Tom Petrosini

Ideas that matter

Tom has more than 25 years of extensive financial and business management experience acquired at all levels of the professional services sector. He is well-practiced in organizational design and performance improvement programs, and is recognized throughout the sector for developing new approaches to leverage the key operational and financial aspects of professional services firms. As financial overseer for Cohn & Wolfe’s extensive global network, he is responsible for ensuring that each office has in place high quality financial, operational and administrative controls as well as world-class reporting systems.

Bold brand work

As Chief Financial Officer for Cohn & Wolfe since 2002, Tom has been integral to the agency’s growth into a top ten communications firm designing and implementing successful revenue growth strategies and cost reduction efforts and leading M&A efforts. Before his arrival, the agency was losing money and struggling to find its way. In partnership with CEO Donna Imperato, within a year it had achieved profitability and laid the foundation for successive years of record growth. In 2008, Tom orchestrated the acquisition of European technology specialty firm, AxiCom, and the merger of Cohn & Wolfe with GCI Group, transactions that doubled the size and reach of the agency.

Career highlight

In 1997, Tom was seconded by Burson-Marsteller to Europe as their CFO to build the necessary infrastructure to convert from a market-based to a client/practice-centric model. This gave him on-the-ground experience both in the UK and continental Europe, a rarity among professional services CFOs. Prior to joining the Public Relation industry Tom spent 15 years with the management Consulting firm Booz Allen & Hamilton serving in various senior financial positions. Tom holds an MBA in finance from Pace University and is a certified management accountant.