Ensemble Practice Taps Carson Group as COO and G2 Program Co-Lead

Why It Matters

Williams’ deep operational expertise positions Ensemble to expand its advisory‑firm consulting footprint while strengthening the G2 pipeline that addresses the chronic shortage of ready‑made senior talent in independent wealth‑management firms.

Key Takeaways

• Catherine Williams appointed COO of Ensemble Practice.
• Williams brings 30+ years of practice‑management experience.
• She will co‑lead G2 Leadership Institute, expanding talent pipeline.
• G2 program has trained over 350 advisors since launch.
• Ensemble to release new data‑insights report with Williams' expertise.

Pulse Analysis

Catherine Williams’ appointment as chief operating officer marks a strategic upgrade for The Ensemble Practice, a Seattle‑based consultancy that helps independent advisory firms grow. Williams’ résumé—spanning senior roles at Dimensional Fund Advisors, Fidelity and a $1 billion wealth‑management firm—provides the operational rigor needed to scale Ensemble’s profit‑and‑loss responsibilities and broaden its service suite. Her track record in benchmarking and practice‑management data positions the firm to deliver more granular insights to clients, a differentiator in a crowded advisory‑consulting market.

The G2 Leadership Institute, now co‑led by Williams, is a two‑year, immersive program designed to fast‑track advisors and operations professionals into ownership roles. With over 350 participants since its inception, G2 addresses a pressing industry challenge: the scarcity of seasoned leaders ready to step into senior positions. By simulating firm‑level decision‑making—covering strategy, compensation and human capital—G2 equips participants with hands‑on experience that traditional hiring cannot replicate. This focus on internal talent development aligns with research showing only 1.5% of senior advisors were hired externally in the past year, highlighting the growing reliance on cultivated pipelines.

Beyond program leadership, Williams will steer Ensemble’s research agenda, leveraging her data‑driven background to produce the upcoming data‑insights report. Such research is critical as advisory firms navigate fee compression, regulatory shifts and evolving client expectations. By integrating operational oversight with cutting‑edge benchmarking, Ensemble aims to become a one‑stop resource for firms seeking both strategic guidance and actionable market intelligence, reinforcing its position at the nexus of leadership development and industry research.