Plante Moran To Open Detroit Office In Compuware Building

SOUTHFIELD (WWJ) -- Plante Moran, one of the nation's largest certified public accounting and business advisory firms, announced it is opening an office in Detroit in the Compuware building.

Said Gordon Krater, Plante Moran managing partner: "There is an excitement and vitality about the city. Good things are happening, and we are proud to be a part of it.  Plante Moran staff is spending more time downtown working with public and private sector organizations. Coupled with our nearly 10 percent growth in staff in southeast Michigan in the last 15 months and our need for more office space, it just makes sense to open our next office in downtown Detroit. It will also help us better attract professionals who want to be part of the urban work environment as we continue to expand our team."

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing said: "This is great news for the city of Detroit.  We welcome Plante Moran to its new downtown offices. This is another example of the business community's commitment to transforming our city."

The new office will house approximately 75 staff. It will occupy 15,000 square feet on the third floor of the Compuware building. The Detroit office will be the firm's seventh office in southeast Michigan. Plante Moran's other area offices are located in Ann Arbor, Auburn Hills, Flint, Macomb Township and two in Southfield. The official move-in date is scheduled for the fall.

Krater mentioned a number of businesses and individuals who have led the way in Detroit's revitalization, including Dan Gilbert and Rock Ventures, Peter Karmanos Jr. and Compuware, the Ilitch and Ford families, Strategic Staffing Solutions, General Motors Co., Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Urban Science and DTE Energy.

"Plante Moran becomes the next important and credible company in the drumbeat of top-notch firms, retailers and entrepreneurs who are finding opportunity in downtown Detroit.  When a leader like Plante Moran makes this kind of move, the confidence level of the business community is strengthened even further," said Dan Gilbert, founder and chairman of Rock Ventures and Quicken Loans.

Bob Paul, Compuware chief executive officer, said: "We are pleased to have Plante Moran join the roster of leading companies with presence in Detroit's central business district and are thrilled that the company selected the Compuware Building as their new home. They'll be working alongside some of the region's best and brightest who already enjoy all the amenities we have to offer."

Plante Moran CRESA, a fully integrated independent real estate firm affiliated with Plante Moran, brokered the lease deal between Plante Moran and Compuware.

Plante Moran (www.plantemoran.com) provides clients with tax, audit, risk management, financial, technology, business consulting and wealth management services. Plante Moran has a staff of more than 2,000 professionals in 21 offices throughout Illinois, Michigan and Ohio, with international offices in Shanghai, China; Monterrey, Mexico; and Mumbai, India.