Sonny Thadani was Accordion’s Chief Operating Officer from the firm’s early days – and after stepping away to co-found digital coaching platform Robin, he returns now as New York City Office Lead. In his new role, Sonny will be at the intersection of what he loves most: delivering value for clients and bringing the best out of his teammates.
We talked to Sonny about what drew him back to the firm, how the private equity landscape is shifting, and why Accordion is perfectly positioned to meet the moment:
Q: What brought you back to Accordion?
I’ve always thrived on the pace and energy of professional services: partnering with clients, tackling complex problems, and seeing the impact firsthand. When thinking about my next move, I explored other firms… but none offered the right mix of high performance, strong culture, and top-tier brand reputation.
Before coming back to Accordion, I worked closely with sponsors supporting their diligence on professional services firms. The experience gave me a fresh perspective on what clients truly need – and reminded me just how powerful Accordion’s brand has become.
“Today, the firm is the gold standard in the PE market, and the opportunity to rejoin the team I helped build made the decision an easy one.”
Q: How do you see the private equity landscape evolving right now?
The slowdown in IPOs and exits has only heightened the pressure on sponsors to drive performance at the portfolio company level. And while traditional office of the CFO solutions are – and will continue to be – important, sponsors are looking now to technology and AI as the new engines of value creation. Accordion has been ahead of the curve since the beginning; we were the first to market to the office of the CFO, and now we’re on the forefront of AI and data solutions designed specifically for our clients.
In other words: The need for performance improvement through technology and AI solutions translates into limitless opportunity for us to deliver meaningful impact.
Q: How has Accordion evolved since you stepped away?
Helping build Accordion from the ground up was as difficult as it was rewarding. Back then, everything felt like a hustle – we were scrappy, entrepreneurial, and building muscle memory in real time. Coming back now, I see the fruits of that effort. We’ve become a well-oiled machine: real scale, real infrastructure, an exceptional market reputation, and a roster of top-tier clients. And, of course, we’re now global; to see Accordion evolve into a firm with offices and capabilities around the world is a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come.
That said, the entrepreneurial spirit that’s defined Accordion since its inception hasn’t gone anywhere. In fact, it feels stronger than ever.
“New ideas and technologies, and now AI, are giving us new opportunities to innovate alongside our clients, just as we did years ago. It’s exciting and feels so aligned with who our brand is – and has always been.”
Q: What differentiates Accordion from other professional services firms?
The market is competitive – and only getting more so. Many professional services firms are now PE-backed, which raises the stakes and accelerates the pace of change. The challenge – continuing to grow at a high rate in this crowded (and uncertain) environment – energizes me. It’s not just about what we do, but how we do it. And Accordion is a unicorn in our people-first, cross-functional, data-driven approach.
Q: Why does the New York Office Lead role feel right for you right now?
This role connects directly to the two things I care most about: clients and people.
Over the years, Accordion’s ability to attract incredible talent has only grown stronger, and I’ve watched our management team evolve in inspiring ways. Colleagues I worked alongside years ago are now stepping into new levels of leadership, and it’s exciting to have the chance to work with them again in a new capacity.
That’s all s to say: I love working with colleagues who bring out my best (and allow me to bring out theirs), and I love partnering with clients to solve their pain points and unlock value. To be able to do both, at a moment when Accordion is thriving and transforming, is a chance to bring everything I’ve learned back to Accordion and help the firm continue to grow.