Seattle Office of Ernst & Young LLP Bolsters Growth

    SEATTLE, WA, February 10, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- EY announced today that Andrew Hogenson, Richard Evans and Tony Kong have joined the Seattle office of Ernst & Young LLP, reflecting the increasing demand for the firm's services in the technology, digital strategy, and project and portfolio management space.

"With the addition of these outstanding, accomplished professionals to our office, we will be able to continue to deliver the level of exceptional client service EY is known for, stimulate more innovation and meet the fast-growing demand for new technologies and digital services. Our new executives bring with them deep industry knowledge and experience that will be invaluable to our team, our clients and the Seattle community," said Dan Smith, Seattle Office Managing Partner, Ernst & Young LLP.

Hogenson joins Ernst & Young LLP as a principal in its Advisory practice. He brings more than 25 years of experience working with global retailers on new market entry, store operations, eCommerce, supply chain, digital strategy, customer insight and product lifecycle management. Hogenson previously led Accenture's Pacific Northwest Retail practice, responsible for branding, marketing, business development and overall business operations. Prior to that role, he led the Global Services and Product Development groups at Manugistics (acquired by JDA Software). Hogenson earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Seattle University and an MBA from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He serves on the Advisory Board of the Information School at the University of Washington and on the board of FareStart, a Seattle non-profit providing culinary job and life skills training to homeless and underserved adults and teens.

Evans joins the firm as a principal in its Advisory practice. Evans formerly led the West Region of UMT Consulting, an enterprise management firm that provides business process and technology consulting services to large corporations and government entities, which recently joined EY. While at UMT, Evans was responsible for the stewardship of leading software brands in Seattle. Evans has led successful transformation initiatives for Fortune 500 companies across the technology, healthcare and financial services sectors. Evans holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Science from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology in the United Kingdom and previously served as an Officer in the UK Royal Navy.

Kong joins the firm as an executive director in the Transaction Advisory Services practice. He brings more than 20 years of experience in management consulting and senior technical management positions, including roles as CIO and Director of Applications Development within the high tech software/SaaS-based and interactive media sectors. Prior to joining the firm, Kong was the Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Director with West Monroe Partners, focusing on high-tech software and healthcare industry sectors and leading pre-close due diligences, post-close merger integration and carve-out execution transactions for private equity firms and corporate/strategic investors. Kong earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Washington and his MBA from the University of Notre Dame.

About Ernst & Young LLP's Seattle practice

The firm has more than 460 people in its Seattle office who provide Advisory (consulting), Transaction, Tax and Audit services to a diverse client base of innovative and entrepreneurial companies spanning the retail and consumer products, technology, life sciences, distribution, insurance and manufacturing industries. In the past year, the firm has served over 90 percent of the largest 15 public companies in Washington and provides audit services to 40 percent of them, more than any other firm. Ernst & Young LLP is also the #1 Big Four firm in taking companies public. The firm celebrates the successes of the Pacific Northwest's entrepreneurs through its EY Entrepreneur Of The Year program, founded in 1986.

About EY

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY refers to the global organization and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, an EY member firm serving clients in the US.

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