Fischer joins Grant Thornton's public-sector business

Dennis Fischer, former commissioner of the Federal Technology Service of the General Services Administration and most recently a vice president of Visa USA, has joined the accounting and management-consulting firm Grant Thornton LLP as director for government innovation.

As commissioner of FTS, Fischer directed an operation providing more than $4.5 billion a year in information technology and telecommunications support to federal agencies. He also served as GSA's first chief financial officer from 1992 to 1997, where he directed financial and budgetary policy and operations.

Before joining GSA, Fischer served for more than five years as deputy chief financial officer for the Health and Human Services Department.

While at Visa, Fischer was responsible for the company's commercial programs for the federal government through the GSA SmartPay contract.

"I look forward to working with my colleagues in government and industry again, this time in a consultative capacity," Fischer said of his joining Grant Thornton. "I am especially eager to help the practice in implementing the President's Management Agenda."

Grant Thornton is based in Chicago. Its global public sector delivers financial, technology and performance solutions to federal, state and local government clients and international organizations. The firm had revenue of $1.84 billion in 2002, according to Hoover's Online, and employed 21,500 people.