Maria Pinelli announced as new Ernst & Young Global Vice Chair for Strategic Growth Markets

Ernst & Young, the global professional services organization, is pleased to announce the appointment of Maria Pinelli as the new Global Vice Chair for our Strategic Growth Markets (SGM) practice. She will succeed Greg Ericksen, who retires on 30 June after 35 years with Ernst & Young serving entrepreneurs and helping us build our leading entrepreneurial brand.

With more than 20 years of experience, Maria has in-depth knowledge of the needs and issues of companies experiencing rapid growth. Throughout her career, she has supported clients with acquisitions, due diligence, financing and IPOs. Maria has also acquired significant knowledge of the global capital markets, having led over 20 IPOs in Canada, China, the United Kingdom and the United States. In her new role she will head our practice dedicated to entrepreneurial and high growth companies.

Maria will be attending the 11^th Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year Awards which will be held this Saturday in Monte Carlo.

Ernst & Young is also delighted to announce it has extended its ongoing commitment and relationship with the Network for Teacher Entrepreneurship (NFTE) in the United States, to another nine countries around the world. Ernst & Young supports NFTE by providing a scholarship for each of its 16 US programs and plans to replicate this in Belgium, China, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, the Netherlands, New Zealand and South Africa.

NFTE is the only global non-profit organization solely focused on bringing entrepreneurship education to low-income youth. Founded in New York City in 1987, NFTE began as a program to prevent dropouts and improve academic performance among students who were at risk of failing or quitting school. NFTE’s entrepreneurship education programs provide the critical link that makes school relevant to the real world thereby empowering students to own their educations in and out of the classroom and to find their own path to success.

NFTE has now worked with nearly 350,000 young people from low-income communities in programs across the U.S. and around the world.

Maria, who sits on the board of NFTE says: “We are delighted to extend our involvement across the nine countries. It is entrepreneurs who represent the best hope of creating sustained economic growth around the world. Our commitment to entrepreneurs, in both emerging and developed economies around the world, helps ensure that we’re working with more of tomorrow’s global leaders, today.”

Amy Rosen, President & CEO, NFTE, says: “Too many young people today drop out of school and struggle to break the cycle of poverty. Since 1987, NFTE has been inspiring young people to pursue educational opportunities, start their own businesses, and succeed in life.

“Our international partners are a critical component of the NFTE network and reach over 30,000 youth annually, accounting for over 55% of all the young people NFTE serves annually.”