Simpson & Osborne and Dixon Hughes Merge Firms


"The financial services industry is a good indicator of growth within the regional economy," Matthew Ballard, President Charleston Area Alliance.

Read the official press release below:


Company executives announce plans to create up to
100 new jobs over the next three years

(Charleston, W.Va.) January 8, 2007—Simpson & Osborne, one of the largest accounting firms based in West Virginia, announced today that it has completed a merger agreement with Dixon Hughes, the largest accounting firm headquartered in the Southeastern United States, effective February 1st, 2007. The merged firm will operate in West Virginia and across its service territory as Dixon Hughes.

West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin joined Simpson & Osborne CEO Rick Slater along with S&O co-founder Bob Simpson and Dixon Hughes co-CEOs Eddie Sams and Ken Hughes in a standing-room-only press conference this afternoon.

“Our people are our greatest value,” said Manchin. “But in order to keep them here we need to give them opportunities, and that’s what today is about.”

Slater, now the Managing Partner of Dixon Hughes’ West Virginia practice area, said the merger would not only give both companies a new depth of resources and expertise to better serve clients in the region, but that Dixon Hughes’ aggressive growth strategy could only be fueled by bringing on additional talent.

Dixon Hughes co-CEO Eddie Sams announced that in the coming months, the company would focus on growing their healthcare and community banking practice areas, creating an opportunity for up to 100 new, high-paying jobs in West Virginia over the next three years. “Our merger strategy is simple,” said Sams. “It’s a talent search.”

Slater said that Dixon Hughes’ focus on their staff is one of the reasons why joining forces made sense. “We were looking for a firm high in integrity that cherished their people,” said Slater, “and that’s what we found in Dixon Hughes.”

At the announcement, Governor Manchin took the opportunity to make Dixon Hughes partners Eddie Sams and Ken Hughes honorary “citizens of West Virginia”, a gesture that was greeted with applause from the audience. Simpson & Osborne Co-Founder Bob Simpson summed up the day by saying, “Just a word about the future. Great things are going to happen.”

ABOUT THE FIRMS

Simpson & Osborne was founded in 1974 by Bob Simpson and Roger Osborne. The company currently has 70 employees with offices in Charleston and Morgantown West Virginia. In addition to serving clients across West Virginia, the firm also provides specialized services to companies with operations throughout the nation. For additional information, please visit www.SimpsonOsborne.com.

Dixon Hughes currently has 1,030 employees with offices in seven states. For additional information, please visit www.Dixon-Hughes.com.