instrumental in helping us sharpen our controls and risk-management framework, and in helping us meet the high standards of our firm and the profession. I look forward to Craig building upon Jeff’s momentum. Under his leadership, our team will be positioned for success.”

Based in the firm’s New York City office, Woodfield joined Grant Thornton in 2007 and has more than 30 years of experience in the accounting and audit industry. Most recently, he served as the Northeast region Audit practice leader. His previous roles also include serving as the Audit practice leader for the firm's East and Central regions, as well as a Financial Services and Technology industry-focused engagement partner and as a partner in the firm's Professional Standards Group. Prior to joining Grant Thornton, Woodfield served in chief financial officer and other executive-level positions, bringing significant financial services and technology industry experience to the firm.

Woodfield is a certified public accountant in both New York and Texas and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He is also a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors and sits on the professional accounting advisory board of Southern Methodist University (SMU) Cox School of Business.

Woodfield’s appointment complements various audit initiatives rolled out over the past year to improve quality across the firm. These efforts include regularly investing in advanced technologies like AI to build systems that analyze and enhance audit effectiveness; heightening quality controls; and strengthening training programs with increased rigor, applied learnings and in‑depth curriculums. In addition, Grant Thornton has implemented new policies and process updates to promote continuous improvement, strengthened pre‑issuance reviews and standardized work papers to drive consistency and expand supervision. The firm also continues to regularly engage its independent Audit Quality Advisory Council for guidance on programs, strategies and technologies that further advance audit quality.

“For more than a century, Grant Thornton has been delivering exceptional audit and assurance services by advancing a bold, future‑focused quality strategy,” added Messenger. “We are harnessing technology, transforming how we train and develop our people, and elevating every aspect of our audit engagements. We remain committed to delivering the highest level of quality for every client and every stakeholder who relies on our work.”

To learn more about Grant Thornton’s focus on audit quality, read the firm’s most recent audit quality and transparency report.

About Grant Thornton
Grant Thornton delivers professional services in the US through two specialized entities: Grant Thornton LLP, a licensed, certified public accounting (CPA) firm that provides audit and assurance services ― and Grant Thornton Advisors LLC (not a licensed CPA firm), which exclusively provides non-attest offerings, including tax and advisory services.

In January 2025, Grant Thornton Advisors LLC formed a multinational, multidisciplinary platform. The platform offers a premier advisory and tax practice, as well as independent audit practices. With offices across the Americas, Europe and the Middle East, the platform delivers a singular client experience that includes enhanced solutions and capabilities, backed by powerful technologies and a roster of more than 20,000 quality-driven professionals enjoying exceptional career-growth opportunities and a distinctive cross-border culture.

Grant Thornton is part of the Grant Thornton International Limited network, which provides access to its member firms in more than 150 global markets.

Grant Thornton LLP, Grant Thornton Advisors LLC and their respective subsidiaries operate as an alternative practice structure (APS). The APS conforms with applicable laws, regulations and professional standards, including those from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

“Grant Thornton” refers to the brand under which the member firms in the Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL) network provide services to their clients and/or refers to one or more member firms. Grant Thornton LLP and Grant Thornton Advisors LLC serve as the U.S. member firms of the GTIL network. GTIL and its member firms are not a worldwide partnership and all member firms are separate legal entities. Member firms deliver all services; GTIL does not provide services to clients.