The appointment marks a strategic shift for the New York-based network as it seeks to better leverage its 46,000 professionals across 150 countries. Cole brings three decades of experience from Crowe LLP in the United States, where he previously served as Managing Partner of Strategic Alliances. During his tenure there, he directed the firm’s technology ecosystem strategy and unified its Risk and Performance Consulting units into a single entity.

In his new capacity, Cole will work to connect local expertise with the network's broader reach. The initiative aims to provide clients with more cohesive access to cybersecurity, consulting, and AI implementation services. CEO Kamel Abouchacra emphasized that the move is designed to accelerate growth by fostering deeper collaboration between independent member firms, allowing them to tackle complex cross-border challenges with more unified resources.