Jackson Thornton names new CEO. Alan Alexander has been named the new president and chief executive officer of certified public accounting and consulting firm Jackson Thornton. Alexander succeeds John Fendley, who retired in December after more than 40 years with the firm. Alexander joined the Montgomery-headquartered firm in 2018 and previously served as the firm's chief operating officer for seven years. In his new role, Alexander will be responsible for guiding the firm's strategic direction, as well as overall administration and financial management. "I look forward to this new chapter with Jackson Thornton," said Alexander. "This is an exciting time to take on this role. The firm expanded into Birmingham in November, and we look forward to all of the growth opportunities to come." Alexander serves on the board and the Committee of 100 of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, is a national board member of the CPA Firm Management Association and is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery Class XL. He maintains his professional membership in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Founded in 1919, Jackson Thornton has more than 200 professionals and associates in six offices in Alabama. In addition to accounting services, the firm offers wealth management, strategic planning, outsourced CFO and business consulting services, technology consulting and specialized industry services.

Jackson Thornton acquires Jackson, Howard & Whatley. November 18, 2025. Jackson Thornton, a certified public accounting and consulting firm, is pleased to announce that it has recently acquired Jackson, Howard & Whatley, LLC (JHW), a CPA firm located in Birmingham, Alabama. The acquisition will offer JHW's clients an expanded depth of services while maintaining the personalized service for which the firm is known. JHW was founded in 1978 by Mike Jackson, Judy Howard and Tim Whatley and serves clients throughout the Birmingham area. Jackson Thornton (JT), founded in 1919, has consistently appeared on Accounting Today's "Beyond the Top 100" list, was named a Top 200 Firm by Inside Public Accounting and named one of USA Today's 2025 Best Tax & Accounting Firms. The firm ranked 5th on Business Alabama's 2025 Top Rank listing of Alabama's largest accounting firms and was named a "Best Company to Work For" by Business Alabama in 2023. "The addition of JHW to the Jackson Thornton family gives us the opportunity to expand our footprint to the Birmingham market," said John S. Fendley, President and CEO of Jackson Thornton. "At the same time, it gives our new clients a depth of experience and resources they haven't had before. The people they know and trust are now backed by several teams of people offering a diverse array of expertise. We're excited about this acquisition and the opportunities offered for both firms." "We have full confidence in this transition to Jackson Thornton," remarked Mike Jackson, Managing Member of JHW. "We are so pleased that our clients will be in the capable hands of a firm we know and trust."

Last year, JT was named a Best Company to Work For by Business Alabama.