AIRA's New Guard: Steering Restructuring Through Economic Uncertainty

MEDFORD, Ore. – June 15, 2026 – The Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors (AIRA) has signaled a strategic recalibration at its highest levels, installing a new slate of leaders poised to guide the profession through an increasingly complex economic landscape. Announced at its 42nd Annual Bankruptcy & Restructuring Conference in Nashville, the leadership transition places seasoned practitioners at the helm, reinforcing the organization's commitment to expertise and high standards at a time when they are needed most.

Boris Steffen of Province, LLC, a veteran advisor with decades of experience in high-stakes corporate restructurings, has been named President. He succeeds Eric A.W. Danner of CohnReznick, LLP, who now steps into the role of Chairperson. The leadership pipeline was also fortified with the appointment of R. Scott Williams, Esq., of RumbergerKirk as President-elect. In a move that underscores the association's respect for intellectual and professional contributions, the prestigious Emanuel M. Katten Founders Award was presented to Dr. Jack F. Williams, a distinguished professor and scholar. These are not merely ceremonial shifts; they represent a calculated move to equip the restructuring community with leadership that possesses deep operational, financial, and legal acumen.

A New Era of Leadership

The new leadership team brings a formidable blend of practical experience and strategic vision. As the new President, Boris Steffen embodies the hands-on financial expertise that is the bedrock of the restructuring profession. A Managing Director at Province, LLC, Steffen has spent over 30 years as a financial advisor and expert witness, navigating mergers, acquisitions, and restructurings with a cumulative value exceeding $240 billion. His work advising Unsecured Creditors' Committees in landmark cases like Purdue Pharma and Mallinckrodt PLC demonstrates a profound understanding of the intricate financial mechanics that determine the fate of distressed enterprises. Holding credentials as a CIRA, CDBV, CPA, and Accredited Senior Appraiser, Steffen's background suggests a presidential tenure focused on reinforcing the technical rigor and analytical depth required of modern restructuring advisors.

Assuming the Chairperson role, Eric A.W. Danner ensures a continuity of experienced oversight. As a Partner and Restructuring Leader at CohnReznick, Danner has built a career on crisis management and the implementation of turnaround business plans. His extensive experience serving in interim executive roles—including Chief Restructuring Officer and CFO—gives him a unique, ground-level perspective on the operational challenges that companies face in distress. His leadership will be crucial in guiding AIRA’s strategic direction and ensuring its initiatives remain relevant to the real-world pressures its members encounter daily.

Perhaps the most forward-looking appointment is that of R. Scott Williams as President-elect. A partner at RumbergerKirk, Williams brings a critical legal and policy dimension to the leadership team. His work as Counsel on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, where he was instrumental in drafting key amendments to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, provides AIRA with invaluable insight into the legislative framework that governs the industry. This background, combined with his extensive litigation experience and leadership roles at the American Bankruptcy Institute, positions AIRA to become a more influential voice in policy debates shaping the future of insolvency law.

"This leadership team brings a potent mix of on-the-ground restructuring expertise and high-level policy insight," noted one long-time AIRA member. "It's exactly what the association needs to guide the profession through the next economic cycle."

Honoring a Legacy of Professional Service

Beyond the leadership transitions, AIRA took a moment to celebrate the intellectual and service-oriented foundations of the profession by awarding the Emanuel M. Katten Founders Award to Dr. Jack F. Williams. The award is named for a founding member who was instrumental in establishing the Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor (CIRA) program, the association's flagship credential. It recognizes individuals who have made a substantial and lasting contribution to the restructuring community.

Dr. Williams is a uniquely fitting honoree, with a career that bridges the gap between academia, high-level consulting, and public service. As a Professor of Law at Georgia State University and a resident scholar for AIRA, he has educated a generation of professionals in bankruptcy, corporate finance, and forensic accounting. Simultaneously, as a senior managing director at Mesirow Financial Consulting, he provides expert witness and consulting services in complex business restructurings and investigations. His prolific writing for the American Bankruptcy Institute and other publications has advanced the industry's collective knowledge, while his service on the ABI Task Force on Veterans and Service Members Affairs demonstrates a deep commitment to the community. Having also contributed to drafting Bankruptcy Code amendments and earning the President's Lifetime Achievement Award for his extensive volunteer service, Dr. Williams' career exemplifies the multifaceted excellence the Katten Award was designed to honor.

Navigating a Complex Financial Horizon

These leadership appointments and accolades arrive at a pivotal moment. The global economy continues to grapple with persistent inflation, rising interest rates, and geopolitical instability, creating significant headwinds for businesses across nearly every sector. While the torrent of bankruptcies predicted during the pandemic was held at bay by government stimulus, many companies are now facing a reckoning as that support fades and the cost of capital climbs. Industry analysts anticipate a sustained increase in financial distress, particularly in sectors like commercial real estate, consumer retail, and healthcare.

In this environment, AIRA’s mission to unite professionals and uphold rigorous standards of practice becomes more critical than ever. The CIRA and CDBV certifications provide a vital benchmark for expertise, ensuring that advisors, lenders, and attorneys have the proven skills to navigate complex turnarounds and insolvencies. The new leadership, all of whom hold these or similar credentials, is expected to double down on the value and relevance of these programs.

The strategic rationale behind the new leadership team appears clear: to ensure AIRA is equipped to support its members through a period of heightened demand and complexity. Steffen’s deep valuation and financial advisory skills, Danner’s operational turnaround experience, and Williams’ legal and policy acumen create a leadership triumvirate capable of addressing the full spectrum of challenges facing the insolvency profession. Their collective expertise will likely drive operational innovation within the association, fostering new educational initiatives, enhancing professional standards, and strengthening the industry's voice in Washington, D.C. As businesses confront an uncertain future, AIRA has positioned itself to ensure the professionals tasked with guiding them through crisis are prepared for the challenge.