Greek-American business leader and philanthropist Jim G. Logothetis has recently taken over as Chairman of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB).
Based in Washington, DC, the PCAOB oversees the audit process for publicly traded companies across the United States. The scale of this role is immense, as the board provides a critical layer of protection for the global financial system.
“There are roughly 4,000 public companies with a value of over 70 trillion dollars, and the general public expects that all of those companies will be audited with the highest quality,” Logothetis told Greek Reporter.
“My job as the chairman of the PCAOB is to make sure that we can take audit quality to the highest levels and we protect the investing public. It’s a huge responsibility. I was in the profession for 40 years. This is something I know quite well and I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Logothetis added.
Jim Logothetis: From rural Greece to global leadership
Logothetis’ journey is a quintessential success story. Born in 1956 in the secluded village of Karatoula Kynourias in Arcadia, Greece, his early childhood was spent in a home without electricity or running water. In 1969, at the age of thirteen, he immigrated to Chicago with his family.
He quickly excelled in his new home, building an academic foundation that would fuel his rise in the financial sector. After graduating from Steinmetz High School in 1974, he earned an accounting degree with high honors from DePaul University (1977). By age 22, he had secured an MBA in accounting, finance, and international business from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He holds both CPA and CMA designations.
A 40-year legacy at Ernst & Young
Logothetis joined Ernst & Young (EY) in 1979, embarking on a distinguished four-decade career. He rose to the rank of Senior Partner and eventually served as Vice Chair of Global Accounts. Over his 29 years as a partner, he spearheaded audits for several Fortune 500 corporations.
While much of his work was centered in Chicago, his leadership was international in scope; he held pivotal roles in Frankfurt (1990–1996) and Atlanta (2014–2019) and chaired the Partner Advisory Council, which serves as EY’s internal board of directors.
Philanthropy and service to the Greek-American community
Since retiring from EY in 2019, Logothetis has dedicated himself to public and nonprofit service. He served as a Senior Advisor to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2020 and has held board positions at the National Boys and Girls Clubs of America and the National Hellenic Museum.
A prominent figure in the Greek-American community, he has chaired the boards of the Hellenic American Academy, the American College of Greece, and Leadership 100, where his second term as Chairman concluded in early 2026. Logothetis closed his tenure at Leadership 100 on a high note, announcing a staggering $6.5 million in grants for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and its affiliates.
“I am enormously pleased to complete my two terms as Chairman with the unanimous approval by the Executive Committee of $6,510,700 for 42 new and prior year grants for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and related and affiliated organizations, from the outstanding recommendations by the Grant Committee.” Logothetis said.
A recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, Logothetis remains deeply connected to his roots, dividing his time between Chicago, Florida, and his native Greece alongside his wife, Marianthe, their three children, and ten grandchildren.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
