Grant Thornton Stax, a global strategy consulting firm and part of Grant Thornton Advisors, has appointed Chen Liu as Partner in its Chicago office. The move signals the firm’s continued expansion in advising private equity and corporate clients in the technology and education sectors.
Liu brings more than a decade of experience advising private equity investors and corporate leadership teams across buy- and sell-side diligence, corporate strategy, and growth acceleration. Over his career, he has led more than 100 projects in the technology industry, developing expertise across EdTech, enterprise software, GovTech, and administrative platforms. His experience spans K–12, higher education, and professional learning, as well as ERP, HR/HCM, CRM/CMS, workflow automation, and other back-office software solutions.
Before joining Grant Thornton Stax, Liu was part of EY-Parthenon’s private equity practice, where he focused on commercial due diligence for technology and B2B services businesses. His appointment strengthens Grant Thornton Stax’s sector-specific capabilities as the firm continues to deepen its relationships with private equity clients seeking insight-driven, data-backed growth strategies.
The addition of Liu supports Grant Thornton Stax’s broader initiative to enhance its advisory platform with partners who bring both domain expertise and entrepreneurial acumen. The firm’s technology and education practices have seen growing demand as clients increasingly seek guidance on scaling tech-enabled platforms, navigating digital transformation, and leveraging AI-driven insights for decision-making.
KEY QUOTES:
“We’re thrilled to welcome Chen to the Grant Thornton Stax team. His decade-plus experience advising investors and management teams on scaling B2B services and software companies adds tremendous depth to our practice. Chen’s career has been defined by curiosity, drive, and a mentorship mindset—qualities that align perfectly with our culture. We’re excited to have him join our leadership team and continue building a culture where great people do their best, most impactful work for clients.”
Paul Edwards, Global Practice Lead, Grant Thornton Stax
“Chen’s exciting addition is an important move in expanding the depth and agility of our team. His experience adds a layer of insight that’s both timely and transformative. By adding the right subject matter experts, we’re not just bolstering our capabilities—we’re sharpening our edge in delivering specialized, tech-driven solutions that meet the evolving demands of our clients.”
Tom Puthiyamadam, National Managing Partner of Advisory Services, Grant Thornton Advisors LLC
“What excites me most about joining Grant Thornton Stax is the firm’s entrepreneurial spirit and collaborative culture. The team operates with the agility of a focused firm while consistently delivering the depth and rigor of a global platform—a combination that truly sets Grant Thornton Stax apart. Its focus on private equity aligns closely with my background and interests, and I’m eager to contribute to the firm’s accelerated growth in this next stage of expansion under Grant Thornton. With experience across technology and education sectors, I look forward to helping Grant Thornton Stax further expand its sector expertise and deliver even greater value to clients through sharper insights, AI-driven analysis, and strategic guidance.”
Chen Liu, Partner, Grant Thornton Stax
