Joe Adams

Joe Adams is the President & CEO at RSM. Previously, he was Partner at RSM US LLP formerly McGladrey LLP. Joe holds a BS, MBA, Accountancy, Operations Management from DePaul University.

A student of strategy and leadership, Joe has more than 40 years of experience with RSM, ascending through various leadership positions to advance the goals and objectives of RSM. He started at the firm as an auditor, specializing in audit, mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, operations, and organizational and strategic matters. He is passionate about RSM’s people, clients and middle market strategy, and he has a deep commitment to talent development to bolster the unrivaled culture found at RSM.

RSM has experienced tremendous growth under Joe’s leadership. He and the RSM team have nearly tripled the size of the organization through organic and acquisitive growth and launched RSM Canada, as well as the RSM global brand. Joe’s lasting impact on talent development and culture at RSM is evident. He is a champion of the firm’s open and accepting culture, giving every employee the opportunity and support each needs to be successful. His holistic approach to running the business starts with personal accountability to live by the RSM values and to always do the right thing.

Looking toward the future, Joe and his team continue to build a culture of innovation to provide colleagues and clients with increased efficiencies and more value. Joe leads RSM with a strong sense of stewardship, a drive toward accountability, and a major commitment to culture, diversity and inclusion, positioning the firm to deliver the power of being understood now and into the future. He looks forward to leading RSM toward the firm’s 100th anniversary in 2026.

Joe is a father of five, grandfather of 13 and now a great-grandfather, and has a keen sense of the challenges of balancing family and work life. When he’s not at work, he spends time with family, follows Chicago sports teams and plays golf. He has played all the top 10 golf courses in the United States.