Navigating the Private Equity Question
Mon Feb 02 2026
When Jeremy Jones stepped into the CEO role at Frazier & Deeter, he inherited not just a legacy, but a crossroads. The firm, steeped in tradition and guided by the founders' ongoing presence, faced a pivotal decision: pursue private equity investment or maintain the status quo. He joins Jeremy Clopton on Episode 111 of The Upstream Leader and explains how, alongside his leadership team, he navigated a landscape transformed by industry peers embracing new models. Their journey was marked by candid conversations, cultural soul-searching, and a deliberate shift in governance and compensation in order to prepare the firm for change before committing to it. Ultimately, a partnership emerged not from financial calculus, but from a shared vision for people-first growth. Whether or not your firm is currently or will ever consider going the private equity route, this is information you want to understand as the accounting profession continues into the era of its latest "next big thing."
Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUpstreamLeader.com
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When Jeremy Jones stepped into the CEO role at Frazier & Deeter, he inherited not just a legacy, but a crossroads. The firm, steeped in tradition and guided by the founders' ongoing presence, faced a pivotal decision: pursue private equity investment or maintain the status quo. He joins Jeremy Clopton on Episode 111 of The Upstream Leader and explains how, alongside his leadership team, he navigated a landscape transformed by industry peers embracing new models. Their journey was marked by candid conversations, cultural soul-searching, and a deliberate shift in governance and compensation in order to prepare the firm for change before committing to it. Ultimately, a partnership emerged not from financial calculus, but from a shared vision for people-first growth. Whether or not your firm is currently or will ever consider going the private equity route, this is information you want to understand as the accounting profession continues into the era of its latest "next big thing." Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUpstreamLeader.com