Steve Rudnik joins Wipfli as head of corporate development

Wipfli is pleased to announce Steve Rudnik has joined the firm as head of corporate development, where he will lead Wipfli’s M&A strategy and execution.

M&A is a cornerstone of Wipfli’s growth strategy, and the firm’s partnership with New Mountain Capital provided an opportunity to ramp up acquisition activities. In this role, Steve will help advance the firm’s strategic plan by supporting growth and client objectives and continuing to optimize how the firm leads and operates.

Steve brings deep M&A experience to Wipfli. Prior to Wipfli, Steve was the co-head of M&A at Hightower Advisors, one of the largest wealth management firms in the country. While at Hightower, he oversaw more than 50 M&A deals and helped build a 15+ person team to support a lasting, scalable M&A engine. Prior to Hightower, Steve spent a decade at Ernst & Young in their audit practice.

“Steve’s experience building and scaling an M&A program will be a strong asset as we continue to execute on our growth strategy. His track record and leadership will help us expand our capabilities and better serve clients as we pursue strategic opportunities,” said Kurt Gresens, CEO at Wipfli.

“Wipfli has a clear commitment to growth and a strong platform to build from. I’m excited to join the firm and lead corporate development to execute opportunities that expand the value we deliver to clients.” Steve said.

Steve will be based in Wipfli’s Chicago‑Lincolnshire office.