The U.S. affiliate of professional services behemoth RSM has appointed long-time executive John Brackett as its new chief risk officer.

The chief risk officer role is the type of job that involves engaging with many different parts of a company’s business, from its accounting operations to the IT department. The focus is on identifying issues that might throw a wrench into a company’s business operations

Brackett is replacing RSM US’ previous chief risk officer, Bruce Jorth, who served in the role for over a decade. Brackett officially started in his new job on May 1.

Previously, the executive was the head of RSM US’ risk consulting practice, where he spent the entirety of his 19-year career at the consultancy. His work at the practice gave him the knowledge necessary for his new C-suite role.

As the name suggests, RSM US’ risk management practice advises companies on how to manage and, when possible, avoid, business risks. Its work spans a large number of areas.

One type of risk that companies need to tackle is the kind associated with IT projects. 

Complex, enterprise-scale software development projects have a relatively high chance of failure. As a result, many companies hire consultants like RSM US to help them minimize the risk of failure.

Cyberattacks are another type of IT-related risks that boardrooms need to address. RSM US can support its corporate clients in that endeavor as well, along with a range of other tasks.

Looking beyond the IT department, a company needs to minimize the risk of issues in key internal business processes such as its accounting workflow. And there are also external business risks to address, like the possibility of a key supplier missing shipments.

RSM can help with all of those tasks. Brackett, in his previous role as the head of the company’s risk consulting practice, led the firm’s efforts in this area.

As chief risk officer, Brackett will work on many of the same tasks he engaged in previously. The difference is that he won’t be doing client-facing projects, but will rather focus on helping RSM identify and address its own internal business risks.

Brackett holds a doctorate in business administration, which is a notch above the standard MBA expected from c-suite members, as well as two other degrees. He has also earned certificates in psychology of leadership and business law from Cornell University.

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