Mike McCracken, Co-Founder, National Managing Partner, Market Development

Mike McCracken, Co-Founder

National Managing Partner, Market Development

In the mid-nineties, Mike McCracken co-founded the first National Professional CFO Firm which later became the foundation of Tatum LLC. As its first President and member of the three-man Executive Committee, Mr. McCracken is credited with building the national footprint of the CFO operations to more than 400 professionals in 30 cities nationwide. Today, Tatum numbers approximately 1000 people in 37 practice offices around the country, and serving companies globally. He served for many years as the leader of the Financial Leadership practice, Management Committee and Board of Directors.

Prior to founding Tatum, Mr. McCracken was the founder/ entrepreneur of 5 companies including an internet services provider which sold for several million dollars. In his earlier career, Mr. McCracken was a partner with Ernst & Young LLP in New York, where he reported to the Chairman and CEO and was responsible for the oversight of the firm's initiative to develop an intelligence network among its top 200 multinational clients, which generate $500 million in annual revenues for the firm. 

His previous responsibilities over his 22-year career with Ernst & Young included Regional Director of Marketing and Strategy for the SE Region, where for six years he directed the business planning and development for up to twenty-two offices in seven states. During his tenure in this position, he helped double the firm's operations in the Southeast and helped implement reorganizations to introduce a specialized industry focus and the merger of Ernst & Whinney and Arthur Young, the largest professional services firm merger at that time. He was also coordinating partner on the team of professionals that designed the spin-off of Eastman Chemical Company, a $4.0 billion Fortune 500 manufacturer, from Eastman Kodak.

Mr. McCracken served for two years as the senior international business development advisor to Ernst & Young's member firm in Japan and for one year in the firm's National Office advising on major business opportunities throughout the United States. He also created and designed a team approach of auditors and consultants to deliver greater value in audits. This concept was later incorporated in the firm's global audit methodology.

Prior to his Regional, National and International positions with Ernst & Young, Mr. McCracken built a practice in Brevard County, Florida where he served as manager-in-charge for two years and was the senior manager coordinating the services to Harris Corporation, a $2.5 billion Fortune 500 manufacturer. He also served as Manager of Emerging Business for the Central Florida market for two years, where he advised emerging businesses on accounting, tax, financing and other business issues. His clients included manufacturers, high-technology companies, distributors, construction, real estate and health care.

He has been a CPA in four states and has held a Certificate in Management Accounting (CMA). He is also the past District President of the Florida Jaycees, Treasurer and Executive Committee Member of the Atlanta World Trade Club, Central Florida Association of Builders and Contractors. He currently serves on the Board of Creative Growth Group, a highly acclaimed professional services sales and marketing consultancy and founder of the Rainmaker Council and Professional Services Client Advisor Awards; Founding member of the Professional Services CMO Forum; Chairman of the Board of Advisors for Georgia State University’s Executive MS Finance Program; and the advisory boards of several emerging growth companies. He is a requested speaker at Universities and community groups on topics of entrepreneurship, professional services marketing and financial services.