H&R Block Names Leader of Business Services Segment
Organizational Change Further Strengthens Company's Management Team
H&R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB) today announced that Steven Tait has been elected president of HRB Business Services Inc., effective April 1, 2003. HRB Business Services is a wholly owned subsidiary providing accounting, consulting and professional services to middle market businesses, primarily through RSM McGladrey, RSM EquiCo and MyBenefitSource.Tom Rotherham will assume the role of chief financial officer of HRB Business Services and will continue as the leader of RSM McGladrey Inc.
Tait has an extensive background in delivering professional services to business clients on a worldwide scale, both with Gartner Inc. and Xerox Corp. Currently, as executive vice president of sales and client operations at Gartner, Tait directed the company's international organizations throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America in providing technology research and advisory services to businesses. During his 18-year career with Xerox, he served in numerous leadership positions, including CEO and president of Xerox Connect, a wholly owned subsidiary providing consulting and IT solutions to business clients. In leading a variety of Xerox's business units, he developed business and marketing strategies and led sales organizations in both U.S. and international markets.
"Steve has operations, sales and marketing experience in delivering professional services to senior-level decision makers, and that will be instrumental in helping us integrate the broad range of services we can deliver to our middle-market business clients," said Mark A. Ernst, H&R Block chairman and chief executive officer. "There's enormous opportunity in serving these clients, and Steve shares our commitment to establish the RSM brand as the leading provider of professional services."
Tom Rotherham has worked with RSM McGladrey for 32 years, including his time with McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, prior to H&R Block's acquisition of the firm's non-attest assets in August 1999. He has led the operations of RSM McGladrey since April 2000.
"Tom has played a significant role in helping to identify the key building blocks of our strategy that will position us to become the premier provider of services to middle market clients," Ernst said. "His understanding of the business and passion for the people of RSM McGladrey make him a valuable member of our leadership team."
About H&R Block
H&R Block Inc. ( www.hrblock.com, http://hrblock.com ) is a diversified company with subsidiaries that deliver tax services and financial advice, investment and mortgage products and services, and business accounting and consulting services. As the world's largest tax services company, H&R Block served nearly 23 million clients during fiscal year 2002. Clients were served at the approximately 10,400 H&R Block retail offices worldwide and through the company's award-winning software, TaxCut(R), and its online tax services. H&R Block is the only major tax and financial services company that focuses primarily on helping middle-income taxpayers achieve their financial goals. Investment services and securities products are offered through H&R Block Financial Advisors Inc., member NYSE, SIPC. H&R Block Inc. is not a registered broker-dealer. H&R Block Mortgage Corp. offers retail mortgage products. Option One Mortgage Corp. offers wholesale mortgage products and a wide range of mortgage services. RSM McGladrey Inc. serves mid-sized businesses with accounting, tax and consulting services.
SOURCE H&R Block Inc.
CONTACT: Robert Schneider of H&R Block, +1-816-932-4835, or
Deborah Ely-Lawrence of RSM McGladrey, +1-952-921-7660
URL: http://www.hrblock.com
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